As The Golden Bachelor Kicks Off Season 2 With Mel Owens, There’s One Thing I’m Hoping To See Again (And Another I Hope They Do Away With)

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Get ready for another season of *The Golden Bachelor*! Mel Owens will be hitting screens on September 24, 2025, as the lead in the show’s second season. This installment promises to be particularly intriguing, considering the 66-year-old lead has expressed a preference for dating younger women. While it’s sure to be different from Gerry Turner’s season, there’s one element from the first season that I hope they repeat, and one thing they definitely shouldn’t.

The Golden Bachelor Should Continue Showing The Fun Female Friendships

While finding love is the main point of *The Bachelor* shows, the *Golden Bachelor* spinoffs have really become popular because of the friendships the contestants make with each other. I’m hoping Mel Owens’ season keeps showing those connections, and I’d actually enjoy seeing even more focus on them.

Viewers of Gerry Turner’s season were often just as interested in the storylines of Susan Noles and Kathy Swarts – who many Bachelor Nation fans compare to Caitlyn and Kris Jenner – as they were in Gerry’s romantic pursuits.

Similarly, Joan Vassos’ season of *The Golden Bachelorette* generated buzz with contestants Charles Ling and Jack Lencioni’s playful behavior at the mansion. And on *Bachelor in Paradise*, many viewers found Kathy’s friendship with Keith Gordon just as compelling – or even more so – than the romantic relationships unfolding on the show.

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Both *The Golden Bachelor* and *The Golden Bachelorette* have gone beyond just focusing on romance, tackling important topics like loneliness, feeling overlooked, and dealing with grief. The upcoming second season, with Gerry Turner and Joan Vassos, offers a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and possibilities of finding love again after experiencing the loss of a spouse – a topic that hasn’t been widely addressed in the show before.

To be honest, I’m a little concerned that Mel Owens has said he prefers dating younger women as I start watching Season 2 of *The Golden Bachelor*. I worry that any romantic connections he makes with the women on the show – most of whom are 60 or older – won’t last very long, so it’s even more important to focus on the friendships between the women.

That reminds me of something I *really* don’t want to happen on *The Golden Bachelor*.

Please, No More Quickie Golden Weddings

Theresa Nist believes her and Gerry Turner’s short-lived marriage-lasting only three months-was partly due to rushing into things, and some people felt it reflected poorly on *The Bachelor* franchise. If Mel Owens proposes at the end of Season 2 of *The Golden Bachelor*, I hope he and his future wife aren’t pressured into a televised wedding special right away.

The show’s producers likely took note of what happened in the first season. They didn’t pressure Joan Vassos’s winning match, Chock Chapple-and thankfully, they’re still together! If they decide to do another *Golden Wedding* spin-off, I hope they let the couple build a relationship outside of the show first.

Season 2 of *The Golden Bachelor*, featuring Mel Owens’ journey to find love again, premieres Wednesday, September 24th at 8 p.m. Eastern on ABC. You can also watch it the next day on Hulu if you have a subscription.

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2025-09-24 16:55