JoJo & Jordan (Has a nice đ to it)
"Gentlemen, this is the final rose of the evening."
Tonight JoJo's journey to find love came to an end. It's time to say "see you later" to shocking rose ceremonies, Chad, and life's bleachable moments. But not Chris Harrison! He'll be hitting the screen again tomorrow as Bachelor in Paradise takes over our nightly routine. I haven't quite decided if I will blog about the show or not... stay tuned!
There have been so many ups and downs, awkward first kisses, and one too many James Taylor songs, but all of it has led up to this moment! (Sorry for the spoiler alert in the blog title!) Who will JoJo choose? Robby or Jordan? Let's jump into this week's episode, shall we?
To recap, JoJo and her final two suitors are in the beautiful country Thailand (where Sean Lowe and Catherine got engaged!) ABC must really be desperate for another couple to work out! Maybe their magic will rub off on JoJo and her chosen one. Speaking of chosen one, JoJo must first introduce her family to Robby and Jordan! I was curious if her family would see into Jordan's manipulation and constant perfection. (Before After the Final Rose, I was NOT a fan of Jordan. Maybe that has changed a little.) I feel JoJo's family is a good judge of character especially when it comes to her happiness.
JoJo tells her family that she is, in fact, in love with both men but has her concerns. I am a little wary that she tells her family her concerns before they can make their own opinion about the two. Jordan is the type she always falls for AKA the type that always breaks her heart.
Jordan gets a round of hugs from JoJo's family as soon as he walks through the door. Like a true gentleman, Jordan has brought gifts... err hats for everyone. If he truly wanted to steal Mom's heart (which he seems to have no problem doing so far) he should have brought her a bottle of wine to drink directly from. Instead, Mom and Jordan have a one-on-one conversation. She wants to ensure her baby daughter is not going to get her heart broken by this wanna-be football player.
Jordan tells her JoJo is his best friend and he will never break her heart. She is very adament and almost pressuring to hear those words. Truthfully, I would have made an excuse to use the bathroom and booked it out of there. Parents scare me! And parents pressuring me and making me promise to never hurt their son or daughter would scare me even more.
JoJo's mom then talks to JoJo and flips a switch. She thinks Jordan and JoJo are too much alike. But JoJo has her mind made up and dismisses any doubt. I mean sure ABC made it look like Robby had a fair chance, but let's be honest. It was always Jordan. In the other room, Jordan and JoJo's father are talking but Jordan asking for JoJo's hand in marriage is not happening (something that Jordan and JoJo have apparently discussed behind closed doors as a very important part of the proposal).
After JoJo's brothers caused so much controversy last season, I was expecting some hostile comments but they barely got any airtime! I was pretty dang disappointed. I wanted them to grill into him. Opportunity missed, I guess. Next up: Robby! Robby is not shy to inform JoJo's family that he is full-blown in love with her. Mom again pressures this suitor to promise he won't break little JoJo's heart. Robby eloquently (seriously he has such a way with words) tells her that he will make JoJo his biggest priority.
Then he does what Jordan was too scared to do. Bring in JoJo's dad! He asks both parents for Joelle Hannah Fletcher's hand in marriage. I found this to be insanely charming and he really set the bar for my future husband! He better ask mom and dad, darn it!
Both parents are over the moon and emotionally touched by his words and give their blessing to Robby, only building the tension as to why Jordan didn't ask. JoJo begs her family for some help cause she doesn't know who's proposal to accept in two days time. Gosh, the drama! The family all seem to be Team Robby but JoJo doesn't seem too happy with that answer questioning her family further. That is when the bomb is dropped. Jordan never asked for her hand. Based on her reaction, I would say her mind was made up on who she was choosing. Now, not so much.
JoJo spends her final date with Robby on the beach frolicking in the ocean. In a last ditch effort to win JoJo's heart, Robby explains what he imagines life with JoJo will look like. Later that night, Robby gives JoJo some pictures to remind her why she should love him. While some viewers may think she is torn, I can see it written all over her face. She wants the life that Robby is selling her but Jordan is always going to be in the back of her mind. She wants to love Robby, but I don't know if she can love him as deeply as she cares for Jordan.
Speaking of, Jordan and JoJo's final date is spent kayaking around their own private beach. Where does ABC find all these secluded islands!? Before he even steps foot on the ship, JoJo is jumping down his throat wondering why Jordan didn't ask permission from her parents. He talks in circles, never truly giving her a satisfying answer (he tends to do this a lot). Jordan ultimately says he doesn't know where JoJo stands so he couldn't do it comfortably. He doesn't give her any reassurance as to whether or not he is ready to get down on one knee. So, that's promising!
Cut to the day of the proposal. Robby is showering and trying to get his perfect Ken doll hair before meeting with Neil Lane. He picks a rather ugly (sorry) engagement ring making me wish just this once that JoJo does in fact choose Jordan! He writes JoJo a note in a last ditch effort to persuade her to pick him. Meanwhile, Jordan gives the old parents-in-law a ring asking for their blessing. Over the phone? Really dude? But we all knew it was going to happen. The parents say of course, yes. I have a feeling JoJo had already given them a call because Mom said something along the lines of seeing the two of them soon AKA she already knew it was going to be him.
Jordan also writes JoJo a note and then picks out a (better) engagement ring. JoJo wakes up knowing in her heart what she must do, but then she gets Robby's letter. Will this actually change her mind!? (I'm building up suspense as if I didn't already ruin this for you!) Ultimately, we see patterned socks knowing full well that our beloved former competitive swimmer is heading home. JoJo looks like she is going to throw up all over those socks the moment he starts talking. Like seriously, does Robby not know how to pick up social cues?? Stop talking! I think JoJo dumped him in a really respectable way. She cut him off and didn't allow him to get down on one knee because she "didn't want to take that moment" away from him. What a sweetheart!
Until, she crushes him by telling him she loves him (DID YOU NOT LEARN ANYTHING FROM BEN!?) and wanted it to be him. That. Was. Not. Necessary. She uses the line that all past Bachelors and Bachelorettes use:
Robby handles himself like a true gentleman, he just wants her to be happy, even if its not with him. Meanwhile, I'm sure he is plotting ways to take Jordan out. (I hear there is a dude named Chad who can be hired.)
Robby leaves and JoJo can't stop crying. Girl, smile! You are about to get engaged to the man of your dreams. Jordan exits the vehicle and should know he's the chosen one since the sun is perfectly setting on their little proposal grounds. Jordan jumps into a speech and tells her he is so unbelievably in love with her. JoJo cuts off his well-rehearsed speech to tell him that she in fact loves him too. He gets down on one knee, proposes and she says no. Ha! Just kidding! But wouldn't that have made for a good episode.
Of course she says YES! The newly engaged couple shakingly stand up and Jordan accepts the final rose of the season. They are so excited for it to finally be just the two of them! The live audience breaks into applause in the studio with Chris Harrison and After the Final Rose starts airing.
Robby walks in and takes the hot seat displaying a whole new set of teeth. Did he really think he could just spring those on us and we wouldn't notice!? How did Chris Harrison refrain from commenting on them. Perhaps, he got them for another reality TV show... *hint* ABC's The Bachelor *hint* JoJo joins him looking like a gorgeous godess (as always) and also ignores his new pearly white smile. COME ON GUYS!
Robby asks how her love for Jordan was stronger and JoJo point blank tells him that her heart was always with Jordan, but thanks for playing. Ouch. Enough about him. Chris Harrison then asks JoJo who she thinks should be next Bachelor, but before she can answer, Chad stands up. Sit down, Chad. Enough damage has been done! (Look out for a blog post on my stance with ABC and Chad.) Once again, The Bachelorette is the Chad Show. Finally, JoJo is brought back into view just in time for Jordan to come join her.
I would be lying if I said I didn't question whether or not Jordan and JoJo would still be together, but after seeing them hug and kiss it out, my doubt began to shrink more and more. Harrison wants to make it all about Aaron Rodgers and the pair quickly brushes that under the rug with the other topics they don't want to discuss. JoJo and Jordan (for the first time in Bachelorette history) actually didn't rewatch their proposal together. Chad must have stolen that time.
I'll be the first to say while I don't think I misjudged Jordan, I will be momentarily happy for the two of them. If I invest a whole 8 weeks to watching a couple get engaged, I hope that their relationship at least lasts that long. So, so far, congrats to the two lovebirds! Jordan, apparently, just has to grab his bags and his bed (only heard this in every interview they did post-proposal) and they are ready to move in with one another and start their life.
When can we expect the nupitals? JoJo and Jordan say as early as next year. That is a wedding I want to see! We all know JoJo will be stunning in a white gown (if it actually makes it to this point!) In all honesty, I think the pair will make it. I know I say that every time, but this time I mean it. Watching interviews and seeing how excited they are to be near each other makes me hopeful that we will get to witness a wedding next year. Here's to hope and lots of love for JoJo and Jordan!