The Bachelorette 5 Finale: Happily Ever After

It has been an amazing season of The Bachelorette, hasn’t it? Our Princess Jillian has taken us through three countries on two continents in her search for love. Her list narrowed from an eye-popping 30 gentlemen down to our final two. Who are the wannabe Prince Charmings still vying for our fair maiden’s heart?

• Ed, 29 – Technology Consultant from Chicago, IL
• Kiptyn, 31 – Business Developer from Encinitas, CA

I’m always ambivalent watching the final two meet The Bachelorette’s family. It’s interesting to watch the interaction, but more often than not the family is able to offer no help making a final decision. My biggest hope for this episode is that Jillian’s grandmother will have made the trip to Hawaii. Remember her from last season? She was the one who threatened to hijack her granddaughter to Northern Alberta and marry her off to some Ukrainian guy. She also gave Jason a pair of maple leaf boxer shorts. PLEASE let her be there!

After a montage of the entire season, we start the episode with a gorgeous panorama of Hawaii’s main island, leading to Jillian in a gorgeous green mini-dress, laughing to herself that she did so many things that she swore she wouldn’t do on her season. However, she declares that she has slain her dragons and is ready to run off with her Prince Charming.

First up for Jillian is a day with Ed. We all know about the awkward overnight date when they both passed out rather than the “sexy time” they had hoped for. Ed admits being nervous meeting his possible in-laws. Into the fray they go, and YES, the coolest grandmother Margery since my own is there! Also present are cousin Tori, mom Peggy, and dad Glen. Peggy is hanging back a bit after seeing how Jillian dealt with Jason’s rejection. Grandma instantly declares Ed “terrifically good looking.” Glen asks about the magic between them. Ed fills in the family about being married to his career until he realized that he couldn’t leave Jillian behind. Jillian’s family listens intently to his story, which has Ed nervous once again.

Peggy pulls Ed aside and promises to not hit him with her infamous list of 67 questions she had for Jason. Instead, he only gets 66. Man, I’d forgotten how much I loved all of Jillian’s family! Her first question is whether Ed wants children. Wow, not exactly lobbing the softball questions first, is she? Ed answers that he wants at least three, which I think Jillian had previously answered as her target. He also wants to retire to Hawaii with her and hopes that the honesty between them will be the glue that holds them together. Peggy announces that she is satisfied with the answers. That whoosh you feel is Ed exhaling.

Peggy then moves on to interrogate her daughter. Jillian says that she knows exactly how Ed feels about her, which is what scares her. She just hopes the roller-coaster aspect of their relationship is over, but she would look forward to a proposal from him. Peggy points out how much Ed went through to come back to Jillian and how glowy and relaxed the couple is. It seems to be a good match.

Ed, meanwhile, is being grilled by Glen. Well, Glen flat out says that Ed has earned his spot in the final two. Ed is adamant in wanting to marry Jillian and asks Glen for permission. Glen stops, ponders, and says that he would “be doing somersaults” to see Jillian and Ed happy together. Again, I love the humor in this family, which is only accentuated with the family donning grass skirts and coconut bras (including the men) and dancing the hula. Glen and Ed actually do the bump! Ed declares that he is the best candidate to fit into Jillian’s family. He does have an ease with them that would be tough for Kiptyn to match. Jillian is so proud of Ed’s ability to go with the family silliness.

Next morning, Jillian wanders outside of her family’s compound. She tells us that when she left the house with Ed the night before, she felt like she was leaving with her fiancé. However, it is a new day and she’s excited to see Kiptyn. Somehow, I can’t imagine him in a hula skirt by the end of the night, but I also couldn’t imagine him in a flamenco costume either. Let’s go! She loves having fun with him and shares a physical chemistry with him. Kiptyn practically grabs her by the hair to kiss her. He tries to forget that there’s another man vying for her.

Jillian explains her family as easy-going like Kiptyn’s. At first, I think of the wine/lasagna test they threw at her. On the other hand, Peggy’s list of questions may balance that. She’s excited to the point that Kiptyn pronounces her “shiny.” They kiss until Jillian hauls him into the house. More squealing from Jillian as Kiptyn runs around and shakes hands with everyone. Jillian reminds them that he was the first man out of the limos in the first night. They explain how both of their jaws dropped when they saw one another and were both so nervous.

Over dinner, Glen asks what Kiptyn does when he actually has a moment to himself. Kiptyn actually has the time to go to the beach? Wow. Tori catches this and Kiptyn explains himself as “work hard, play hard.” Peggy then dares Kiptyn to come aside with her for a while. Tori dares him to say no, but he’s already standing and laughing along with the family. I’m amazed at how much he’s relaxed since he’s met Jillian!

Peggy is very serious about making sure Kiptyn can fit into the family. Fortunately, Kiptyn seems to be braced for the list of questions but is still nervous. He wants kids but doesn’t know how many. He also wants to marry his best friend and wants to sit around drinking coffee on the patio in another 40 years. Surprisingly to me, Peggy decides that Kiptyn is more akin to Jillian than Ed is. Wow, he really HAS learned a lot from our Bachelorette!