My Gut Is Telling Me....

Home town dates! It's always my favorite episode of the season. And our first stop is to New York City with Gia. She decides the best way to tour the city is on a boat ride. While admiring Lady Liberty they decided to break out the camera and took a bunch of candids of the two of them giggling and kissing. Hey you have to have a few of those shots for the wedding video. After posing they sit down and Jake asks her about her past. And here we discover why she has been so guarded, her last boyfriend was up to no good and cheated on her with some of her friends, another guy she had dated had really bad communication skills. Oh sweet, beautiful Gia, you deserve so much better. After their boat ride they headed to a restaurant to meet her mom, her stepdad and brothers. Not sure why we're not allowed to get a peek into her home, cuz the whole date takes place there and the city streets. Not very homey, for our down home fella Jake, in my opinion. They all have this strong NY accent that is so fun to listen to. There's the usual questions over dinner and during Jake and Mom's alone time. Jake answered them all appropriately. Mom tells Gia she feels in her gut that he will choose her (maybe it's in her cards! apparently mom reads cards too). Gia's protective brother chimes in that if Jake breaks her heart he's gonna hunt him down and break his legs. Despite his spikey hair I liked him. The date ends with Jake and Gia kissing on a stoop, watching the taxis go by. Sorry Jake, I just don't see you fitting into this life.

Next date is in Williamstown MA with Ali, which was gorgeous in the fall. Apparently the producers thought it was pretty too and forced them to shiver on a bench while they got their fall foliage shot in. And what's with all the girls jumping up and wrapping their legs around Jake when they see him. Am I supposed to do that when my hubby comes home? But Jake liked it and seemed so giddy to see her... he likes her a lot. Their first stop was through the woods to her grandmothers house, and she wanted Jake to meet her grandmother, who had passed away recently (Ali was very close to her). It seems they (Jake and Grandma) met and liked each other... according to Ali. Sweetly, Jake wasn't totally freaked out by the whole talking to dead people in grandma's empty house experience, but instead felt it was intimate and made him think about life and love. Then they were off to her house, where he met mom, sister and brother. He had some one on one time with Ali's mom where he gave all the right answers and then he asked if she would be okay if he proposed to her (I wonder why he didn't ask Gia's mom, or maybe they edited it out?). And here's another mom who's gut tells her that Jake is right for her daughter. Afterward, as Ali and Jake are saying goodbye, Ali goes out on a limb tells him that if he asked her to marry him right now she'd say yes. Oh and the look in his eyes, he pauses, and to make the moment even more special he takes off his thick gloves, and plants a passionate kiss on her. They have a very strong connection... I think stronger than with Gia. Okay Ali, I'm back to really liking you too.

Now cross country he goes to see Tenley in Oregon. They take a walk in the gorgeous nature and talked about her ex A LOT! I'm not so sure she's over that divorce disaster. Then they head over to the dance studio where Tenley "grew up" (I don't think she actually grew up there, but took dance there as a kid and teen). She loves to dance and wanted Jake to see that part of her, so she got on her leotard and danced for him (a little number she had choreographed) which made him "melt".... though I wasn't that impressed with the dance, holy moly I couldn't keep my eyes off her calves! Unbelievable! Then they did a little dancing together, while birds sang and forest animals pranced around at their feet. Afterward, they were off to her house. Jake's focus was to make sure that she is truly over her ex husband. Five minutes into meeting her family he should've known the answer to that. A big fat NO. This doivorce is still very fresh, in her mind and in her family's. I can't believe she decided to do the Bachelor in the same year as her divorce. There was no surprises in her family, they're just like Tenley. Sweet, put together, darling family. Jake does his one on ones with mom and dad. With mom he asks if she thinks Tenley is ready for marriage again, which mom talks about how strong Tenley is. The he asks her father for permission to propose to Tenley and he gives his blessing. I think that's just crazy. After the mess she just went through, I'd want to know EVERYTHING about Jake before saying that'd be okay. I do think Jake would fit just fine in that family. But I just don't know if the passion is there with the two of them like it is with Ali. Am I flipping my favorite again?

Well after all the classy, sweet dates we're onto trashy Vienna. Did it not seem SO apparent, the difference in the quality of the other girls compared to Vienna?! Well, they start things off on a river boat in FL which takes them to her house to meet the family. And man o man is she a daddy's girl. Just watching dad holding that dressed up chihuahua and bawling over his baby made me cringe inside. That relationship alone might be a huge issue in their marriage. Now I don't doubt Vienna's feelings for Jake, but does he really want to be the one paying for her car crashes and paying for dog clothes? Oh Jake, have mercy on me and don't pick this girl.

With home town dates over, Jake heads back to LA. There's a knock on his door and ... we all hold our breath... it's Ali! Oh no, and she drops the news that she has to choose between her job and Jake.... this is all sounding to familiar (flashback to Ed). I know she's there hoping for a "You are the one Ali, choose me" from Jake, but all she gets is a "You know, I would say, you know, stay here and take a chance on me, but I can't right now guarantee you that I'm going to put a ring on your finger, but I can't look you in the eye and tell you that I'm not going to.'' Not what she wanted to hear. So she tells him she'll think about it and will tell him at the rose ceremony. She exits and collapses into a weeping mess on the hallway floor.

So they all arrive for the rose ceremony, everyone lookin' beautiful, except Ali (though her dress was adorable). She looked like she had done her hair and makeup that morning and than taken a nap. They all line up and then she, with her shoulders all slumped over, tells Chris she needs to talk to him. Off they go to see Jake, where after lots of crying and Jake telling her he wants her to stay, and her hair getting crazier and crazier, she tells Jake that she thought she had to go. Dumb dumb girl. Though I had to agree with her when she said "I came into this with everything I wanted in life except for you, and there's a chance I could leave it with nothing." So he walks her out to the limo, both of them weeping, say goodbye, and in Jake fashion he collapses over the banister in grief. What does this mean for the 3 ladies who have been standing in the other room for 2 hours? Automatic roses. I wonder who wouldn't have gotten a rose had this not happened? Who do you think was going to go home!?

Oh and don't forget the teaser! It's off to St Lucia for lots of bikini time and the infamous over night date. And then the phone call, Jake picks it up and hears, "hi, this is Ali". Is anyone surpised? I'm sure not. But will she coming back in Ed fashion? What do you think?