The Golden Bachelor Winner Justifies Not Getting Engaged To Mel Owens, And I Actually Understand Her Explanation

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Warning: This story reveals who won Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor. If you haven’t finished watching yet, you can stream it on Hulu.

Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor has concluded, and while Mel Owens didn’t propose to either of his final two contestants when the finale aired in 2025, it was generally considered a positive outcome. Peg Munson received the final rose, though not a marriage proposal, and I agree with her reasoning, even though it differs from the usual format of the show.

For over two decades, The Bachelor and its various spin-offs have built their reputation on the idea of a proposal at the end of each season. While not every season ends with an engagement, and many of those engagements don’t last, it’s still what fans expect. Recently, Mel Owens surprised Peg Munson with a promise ring instead of an engagement ring, and explained their choice to BachelorNation.com, saying:

We deserve to create the kind of love we want now. We’ve worked hard and reached our sixties – we’ve earned the freedom to define our relationship on our own terms. It’s up to us to write our own love story and live it the way we choose.

I was definitely among the most critical of Mel Owens’ season, especially after his comments about dating preferences. I still believe he didn’t fully open up enough to be a successful lead. But, I’m setting my concerns aside because Peg Munson is spot on.

No one is obligated to get engaged. It’s generally unwise for people of any age to make such a serious commitment so quickly, but the pressure seems less intense for the younger cast members in their 20s and 30s.

Unlike typical reality shows, the contestants on The Golden Bachelor have all experienced loss or divorce and have established families, including children and grandchildren. Because of this, they may not prioritize the expectations of viewers or the demands of the show.

Honestly, I felt for Cindy when she realized Mel wasn’t planning a proposal after all – it’s totally understandable to be disappointed that late in the game. And those lines Mel kept dropping, like talking about his wife being there, were definitely pushed by producers and felt a bit deceptive. But come on, can we really blame a guy for being cautious? Mel’s 66, he’s a lawyer – he’s not going to rush into anything! Didn’t we just watch Gerry and Theresa take things slow and ultimately succeed? It feels like people are upset he didn’t follow a script, not that he wasn’t ready for marriage.

I really didn’t want to see another rushed marriage on The Golden Bachelor Season 2. We already saw what happened with Joan Vassos on The Golden Bachelorette – it’s been over a year since she got engaged to Chock Chapple, and while they haven’t gotten married or even moved in together, they seem to be doing well.

The contestants on The Golden Bachelor deserve respect for their age and life experience, and I think Peg Munson is right to want control over how her relationship with Mel Owens unfolds.

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2025-11-17 00:38