In the history of the "Bachelor"/"Bachelorette" franchise, has there been a weirder set of meet-the-family Final Four dates than what we witnessed Wednesday?

Okay, so Shannon spending more time with her dog than Alex Michel in the inaugural "Bachelor" was odd, and so was Cristina's offhand mention of how she pictured her and Andrew Firestone's wedding cake in "Bachelor" No. 3. But the final three dates on Meredith's itinerary Wednesday (Feb. 11) make those incidents look like the picture of happiness.

Consider: We saw Meredith being treated practically like a movie star in Buffalo, grilled by a relative, then left alone in a kitchen in New York City, and told she'd have to accept the fact that her husband would be in charge should she marry into an east Texas family.

Our girl's first stop, at Matt's family farm outside Houston, is the least eventful of the four. Both Meredith and Matt are wondering how she might like life outside a city (Matt no longer lives on the farm, but sees his family often), and she seems to like it just fine.

Her opinion is helped by Matt's gracious family, who, after some pointed early statements -- "You don't want some Yankee boy," mom Carol proclaims -- seem to warm to Meredith. Dad Ray says at the end of the date that his son and Meredith make "a beautiful couple."

The normally stylish Meredith also makes what may be her first fashion faux pas of the series at Matt's place, wearing what appear to be Ugg boots under her jeans. At least she doesn't tuck the legs inside the boots.

Next, Meredith shuffles off to Buffalo (come on, I had to use that) to meet Chad's "Bachelor"-loving family. Mom Norma and sister Darcy gush over Meredith, repeatedly telling her how they were so glad to find out she was the Bachelorette after seeing her with Bachelor Bob last fall.

Unfortunately for Chad, his mom also mentions that the "pharmaceutical salesman" is, uh, between jobs. After a brief shot of Meredith looking surprised and one little interview clip, though, the subject doesn't come up again. Nor does the fact that Chad lives with Norma, probably due to the fact that Meredith is otherwise really into him. "I could see myself spending the rest of my life with him," she says.

New York City and the somewhat aloof Ian are next. We get a hint as to how he got that way when he tells Meredith his dad and stepmom won't be joining them because the folks are "out there. ... We don't talk about things much."

Instead, we get Ian's intense younger brother Eric and a friend, Damien, who has a really nice apartment. Eric immediately jumps in with the tough questions, including whether Meredith wants an engagement ring at the end. She says she wants to get married someday, and if it happens at the end of this process, great.

At the end of the evening, Eric and Ian leave Meredith alone in Damien's kitchen to have a talk in the stairwell. The subject: Dude, I'm not ready to get married. (Maybe Ian should have considered that a little more when he applied for the show, but water under the bridge and all that.) Meredith leaves feeling awkward, but with a certain something that still draws her to the reticent Wall Streeter.

Finally, it's back to Texas and Lanny's ranch. After explaining the particulars of horse breeding -- the phrase "artificial vagina" comes up -- we meet Lanny's mom, Jeanne. His dad, brother and sister-in-law are there too, but mom dominates the segment.

First, Jeanne tells Meredith that if she marries Lanny, she'll have one involved mother-in-law, and asks how she could meet Meredith's needs in such a situation. A befuddled Meredith says things would work out fine.

At dinner, Jeanne asks about Meredith's church-going habits, and we learn that while Meredith's dad was raised in a strict Catholic home, she is not a regular at Mass or any other service. Everyone smiles, then mom proceeds to let her know that she'd expect Meredith to be there for Lanny "whether you like it or not," because he would be the head of household in any marriage.

Lanny doesn't say much during dinner. Sister-in-law Resia observes to the camera that Meredith will just have to get used to Jeanne being very involved in her son's life if they're together.

All this makes Meredith pretty uncomfortable. She clearly has strong feelings for Lanny, and she says Jeanne is sweet, but it's just as clear that she and Lanny come from different worlds.

Perhaps still reeling from the all the home-based oddities she's seen in the past week, Meredith pulls another fashion don't at the rose ceremony in fishnet stockings and a sleeveless turtleneck whose collar appears furry. Roses for Matt and Chad are no-brainers, and the third goes to Ian.

She has a tough time saying goodbye to Lanny, telling him "I adore you." Lanny takes it well, noting that "with my faith, I have to believe it was the right thing." Based on what we saw, it's probably best for both of them.