Bachelor recap: crossing the Finnish line

Thank god that's over, amiright? ABC blows the budget and flies Nick's enormous family to Finland to meet the final two ladies. Many have already met Raven, including little sis Bella, who's a big fan. But Vanessa makes a good impression as well, causing Nick's dad to tear up. She clearly still has some doubts, but meeting his family makes her fall more in love with him. She even says she'd be willing to leave behind everything she knows in Montreal for him. #kissofdeath

The ladies each have another one-on-one date with Nick: Vanessa has a magical day of horseback riding through the snow in Lapland, ending up where else? Santa's house! This is not a joke, people. Santa comes out and asks what they want for Christmas. And producers make Vanessa say something like "Santa Claus is more of a feeling, a belief. That's like my relationship with Nick." Alrighty. She also tells Nick she doesn't want to win just because Raven doesn't quite cut it - she wants to be his one and only. He just can't confess this to her yet, because there's another date on the line!

Raven and Nick ice skate to "Kiss Me" and the date is complete with husky puppies. Damn you, Nick. Can't say no to puppies. Raven is living in the here and now and is cool with uncertainty, unlike Vanessa - way to pick two polar opposites, producers Nick!

But clearly Nick prefers more of a challenge, for he sends Raven back to Hoxie and proposes to Vanessa. Since he's now doing Dancing with the Stars and she literally lives in another country, I give this 6 months.

At the After the Final Rose, I am half-expecting Raven to come out wielding a stiletto, but she's perfectly genteel. As a reward, Chris Harrison invites her to Paradise. As long as Corinne will be there too, I'm in.

'Til next time..