The Bachelor Brad Womack Final Episode
The Bachelor Brad Womack, Take 2 Finale
It was the last episode and the contractual "After the Rose" episode. Who would Brad pick?! Bubbly, Emotional, Fun Chantal OR Sophisticated, Poised, Mother Emily.
Brad's family made the trip to Cape Town, South Africa to help him make his choice and he was pretty emotional when they got there. They were worried that he'd go through what he did last time, but Brad made sure that they knew it was completely different this time and that he was ready to propose.
So, first to meet the fam was Chantal. She came in a bit nervous, but she basically bulldozed in with bubbly energy telling them how much she loved Brad and how she fell for him in Costa Rica doing "the normal things". She convinced his brothers that she was ready to get married on the spot if Brad proposed which they seemed to like and she even won over his mom. All seemed great...
Then it was Emily's turn to meet the family. She was nervous as well, and the entire vibe of her meet-and-greet was completely different. She had to rehash her "tragic-mom" story that still gets me every time. But everyone LOVED her. She won over his mom by telling her that Brad was "her angel" and the brothers and sisters-in-law gushed about how she'd fit in to their world because she's "a mom and will totally get it".
In the end, there was no doubt that they thought Emily was the right gal for Brad and they didn't even try to be diplomatic about it.
BUT Brad still had one more date with each of the ladies.
He took Chantal out on a boat and made her climb in with sharks. Back at her hotel she made him a map that pinpointed all the places of their journey together and a note that told him how much she loved him and wanted to be with him.
Then it was Emily's turn. She got a helicopter ride out to Cape Hope and the two talked. Emily still wasn't sure if Brad was ready for everything that would be their life together. That continued on back at her hotel room. When Brad tried to tell her he was ready to be a dad, she couldn't just accept it. She kept telling him that "it wasn't all fun".
SIDE NOTE - Now, I understand fully why Emily was did what she did. Taking on a child is hard work. But Brad was trying to tell her he's really thought about it and was ready. The thing she didn't know was that his family had already harped about this subject and also wanted to make sure he was ready. I think if she knew that she would have let it go a bit faster.
Then it was time for Brad to look for an engagement ring. He did this before, when he was on last time, but he made sure that we all knew that this time was different. He was actually happy about looking for a ring and couldn't wait to propose. Poor Neil Lane had to sit through a quasi-therapy session with Brad during it...
Photo Credit - ABC
Then it was proposal and heartbreak time. Both ladies got ready and it was off to the limos. Brad looked pretty handsome, I must say in his suit.
Chantal is the first out of the limo. He tried to let her down easy, ultimately just saying he "has stronger feelings for someone else". Chantal was crushed and could barely keep it together. She allowed Brad to walk her out in silence. She couldn't understand how she'd been so wrong.
Photo Credit - ABC
Then it was Emily. She came out of the limo and walked up to Brad and he started his speech:
Photo Credit - ABC
"I've gone through so much to get to where I am today... I've made so many mistakes and had so many ups and downs. I always believed that when the time was right, I'd find the woman that I've been looking for for my entire life... You're so much more to me than a leap of faith. You're the one. You're my once in a lifetime. I'm asking you to give me your forever. Please let me be your best friend, let me protect you and your beautiful daughter and please give me the opportunity to love you for the rest of your life."
He asks her to marry him down on his knee, and she accepts.
Photo Credit - ABC
Photo Credit - ABC
Photo Credit - ABC
AFTER THE ROSE SPECIAL
Chantal came out first and had some serious questions for Brad. When did he know that she wasn't the one. It seemed as if Chantal wanted Brad to either say: 1) I was in love with Emily from this point, but they needed me to stick it out for the rest of the episodes so I brought you along or 2) I really didn't know who I was going to chose, and I really did love you too.
He didn't say either of those things and kind of wish-washed between the two. But we also found out that Chantal has met someone new and is already head-over-heels for him. She falls quickly...
Then Brad and Harrison discussed a few things before they brought Emily out. But again, Brad kind of side-stepped the questions until his fiance came out.
These two are having difficulties with the media scrunity and having to watch the show back. They planned to get married before this, and even have a surprise wedding back in Anguilla for the After The Rose Special, but have posponed it.
While Emily was describing how hard it's been to watch Brad with the other girls I wanted to shake her. I've been saying for weeks now that Brad was in love with Emily. Even when the rumors were that he proposed to Chantal, I kept saying... NO, he's in love with Emily. I think where he truly fell was back in Anguilla when they watch the sunset and the moon rise, but she had him before that.
I'm surprised she's having such a hard time with it, because as I saw it he broke so many of the "Bachelor Rules" for her. Not once did he tell the other girls he was "falling in love" with them like he did for her. Not once did he tell any of the other girls that she would get a rose at the next ceremony like he did for her. Not once did he pull any other girl aside and do something for her that he did for Emily. The way I saw it, it was the "Brad and Emily fall in love" show.
They were really open together with Harrison during the show, and she said she's not ready to get married right now and wants to wait until the show is completely done. She's not ready to move her life to Austin yet. AND the two of them have serious issues to work out. Her insecurity and his temper.
She wasn't wearing the engagement ring, although they both confirmed they still consider each other engaged. The "successful" relationships from the Bachelor/Bachelorette Alumni: Trista & Ryan, Jason & Molly and Ali & Roberto came out to try and help the new couple weather the storm. Each one of them had some insight.
Ryan had to watch Trista's journey and could relate to Emily in her jealousy and insecurity issues and tried to tell them they need to focus on each other and not the other stuff that's over now.
Jason has been on both sides and can relate to having to bring in his child into the mix, so of course he relates to Emily. Plus both him and Molly had some of the most public/tabloid scrutiny of any Bachelor/Bachelorette because of his decision to dump Melissa and date (and marry) his runner-up, Molly. But they had the same advice, you can't worry about the stuff you can't control and you have to focus on the love and what you have with each other.
Roberto actually gave a specific example of when he felt utterly confused and upset while watching the season back... when Frank left Ali. He had to watch her heart-wrenching break-down that he had no idea happened and it made him question things, but again, they said focus on what you have because, that's all over now.
I hope these two crazy kids work it out. I think Brad's in it for real, so it will ultimately come down to whether Emily's ready to take him and his temper on and willing to really let someone into her life. I hope they do. If only to increase the success rate to 4 couples.
They seemed lovey-dovey (kind of) at the end while they watched the proposal back and Brad slipped the newly resized engagement ring back on her finger.
So who's the next Bachelorette?! Ashley H. and her make-over. YUP. That's right, the "dancing dentist" is coming back in May to find love. Like I've said previously, she wouldn't have been my top choice (I think Shawntel or Ashley S. would have been more fun to watch), but I'm totally in on watching her JOUUUUUUURNEY.
Photo Credit - ABC
Til then folks...
