The Golden Bachelor is back on ABC with its highly-anticipated Season 2. But after a rocky start to his journey, can Mel Owens, a 66-year-old former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, capture Bachelor Nation’s hearts like Gerry Turner did in the senior spin-off’s debut season? Turner’s search for late-in-life love may have ended in divorce, but the Golden friendships, senior confidence boosts, and heartwarming emotional journeys that unfolded on-screen helped make the franchise’s Golden era such a success. With controversial comments to apologize for, it’s no secret that Owens is kicking his Golden Era off on the wrong foot. But will his 23 Golden Gals be willing to forgive, forget, and fall in love? Read on for a taste of what’s to come...
Opening Shot: The Golden Bachelor Season 2 opens on a shot of the pier at sunset, where Mel looks out over the boardwalk at the beach in contemplation.
The Gist: What do you need to know about the new Golden Guy waiting in the Bachelor Mansion driveway on Night 1 of The Golden Bachelor Season 2? He’s a father of two boys, a Detroit native, a proud University of Michigan grad, a former LA Rams player, and an Orange County resident. Oh, and ICYMI: He’s also the guy who went on a podcast MGoBlue’s In the Trenches podcast in June and admitted he told Golden Bachelor producers he preferred women between ages 45 and 60, saying, “If they’re 60 or over, I’m cutting them” and “Try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs.” Yikes! In an exclusive August interview with Glamour, Owens took accountability for his “unfair, insensitive” comments and vowed to earn back the trust. But how do his 23 contestants — many of whom are older than 60 — feel about his controversial remarks? In a franchise premiere unlike any other, we’re about to find out…
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? By now, you know the drill. The Golden Bachelor follows the same blueprint as other franchise installments like The Golden Bachelorette, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette. With Mel’s NFL career, the aunt of LA Dodgers player Freddie Freeman, a hockey player, and a college sports consultant in the house, however, you’ll also occasionally feel like you’re watching Sports.
Our Take: As promised, Owens addresses the elephant in the room and apologizes to his beautiful, spirited, incredibly capable contestants on Night 1. But rest assured, the ladies beat him to it and hold his NFL-famous feet to the fire. While we fear no group can ever compete with The Golden Bachelor‘s OG Golden Gals, Season 2’s cast is spunky, sassy, sexy, hilarious, and another brilliant reminder that age is just a number, and that people over 60 — even with wigs and artificial hips! — are still vibrant souls worthy of love with lots of life left to live.
While it is refreshing that The Golden Bachelor gives Mel space to hold himself accountable for the podcast, rather than sweeping it under the rug and filming as if nothing happened, his disappointing comments do cast an unshakable shadow over the Season 2 premiere. We know that earnest intentions and emotional intelligence in a lead are crucial to a season’s success, and after a large chunk of Bachelor Nation begged for Owens to be replaced and the franchise’s famous spoiler Reality Steve actively expressed disinterest in Season 2, the pressure is on to convince viewers that Owens is here for the right reasons, and not only worthy of a second chance, but this opportunity of a lifetime.
Podcast controversy and growing competition aside, the Season 2 premiere offers glimmers of the same hope and magic that viewers felt watching relationships form and sparks fly in Golden Bachelor and Golden Bachelorette seasons past. Unlike previous seasons, however, we have a feeling fans will want to see a bit more of Owens’ Golden Bachelor season before letting themselves fall for his journey. As always, we’re rooting for a love story — and in this case, real growth and regular epiphanies from Owens regarding just how wrong he was about senior ladies.
Sex and Skin: Like other shows in the franchise, as relationships heat up The Golden Bachelor piles on PDA and eventually works up to Fantasy Suite Week, but the premiere does show some skin with a good, old fashioned pool party!
Parting Shot: After the Golden Guy and his Golden Gals toast to the journey ahead, The Golden Bachelor Season 2 preview rolls. Buckle up!
Sleeper Star: Regardless of how her journey on The Golden Bachelor plays out, let the record show that Diane, a 71-year-old librarian from Alaska, is a star and deserves the world.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Falling in love never stops being magical.” Is it cheesy? Yes. But is it exactly what Bachelor Nation knowingly signs up and downright yearns for? Absolutely!
Our Call: STREAM IT. We adored The Golden Bachelor‘s groundbreaking debut season, and we’re not ready to give on the magic just yet. Whether you’ve forgiven Owens for his podcast remarks or not, we still suggest tuning into the Golden Bachelor Season 2 premiere — if only to see how the franchise handles the controversy. After hearing Owens, meeting the Golden Gals, and assessing the sophomore season vibes, you’ll have a better idea if you want to keep streaming.