Bachelor 14 E06 - Top 4 - Jake Meets The Families
By: Edward Ganges
Original Article
for RealityTVMatrix.com

Monday, February 8, 2010
The Bachelor Season 14, Episode 6- "Top 4 - Jake Meets the Families"

Pre-Cap:
Jake accompanies the four remaining bachelorettes to their hometowns to meet their families. He finds one to be very protective, must work to win over another gal's mom, has serious questions for the third's family and is grilled by the fourth's.

Meeting the Families:
First Jake visits with Gia's family. They have a wonderful time and everyone is impressed. At the end of the date they sit on the steps outside of an old brownstone and kiss while watching the cars go by.

Next, Jake goes to at least hometown and for stops at the home of her deceased grandmother. Ali is convinced that her grandmother Spirit is looking down and smiling at the potential union of Ali and Jake. Afterwards Jake goes to visit at Ali's family for dinner and answer some questions for Ali's mother. For Ali's mom, Ali's happiness and a sense of family are her two most important considerations; luckily, Jake scores major points on his answers to Ali's mom's questions. On a side note, Ali's family makes a big deal of her "heart of Gold". This seems to be slightly at odds with her tendency to talk about Vienna behind her back, etc.

Next Jake travels to Newberg, Oregon to see Tenley and her family. Jake is looking forward to seeing Tenley because her core values and goals in life align with his so nicely. Even after two previous dates he professes that he misses Tenley like crazy. A couple of sweet quick kisses in the park and off they go. Tenley starts by asking Jake about how he makes decisions as a man and then takes them to the dance studio where she grew up. Next thing you know Tinley is performing a lyrical ballet choreographed by her especiAli for Jake. Jake finds himself "practicAli melting in the chair". They continue on inside of the dance studio for little while and dance with each other, which Tenley hopes lasts forever.

Tenley's family are Rob, Beth, and sister Carly. Jake looks forward to grilling them as to whether Tenley is reAli ready to jump back on the horse. Tenley's father has a good conversation with Jake and asks if he reAli is the guy that they saw on the bachelorette -- a.k.a. an honorable guy that they felt would be a good match for Tenley. Ultimately, Jake asks Tenley's father's permission to propose to his daughter it comes to that and after even Jake gets teary-eyed, its hugs, handshakes, goodnight kisses and we've got one more date to go.

Wooden bridges and green over shirts make Vienna look amazing - which isn't that difficult considering her natural charms. Jake Faust to narrow the gap between the beginning he sees and that he and all the other girls complain about sometime during this date. Oddly, while cruising down the river in Danny's boat it becomes obvious that Vienna is the most open and sincere conversationalists of this bunch. When Vienna talks to Jake there is no hesitation; just good eye to eye contact and a complete openness and sense of relaxation. Once they get to her house, everybody is in tears just to see her walk through the door: they reAli love themselves some Vienna.

Vienna's dad, Vincent, seemed like a straight shooter kind of a guy. A quick conversation in the shed, over the Harley, and Jake knows exactly how closely that is going to be watching this marriage if it happens. Over dinner, they discuss the evidence historical rivalry with other women and her penchant for wrecking car. Overall, it's like an episode of the simple life. Dad even walks in while they're kissing and requests a six-inch separation of bodies: priceless.

Pre-Ceremonial Shenanigans:
With the dates completed Jake takes some time to try to figure out how to decide between these four amazing women. Ali arrives with the news that she needs to return to her job and asked Jake's advice. Jake informs her that although it is great to have a job, life is about making choices that will lead to the least regrets. Ali breaks down in the hallway while leaving Jake's room: This is understandably a devastating scenario for Ali because she was so close to actuAli "having it all" -- which is a happiness she never expected she would be able to achieve.

On one side note, not knowing what Ali will decide gives Jake a small taste of what the 25 women must have been feeling these last few weeks. Jake doesn't make the connection but he does state that the feeling is "killing me".

On a second side note, Chris and Jake sit down to discuss the ramifications of Ali quitting her job to stay with Jake -- if she chooses to do so. Tricky stuff.

Rose Ceremony:
While Jake deliberates Ali asks Chris for a private conversation and leaves the room. Whoops, not too much drama: Chris just escorts her to Jake where she sits down for a private conversation. For me, it's a little too much "I don't know what I want to do; please tell me what to do; what do you want to do?" -- but that's just for me. And while I'm at it, just for me, the old cranky whiny voice thing doesn't work for me either. For me. But it is a nice dress.

Ultimately Ali's decision is that she should leave Jake and go back to her job. I guess the debate will be if it was the right decision or even a decision any of the other girls would've made. For me, I wish she had stayed -- but then again I might as well predict now that she's going to end up as a Bachelorette -- which is something I've been thinking since about week three anyway.

And so, with Ali taking herself out of the competition, Chris states that "for the first time ever there will be no rose ceremony". The order of roses is Tenley, Gia and then Vienna; but, that just happens to be the order in which they were lined up.

Postmortem:
Having not taken Jake's advice to seek the path of least regrets (and to stay), Ali begins her doubts and regrets during her limo