"THE BACHELOR: SHOCK & AWE FINALE"

Call him the 'Heartbreak Kid', 'Mr. Flip-Flop' or just plain 'bastard' (as Melissa put it) but one thing 'Jason Mesnick' can't be called is a coward. Last nights 'The Bachelor Season Finale' and 'After the Final Rose Part 1' (this is before I even knew there was a 'Part 2') our boy J had spent more time with 'Melissa' and 'Molly' in New Zealand.This time the ladies got their chance to meet his family and most importantly meet his son Ty. It seemed like all things went well.

Jason had mentioned from day one that he could not fall in love with anyone unless he knew how they were with his son. Well, he got to witness a wonderful interaction between both the ladies and Ty. However, I got the impression that Melissa tried way too hard to fit into J's life. Might this have paid off? Well, I'll elaborate on that a little later. But now let's concentrate on how the ladies fared with the family.

I got the impression that they thought Mel closely resembled another DeAnna (the heartbreak femme fatale!) and felt uneasy about Jason not getting to meet her family. Mel looked genuine in her answers but I still wasn't convinced that she's ever been the right fit for our boy J. Mol on the other hand gives a more realistic approach to life. The simple fact that she was nervous meeting his son proved that the reality of becoming a potential future stepmother to Ty might be in her not to distant future. But overall, I thought both dates went really well.

The ladies had one final alone date as one last ditch effort to try to sway Jason's decision. Mel's was supposed to be a romantic boat ride around the islands (but it rained - does it always rain there or what?!) and it turned out to be yet another bikini clad opportunity to see them jump in the freezing water. Later that evening the two unwound together near the fireplace. Mel had spoken to her parents on the phone and unloaded how she felt to them about Jason. They agreed that they want to speak to him over the phone. He was pleased by this turn of events and you hear later that he does call and speak to them. Well, it was about time wasn't it!

Getting back to Mol...their final date consisted of a surprise relaxing massage back at her place. J seemed to be enthralled by her. The camera angle teased the viewers like mad during that session! Can you say hot people?! Yeowza! After a quick change we see the couple cooking together. Awwwww isn't that cute! During dinner Mol takes this opportunity to give J a special gift she made of their journey together on the show. A book that consisted of all the notes and even the song she wrote for him to win her overnight date. He was truly touched by what she had given him. But would that touching gesture (and the massage) be enough to have Mol get the final rose?

Well, the season finale wouldn't be complete without a visit from the ex-bachlorette 'DeAnna' right before he was to choose 'the one'. That I'm afraid looked like a complete set up. She told J she picked the wrong guy (on her show) and didn't want to see him make the same mistake she did with him. I'm sure he took that into consideration (yeah right!) but she left and he went on to tell us how he felt again, which was more confusing than ever.

As for the ring, well it was a stunner (as in true 'bachelor' history) but the question still remained. Who was was he going to choose after he's been admitting that he's fallen for two women and he could see himself spending his life with both?

The big moment arrives. Finally! And the winner is (drum roll please) 'Melissa'. I must honestly admit I had a gut feeling that he was going to choose Mel right from the start (and he did) but Mol said it best when she told J flat out that he was making a big mistake. Nonetheless, Mol's exit was classy. I never expected anything less. If that had been Mel I'm sure the exit would have been far more whiny and dramatic.

But as in true 'reality tv' form the honeymoon was short lived (6 weeks to be exact!) when they spoke to the love birds to see how they were doing after the show had aired. The fact that it was audience-less made it seem something big was going to happen and big it was. On national television J admitted that the chemistry between him and Mel was 'poof' magically gone. That the two were different people and weren't right for each other.

Mel's reaction to the breakup looked almost scripted (or so it seemed) as she gave back the ring. Oh she was hurt all right and no break-up is ever complete without tears. The fact that she stormed off the stage to a waiting limo (yes in true 'Diva' style folks!) and told J never to call or text her ever again. She claimed that she thought things were 'perfect' between them and that he should have fought for them. That when he put a ring on her finger she thought that was forever. Can someone get this girl a real reality check? J self-admitted that he was in love with Mol still and couldn't get her out of his head! I guess that's where the part of 'you didn't fight for me, for us' makes absolutely no sense. Your so called 'fiancees' heart has always been with someone else what more proof do you need to move on?

I was never a fan of Mel and although I didn't want to see her get the final rose I also didn't wish this public humiliation of her giving the ring back to J. Oh had there been a live audience they wouldn't have been so forgiving (just read the internet forums to read peoples reactions are brutal). Then again, as in all stories there are different sides. No one (but the parties involved) know what truly unfolded. The rest is just pure speculation on audiences part.

Things like this have been happening forever if you hadn't noticed. The only thing here is the fact that they've signed up for a reality show that puts their emotions and actions under constant public scrutiny. It was their choice to be under the microscope. Someone is going to get hurt if not multiple casualties of the heart.

That being said, our boy J's next move (although he had guts I'll give him that!) was going to change the way the world (especially women) saw (golden boy) Jason. He had built a sympathetic fan base since his second runner up to DeAnna's snowboarding dude Jessie. A broken hearted, single dad whose son means the world to him is all we needed to hear (and see) and we were completely hooked! However, if you look at it from another perspective he was following his heart. That is something that people do in the real world too you know!

Well, once again in true 'reality tv' form (and without knowing the previous events that had unfolded moments earlier) Mol admits that she still loves Jason. Surprise, surprise! When J finally comes out and pours his heart out to her, you can tell she is confused and floored. She sounded optimistic at the possibility of reuniting with the man she fell head over heels in love with last year. If Mol was alone in the studio I'm sure she would do a 'Lotto 649 Happy Dance' at the prospect of Mel being dumped even though she appeared genuinely sad (yeah right!) by the news.

Frankly, I always thought 'Stephanie' (even though I was partial to our Canuck girl 'Jillian') was probably a good fit (both in age, grace and a single mom since they had the most in common) but you could tell that they lacked the necessary chemistry needed to sustain a relationship. It just plain fizzled and hadn't sizzled!

Fast forwarding to 'Part 2 AFR' provided a more laid back (with audience this time) feel to it. Bringing back some of the bachelorettes (Stephanie, Naomi, and Nikki to name a few) first who all had their take on J's actions. Mixed emotions were had by all since they knew Melissa and Molly quite well from the house. Although Stephanie took a more realistic approach and said it's better that it happened now than later, others like Naomi and Erica were the most vocal about the shocking outcome.

Later, both Jason and Molly were reunited to a warm round of applause. Yes, both of them had to be subjected to watching clips of themselves in the Part 1 show first, before explaining what's been going on since then. It is evident that they are both happy and judging by a show that's had minimal success (with all the bachelors breaking up with their perspective final rose choices) this was good to see. But again, no one knows what the future holds especially when Mol moves to Seattle (yes she did state that). In the end, the happy couple was given a 'tent' (reminiscent of their first overnight date together on the show) as a gift which was met with plenty of laughter.

Melissa was asked to appeared on the show but declined. Shocking? Not! She did release a statement that was read by Chris Harrison instead. "It was a life lesson, and I wouldn't be where I am now. I'm going to be fine." I've seen her on the 'Ellen' show and appears far from heartbroken. Might it be the fact that she's dating an old beau? She's done a brilliant job marketing herself throughout this bachelor disaster. The so called 'America's Sweetheart' (which she's been nicknamed) I'm sure is far from innocent in all this and her five minutes of fame are slowly coming to an end. Time to zip it (ex-bachelorette) 'Trista Rehn' and (Survivor castaway and The View's) 'Elizabeth Hasselbeck' (who coincidentally found their own fame on 'reality shows'...Rightttttttt!) But that's another story.

Finally, on a much lighter note, the new 'Bachelorette' was revealed and if you hadn't guessed it, it's our very own Canuck girl 'Jillian Harris' (you go girl!). So let's try to keep the steamy hot tub scenes to a minimum shall we Jilly? Mom and Dad Harris will be watching you eh!

The new season begins on ABC and CityTV on May 18th.