Mel Owens’ Golden Bachelor Season Has Been A Mess, But I’ve Got Some Ideas On How To Fix It

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Just two years ago, everyone was charmed by Gerry Turner’s journey on The Golden Bachelor, and many viewers were moved as he and the senior contestants rediscovered love. However, Season 2, currently airing, hasn’t been as enjoyable. Mel Owens doesn’t seem much more enthusiastic about continuing than the audience is, and the season feels like it’s lost its way. If the show wants to succeed with a third season, significant changes are needed.

Mel Owens, 66, faced criticism even before his season began. He received backlash from viewers after saying on a podcast that he prefers to date women under 60 and would eliminate any older than that. While those comments were poorly received, they don’t fully explain the challenges this season has faced. Here’s what I believe needs to change:

The Lead Needs To Be Willing And Able To Express His Emotions

Mel Owens struggles to express his emotions, which is a problem for the lead of a dating show. This has become more noticeable as the season goes on, especially with fewer contestants remaining.

We saw examples of this throughout the season, like when Peg Munson’s daughter tried to understand Mel’s feelings for her mom during Hometown dates. Later, Cindy Cullers expressed frustration during Fantasy Suites because Mel wouldn’t commit to a potential engagement – something she reminded him was the point of The Golden Bachelor.

Compared to Joey, Gerry Turner, the first Golden Bachelor, often seemed emotional and talked about his late wife, Toni, so frequently that it felt like she was part of the show. While some fans have cooled on him since his divorce from his winner, Theresa Nist, he consistently praised the women for their grace and smarts.

Mel is planning to propose in a week, but he’s been very vague about his feelings, only saying he ‘really likes her’ and things are ‘going great.’ This season could have been a chance to explore finding love after divorce, but Mel seems hesitant to open up, leaving us wondering if he actually wants to get married.

The Golden Bachelor Doesn’t Need A Villain

I was really hoping to see the friendships develop between the contestants on Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor. That’s what made Gerry’s season so enjoyable, and the same was true for Joan Vassos’ season of The Golden Bachelorette. While the cast did bond this season, it felt like that connection was lost a bit because of all the drama surrounding Nicolle Briscoe’s portrayal as the ‘villain’.

The show spent too much time focusing on whether Nicolle was more interested in Mel or in gaining followers – and why – which meant we missed out on learning more about the other contestants. The producers prioritized a dramatic storyline over letting the women share their personal lives and backgrounds.

Several cast members from Season 2 had really interesting backgrounds, and I wish we’d gotten to learn more about them instead of constantly hearing Nicolle explain how to create good TV and make insensitive remarks about the women from Season 1. It was unnecessary and frankly, rude. If viewers want that kind of drama, they can watch the regular Bachelor. The Golden Bachelor doesn’t need it.

Don’t Eliminate So Many People In The First Episode

As I said before, the women on Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor have all lived incredibly full lives, and we’ve heard some amazing – and sometimes heartbreaking – stories from them. Cheryl Steele shared a truly terrifying story about her ex-husband kidnapping their baby son, and Debbie Siebers bravely opened up about the loss of her former partner. These were some of the most difficult moments I’ve ever witnessed on The Bachelor.

It seems like everyone on The Bachelor has a compelling or sad backstory, so it’s strange that the show sends so many people home on the very first night without letting us hear those stories.

Gerry Turner and Mel Owens each eliminated six women during their first rose ceremony. Mel’s premiere, however, was a two-part episode that included a second rose ceremony. This meant he sent a total of ten women home within just two hours, cutting his original group of 23 down significantly.

I really hope they limit the number of women sent home on the first night – ideally just two or three, or even none! If the show only needs around 13 to 15 contestants, they should just cast that many to begin with and skip the initial rose ceremony. It feels pointless to introduce so many women with elaborate entrances just to eliminate most of them right away.

Put The Heart Back Into The Golden Bachelor

Ultimately, the first season of The Golden Bachelor resonated with viewers because it was emotionally engaging. We were invested in seeing Gerry find love again after loss, and many people connected with the contestants’ experiences – whether it was dealing with grief, navigating life with hearing aids, or balancing their own desires with family responsibilities.

We saw the same emotional moments on The Golden Bachelorette, like when Charles Ling found peace regarding his wife’s passing, realizing he couldn’t have changed what happened. There were also plenty of funny scenes, such as Jack Lencioni’s popular tour of the Bachelor Mansion and the pool staff performing a synchronized swimming routine. It’s surprising we didn’t see more of this kind of content during Mel’s season.

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2025-11-07 23:09