Bachelor MAC
Okay, so this is, officially, the Most Dramatic Bachelor Season, Evah.
Sheesh already, though.
For once, I thought all 4 hometown dates went well and there wasn’t anyone that really disturbed me. I actually loved Gia’s mom. (Loved the scene in the end with her doing Jake’s cards. He was trying so hard to be open minded about that but you could see it was freaking him out a little.) Me? I loved it! She can do my cards anytime.
But they all seemed to go well, have their special, unique moments, albeit some more than others, and I could absolutely see where each of them, and Jake, felt like there was a distinct and very unique attachment forming between him and each of them. So, in that respect, I felt for him, because I think he is feeling different things for different women, each appealing to him in their own way. One more than the others? I don’t know. I think, in his position, I’d be feeling confused, too. I mean, you only know enough, really, about each of them, to be smitten. Not really “in love” and only with the barest of hopes of trying to determine who might be someone you could truly, long term, fall for. But, at that stage, it’s all looking and feeling pretty exciting.
So, in that regard, especially given what I write for a living, I found the situation very compelling. More so than in past seasons. I do wish that the women were, to my mind, anyway, a better “catch” for him. I don’t know that any of the final four really felt, to me, like “the one” for him. But I did understand the levels of attachments that were forming.
All of that said…my attachment to Ali has faded quickly and harshly in the past few weeks. Between her mean girl treatment of Vienna (no prize herself, but still…mean girl) and the distinct “all about me–or else” vibe I get from her, I wasn’t upset that she ended up choosing work over Jake and left. It would be a tough decision even in the best of situations, and this certainly wasn’t that, by any stretch. But, to me, when she came to see him, and again before the final rose ceremony, she just came off as kind of whiny and wheedling to me, rather than mature and “let’s figure this out.” The baby voice, the sniffles, the “can I please put my widdle feet in your lap” deal all just struck me as being not the real Ali, but the “pick me, choose me” Grey’s Anatomy of Drama Award Ali.
Of course he can’t tell her she’s his final pick at that point, and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t sure himself anyway. After those home town dates, he seemed pretty amped up about the potential of all four women and looking forward to learning more before making a final decision. I get that. Ali, not so much. So I was surprised that he gave her as much as he did, considering his own built-in constraints. He said, repeatedly, I don’t want you to go. He also told her he didn’t want to force her decision, that it was something she needed to determine herself, as it was a choice she was ultimately going to have to be okay with. All true. And mature. Ali’s response? More sniffling, moaning, and dithering. After awhile (and an interview with Chris Harrison today said they were in there for at least two hours before the ceremony-that-wasn’t) I just wanted to say, “Listen, if it’s that hard of a decision to make, then clearly you need to keep your job.” Which he (and I) would have respected. It’s a tough world out there these days, and giving up a job, much less one you love that has career potential, is no small thing. Especially in the face of a 1-in-4 chance (or 1-in-3 since he told her she wasn’t going home that night anyway) at a relationship that has only just begun to blossom. She also, I’m sure, didn’t want to look like an idiot, giving up her job for luuuuurve, only to be ditched at the end, anyway. I know I’d have been thinking about that, and thinking hard.
And still? She annoyed the crap out of me. I was glad, in the end, that she took off. I don’t think she and Jake would have lasted. I think she’s too hard edged, too aggressive, and not soft and sweet enough for him. Of course, as I said above, I’m not sure about the others, either.
In handicapping the final three: whereas I thought Tenley might be the perfect fit for him after last week, now I think she’s too close to the pain of her divorce to be truly ready for this big of a relationship. Not sure if Jake really got that, and I do think she has the naturally sweet-to-the-point-of-Rainbows & Kittens-Cuteness that would and does make the rest of us gag, but would be perfect for Jake. But, ultimately, I think she’d be an emotional, clingy, insecure basket case if she was truly in a committed relationship with him.
Which leaves Gia and Vienna. I still think Vienna is too young from a life-experience angle, to be a suitable long term fit for Jake, though I do think he’d have a great deal of fun with her in the short term. She really is the breath of fresh air and wide open and loving personality that I can see him going for. Just not enough depth there for something lasting. And, now, with all the tabloid stuff surfacing about her, I can see him not wanting anything to do with that Vienna. Not with his squeaky clean image.
So…Gia. Now, I like Gia. More and more as the time progresses. I like that she’s gorgeous yet vulnerable and I think she’s easily the most “real” of all of them, while retaining a bit of the fairytale fantasy as well. Would they last? I have no idea. But, of them all, I’d give them the best chance. And if you’d told me that week one, I’d have laughed myself sick.
Now? I’m just sick. I think it’s a shame they finally got the most committed, open, dedicated-to-finding-love bachelor they could find…and this group was the best they could deliver. Where were the Jillians? Heck, even the Melissa’s? So…I don’t see a happy ending here. But I hope the exposure brings one his way soon. Decent, good guy. Here’s to a happy ending for you some day, pilot guy!
What say you, Bachelor Watching Blog Babes? Are you into it? Over it? Wishing you could match him with someone else entirely? Could you see any of these women being the next Bach’ette? Shuddering here at that thought. New blood, I’m hoping! And tonight? We finally get Hollywood Week on American Idol, and Ellen’s arrival on the scene. From the clips I’ve seen, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by her comments. So I’m having better feelings about this than I did. Unlike, say, the feelings I have about there being any chance in hell that Howard Stern will be associated with this show in the future. Yikes! Oh! And word is Pam Anderson is on Dancing w/ the Stars this season. Greg Loughanis wants to be. And Paula Abdul shows up in some capacity. Between all that, and Survivor AND Our Phil and his Amazing Bathmat coming back this week, things, they are finally getting interesting all up in here. Your job? DISH!!
