Bachelor Season Finale: Jason Mesnick Changes His Mind!

If you've been watching this season's episodes of the Bachelor, you've anticipated the show's ending. We've seen multiple commercials featuring Deanna Pappas, the previous Bachelorette who rejected the now Bachelor- Jason Mesnick. We've wondered where she comes in to play and why she visits him, who he'll finally choose, and who will be sent home broken hearted. This has been amplified by the previews shown several weeks in a row pertaining to the most shocking 'After the Final Rose' ceremony in Bachelor history. We are then forewarned that due to the delicate nature of the turn of events, the privacy of the parties involved must be protected. If the show didn't have you before, it does now, right?

Since the beginning, Chris Harrison has promised us the most dramatic season finale in Bachelor history and this time, he actually delivered. From the start we watched 25 women throw themselves at single father Jason Mesnick. This later ends in a competition between 24-year-old Molly Malaney, a department store buyer from Grand Rapids, MI., and Melissa Rycroft, the 25-year-old former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader.

Jason Mesnick appears to be as sweet and down to earth as he is handsome. We cheer for him as we want to see him come out ahead this time, but ultimately to find the love of his life. With a 3-year-old son at home named, Ty, he must not only choose the right woman for himself but must also consider who will be the best selection as stepmom to his little boy. I believe that as with the first round on the Bachelorette, Jason really does want to find true love; others will disagree and say that this is a reality TV show and people only agree to appear to find fame and other financial and television opportunities. Because he has a child that he had left at home with family for weeks while taping, once again, I'd have to believe that as a parent he'd only do it if it was for the right reasons.

The 3-hour season finale begins showing recaps of the previous one-on-one dates in New Zealand together and continue by having each of the women meet Jason's parents and family, and of course, lastly they each meet his beloved son, Ty. Jason is curious to see how each relates to his parents and if they feel comfortable around his son. Both Melissa and Molly answer the tough questions that his family dishes out. Molly was touted as the one with "her feet planted firmly on the ground" as per his father. His parents and his family also concluded that it was obvious how in-love Molly was with him. They also believed Melissa was a good match for him and his parents believed that she was more 'family-oriented" whereas Molly was more 'career-oriented". The ladies are both great with Ty and although Molly has not had a lot experience around children, Ty warmed up to her and asks several times, "Daddy, where is Molly?" during the time she is meeting with his family one-on-one. Melissa has had much more experience with kids and it shows. She is very playful and makes an effort to keep Ty entertained and happy at all times, which at times could have appeared to have been trying too hard.

The women each have their final words for Jason and state their case one final time while spending some more alone time before the big rose ceremony. Melissa wore a stunning draped gown in yellow which complemented both her hair color and skin tone while Molly once again pulled out a beautiful hue, this time in a jewel-toned deep purple. Both women looked gorgeous! They each get into their respective limos and head to the very location that Jason will be proposing to one lucky lady.

Before heading to the final rose ceremony, Jason gets a surprise winner from the former Bachelorette heart-breaker, Deanna Pappas. She arrives in New Zealand offering advice to Jason about selecting the person that is right for him and his lifestyle and values and not the one that will offer fun and excitement. She discusses how her relationship with Jesse ended because of just that and how she should have chosen him, something everyone could see at the time, except poor Deanna! With that pearl of wisdom, Jason heads to the final rose location.

Molly arrives first, and upon hearing Jason's first words about falling in love with her early on, being drawn into her beautiful eyes and never wanting their time to end, he tells her he's not in love with her, and that he is with Melissa. Molly is heartbroken. Jason walks her toward the car and they pause. Molly in tears repeatedly says "I think you're making a BIG mistake" and then tells him she thinks he'll realize it afterwards and it will be too late. I was voting for Molly, so at this point I'm sort of hoping he does realize that but sort of hoping if Melissa is 'the one' that he'll be happy none-the-less. Afterwards Jason is on the top of a building and is crying like a baby. You can see that he is truly torn up letting Molly go, either that, or he is a darn good actor!

Jason pulls himself together before the next lady's arrival. Melissa shows up and he tells her all about how he starting falling in love with her from their first date together and first kiss and then proceeds to tell her the words that she has been longing to hear, "Melissa, I'm in love with you!". She asks with a smile on her face, "You really want to marry me?" and he says yes. He slides the stunning one-of-a-kind Neil Lane diamond ring that he chose for her onto her finger and they kiss. Shortly after, Ty comes running out in a tuxedo and they all hug. They are now standing near two large pools and they all jump in, fancy attire and all, into the pool, symbolizing their new life together jumping into unchartered waters, I suppose. It is a cute moment but the moment all viewers are waiting for is what's to come!

The final rose ceremony begins and Jason is alone talking to host, Chris Harrison. You can tell by the solo interview, minus the audience, that something disturbing is about to be revealed. Well, that and the fact that we've seen previous every week leading up to this point! Jason in fact reveals that the six weeks after the taping of the show are much different than his time with Melissa during their journey. He no longer feels in love with her, and cannot stop thinking of Molly. He mentions that they have apparently been working through it, states apart, over the phone and he just doesn't feel what she feels. He says that the passion is not there anymore. At this point, I'm thinking "c'mon, you were on a reality show with hype, glamour, fancy destination dates, and were dating several women at one time, did you actually think it would feel the same?!" He lets the audience know that he is about to tell Melissa that it is over and ask Molly for a chance at love.

Melissa enters the set and sits next to Jason but doesn't appear to be wearing the ring. They discuss what's gone down since the show and Melissa is angry that Jason won't fight for their relationship but that he told her he loved her and got down on one knee. She then says, "I don't know what you want me to say when you sit there and say that -- because I don't believe you! I mean I thought things were perfect!"

"Do you see where I'm a little irritated?" Jason is persistent in telling her that he can't help what he feels. He knows how this looks on TV but he can't stop thinking about Molly. Remember that tears after he let her go? I think they may have been real. Melissa is peeved and lets Jason know it. He tells her he is ending their relationship. He had not spoken to Molly and had been working on their relationship as they were engaged but was ready to end it as it wasn't working. She was very angry and he said, "This isn't you" referring to her anger and attitude. She actually calls him a nasty name on national TV as she was just dumped and humiliated. She voluntarily gives him the ring back and proceeds to leave the stage. In the limo she is tearful but explains she was not really mad, but more hurt and she didn't want to reveal that as she has been dumped yet one more time! She is hopeful that if it's not meant to work that she'll find someone else.

Meanwhile, Molly enters the stage and speaks to Jason, not knowing what just went down. She has questions for him about why seemed to care so much but picked Melissa, etc. Jason then reveals that he just saw Melissa and ended their relationship. He tells her of how it wasn't working after the film stopped rolling but moreover that he could not stop thinking about her. She was excited and happy to hear this because she admitted spending the first full week after the taping, "crying and feeling sorry for herself, wishing he'd realize that he made the wrong choice and would come back to her". She is very confused though and looks the part. She tells Jason she has a lot of questions. She wanted to know how it was possible to feel the way that he did and yet pick Melissa. He claims that he didn't realize what he was missing until she was gone and that he felt that huge piece of him was missing once she was gone. That part is believable, I think we've all experienced a time in our lives where something was appreciated far more once it was gone. They talk a little more, there are several kisses and Molly still appears to be in utter shock. He asks her for a "chance" to be together and talk some more and take things slowly. He says he wants to start by talking after the show. That's how it ends. They walk off the stage together hand-in-hand.

After the Final Rose: Part 2 will reveal the previous 6 weeks of life and love for Jason and Molly. I have a feeling they are well matched and will be together for a long time to come.