Jillian Harris, the 29-year-old Canadian who was a runner-up for the heart of 2009 Bachelor Jason Mesnick, gets a new perspective on the rose ceremony. But first, Jillian meets the 25 guys who arrive by limousine at the show's L.A. mansion. Then, at the introductory cocktail party, she meets five "crashers" as well. The other 25 don't like the intrusion, but all 30 are in the mix for the evening's first-impression rose. At the rose ceremony, Jillian pares the field to 20.
After the 20 cocktail-party survivors settle into their "animal house," one accompanies Jillian to Hollywood's House of Blues, where they're serenaded by Martina McBride. Another dines with Jillian in a bank vault. Group dates include a trip to Venice Beach, where guys play basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters; and a pool party, followed by a race across L.A. Come elimination time there's a new wrinkle: The men vote on whom they'd like to see go, and after Jillian weighs in 16 are left.
Jillian rappels down the exterior of L.A.'s Bonaventure Hotel with one bachelor, gives another a ride in a Ferrari and escorts 11 others to a movie set, where they attend a wrap party for a Western (and one guy lassos himself a date rose). There's also some late-night canoodling at the mansion and a confrontation between two guys just before the rose ceremony. In the end, 13 men remain standing.
Jillian and the remaining 13 contestants travel to Vancouver, her hometown, where she takes 10 of them curling and five on a sunset boat ride. She also takes two on a "one-stays-one-goes" date that culminates atop a snow-covered mountain. In addition, Jillian and one guy heat up her kitchen, but another gets too steamy for her taste. And when she hears that three men might have girlfriends back home, she cancels the pre-rose ceremony cocktail party. At the ceremony, she pares the field to 10.
Jillian and her 10 remaining suitors head for the British Columbia resort town of Whistler under a cloud---some of the bachelors might have girlfriends. But the dating goes on: snowmobiling for eight guys, and one-on-one zip-trekking and ski-plane adventures capped by romantic dinners (and, in one case, a soak in a hot tub). At the rose ceremony, Jillian reduces the field to eight.
Jillian and the eight remaining bachelors take a train trip across western Canada, stopping at Emerald Lake, Lake Louise and Banff. Six of the guys also hop into a hot tub with her, while two others go on make-or-break solo dates. Back aboard the train, one guy sneaks into Jillian's private car, then three are sent packing at the rose ceremony. The other five will get to entertain Jillian on their home turfs.
Jillian visits the hometowns of the five remaining bachelors. She fears that one guy's family might disapprove of her, questions if another bachelor is ready for marriage and wonders if she can meet another's family expectations. And one might be getting cold feet. Then there's the still-unresolved someone-has-a-girlfriend question. Before she eliminates a bachelor at the rose ceremony, two guys have an intense confrontation in her presence.
Jillian and her final four head to Spain for flamenco in Madrid, a picnic in Seville and a Barcelona bike ride (plus overnight dates in fantasy suites, at her discretion). At the rose ceremony, one guy is sent home. For the other three, Hawaii is next.
Jillian arrives on Maui with the three remaining bachelors, all of whom she says she loves. She trusts her safety on a rope course to one, soars over the island in a helicopter with another and cruises to a secluded cove with the third, who shows just how serious he is. At the rose ceremony, Jillian discusses with one man their night together in the fantasy suite before telling all three which one she loves the least.
Eliminated bachelors dish about Jillian and each other, and Jillian dishes about them as she looks back over the competition. Also: Q&A sessions for Jillian and several of the bachelors, profiles of the two finalists and a preview of the season finale.
Jillian's choice is down to Ed or Kiptyn in the Season 5 finale, taped on Hawaii's Big Island, where she has outdoor dates with the two, who are also grilled by her family. Then, following a last-minute confession, it's time for her to reveal her choice.
In a Season 5 review, two spurned bachelors confront Jillian. Also: an update on Melissa Rycroft from Season 13 of "The Bachelor."