The Golden Bachelor Recap: Are We There Yet?

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“What do you like about my mother?” “Her personality.” “Okay, but what specifically about her personality?” “She has one.” “Right…but do you love her? Can you imagine a future with her?” “Objection, your Honor. That question isn’t relevant.”

The recent hometown dates on The Golden Bachelor felt incredibly repetitive. This season’s choice of Mel as the Bachelor, combined with the surprisingly short length of these episodes, is a problem. It seems ABC prioritized getting Shark Tank on air at a certain time. While it’s unclear if longer episodes would have improved things, we definitely could have used more scenes of Cindy’s daughters playfully (but firmly!) getting to know Mel. Mel mentioning his podcast comments during the Rose Ceremony made it obvious he’d asked producers if he could potentially elope with one of them – they’re around the same age as his former wife, but thankfully, production shut down that idea.

Honestly, Mel needs to be upfront about what he wants! Dodging questions about his intentions isn’t going to make for a satisfying ending, and saying “we’ll see” about a potential engagement just feels…off, especially at this stage in life. That kind of uncertainty is fine on a fourth date, but this is The Golden Bachelor! Let’s just get to the point and see how things are going to wrap up.

Mel is introducing us to the families of the women he’s dating – Peg, Cindy, and Debbie – and assures us they’re all wonderful and suitable partners. First up is Peg, and Mel is clearly very attracted to her. They’re spending time at Peg’s fire station, and the dry air is causing some serious hair volume – for both Peg and her daughter! It seems like this family eats a lot of fish. Peg keeps mentioning how she’s used to being the only woman around a lot of men and having to be tough, and we get the picture! She feels like she’s lived the life of the effortlessly cool character from the movie Gone Girl, but without facing any real drawbacks. Peg says she used to chase excitement, like fireworks, but now she’s looking for something more stable and comforting, like a cozy fireplace. Mel is looking forward to meeting her family.

Mel finally meets Peg’s mom, a huge fan of The Bachelor, along with other family members like her sister Dakota and Dakota’s boyfriend, Kohl, and her brother Guy and his wife Brenda. Peg’s family is very protective of her – a running theme throughout the meeting! They spend a lot of time laughing, and Mel tells them Peg is full of spirit. Peg’s brother directly asks Mel if he sees a future with her. Later, Dakota has a private conversation with Mel, asking the questions everyone is thinking. Mel struggles to explain what he likes about Peg, simply saying she has a vibrant energy. He admits he’s not in love yet and seems unaware of how these shows typically progress – usually involving confessing love for two women at Hometowns. Peg’s mom might have been able to explain! Dakota then tells Peg that Mel seems hesitant and she deserves someone who is completely smitten with her.

It’s really bringing down the vibe of the season that no one, not even Mel himself, seems to know what he’s looking for. It would be perfectly acceptable if he just wanted to casually date and see if a connection develops. Actually, a more relaxed approach would make for a surprisingly entertaining season, kind of like The Golden Bachelor. Honestly, if you’re enjoying your later years, staying active, and feeling good, maybe semi-casual dating is exactly what you need! And if that’s what Mel wants, that’s great. But it’s confusing when he acts very guarded during interviews, while simultaneously talking about wanting to propose at the beginning of the show. Those two things don’t add up.

Debbie is on a date in Denver with Mel, and things seem to be going well – almost too well, hinting that her time on the show might be limited. They plan to hike Red Rocks and enjoy nature. Debbie hopes to share why she’s been hesitant to date again, explaining a past relationship with someone struggling with depression. They went to therapy, and ultimately, Debbie was encouraged to end things. Sadly, her ex passed away by suicide shortly after their breakup. Debbie admits she still cared for him deeply, as they were still working through issues. She moved to be closer to her sister but hasn’t been able to bring herself to date again. Mel praises her strength and spirit, but when Debbie tells him she’s falling for him, he doesn’t reciprocate.

Okay, so I just witnessed the sweetest thing – meeting Debbie’s family, and honestly, I’m completely smitten with them all! It was so heartwarming watching Mel connect with her brothers, tossing a football and just… radiating happiness. And then – total surprise! – Debbie has a twin sister, Donna! It was such a lovely reveal. I was practically melting when Mel was asked what he finds attractive about Debbie, and he just gushed about her genuine personality. Seriously, he said, ‘She’s so sincere. Like today, that personality. I love that personality.’ I just can’t handle how adorable he is! He needs to show her how he feels, not just tell! Everyone in her family clearly adores him, and he seems to really love them too. They shared a sweet kiss outside her family’s house, and I’m pretty sure he told her he wasn’t leaving when she said goodbye. It was just perfect.

It’s time for Cindy’s date in Austin! She makes a bold first impression, suggesting, “If you’re good, maybe we can go back to my place.” Wow! I was expecting something a little more intimate before the Fantasy Suite! Cindy’s Hometown visit focuses on her explaining to her kids why she’s doing this. She shares that after her divorce, she put parts of herself aside to focus on raising them, and now she’s rediscovering who she is. She even tells her daughter she’s ‘excavating’ herself – essentially, finding her way back to her true self.

Next, Cindy’s three daughters, each one more beautiful than the last, questioned Mel about his feelings for their mother. He was trying to find out if she enjoyed college football and how she’d handle his game-day Saturdays. Honestly, she’s a woman from Texas, so he figured she’d be okay with it. During their conversation, Mel complimented Cindy, describing her as intelligent and sophisticated. Cindy’s daughters made it clear they wanted to know if he was looking for a lifelong partner, asking if he envisioned a future with her. Mel jokingly replied that he wouldn’t be relaxing on a porch swing in his old age. The daughters pointed out that with his constant use of recovery sandals, he probably should be!

The date ends with a tour of Cindy’s apartment, but the atmosphere is awkward and tense, like a police interrogation rather than a romantic moment. Cindy is desperately trying to get Mel to reciprocate her feelings, hinting that she’s about to tell him she loves him and needs to know if he feels the same. She asks for honesty, but Mel can only offer a vague, “It’s complicated. I’ll get there.” It’s frustrating – this should be a time for grand gestures and heartfelt confessions! Instead, Mel can’t even commit to being available next week, promising to get back to her later.

It’s time for the rose ceremony, and Mel starts by explaining that his recent podcast comments were about the kind of woman he’s looking for… and surprisingly, that woman is standing right in front of him! Honestly, it’s a bit much. Peg receives the first rose and playfully hides it in her hair, and Cindy gets the last one! It seems like being aggressive is Mel’s type.

Goodbye to Debbie!!!!DEBBIE FOR GOLDEN BACHELORETTE!!!!!

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2025-10-23 16:55