The Golden Bachelor Season-Finale Recap: Trusting the Process

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We’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t get water from a stone.” But it seems like these days, it also applies to getting a heartfelt apology from someone who said something regrettable on a podcast. It’s a familiar situation!

Like the rest of this season of The Golden Bachelor, Mel remains a pretty passive presence, while the women around him consistently bring the energy, charm, and even some impressive wardrobe solutions to keep the show interesting. I’ve teased Mel before – and enjoyed his skepticism about stingrays – but this episode is particularly tough for anyone rooting for him. Seriously, are there even Mel fans out there? (Melniacs, let me hear you!) It’s clear the producers are working hard to salvage the rocky Fantasy Suites and create a satisfying finale. Ultimately, I think the show would be much better if they just removed the expectation of an engagement.

It’s frustrating to be right so often, but this season of the show could have been much better if Mel had been honest from the start about not wanting to get engaged. Being upfront would have been more genuine and could have even added some drama. Instead, women kept leaving when they realized he wasn’t looking for a wife, but a long-term partner. They could have had open conversations about what a lasting relationship looks like later in life. The ring reveal felt awkward – it seemed to symbolize a commitment to researching senior-friendly solutions together! They really kept that ring a secret, though. They could have subtly changed the finale to include family or let Mel’s final pick clearly state what she wanted from the relationship. Instead of focusing on a proposal, they could have shown two people choosing to spend their later years together. It’s not an engagement, but it’s still a lovely thing to celebrate! We all know someone with a wonderful aunt or uncle and their long-term partner who maintains their independence but still feels like family – that’s special too! Unfortunately, none of that happened, and the whole season feels like a disappointment.

Let’s get int—

Something struck me while watching the show last night – it reminded me of a point Claire and Emma from the Love to See It podcast made recently. They wondered if the backlash Mel received over some podcast comments affected how open he was during filming. If those comments happened right before the season started, he was likely already stressed and worried about saying the wrong thing, and probably stuck closely to what producers told him. This might explain why he kept talking about marriage and engagement, even if that wasn’t what he actually wanted. Watching him push everyone to the Fantasy Suites, it seemed clear he just wanted private time with each woman and avoided deeper conversations on camera, like the ones Cindy was trying to have. When the lead avoids on-camera discussion and is heading toward an ending he doesn’t want, the whole situation becomes a disaster.

Now, let’s get into it. (Featuring a special chat with Taylor Frankie Paul.)

The episode begins with Mel and Cindy talking on the dock after Cindy asks about a will. Mel confirms there is one, but explains the situation is complicated because another person is involved – a typical dramatic moment for this show. Until then, I thought Cindy was the most likely to end up with Mel, as the show often has the lead solidify their relationship with their front-runner during the Fantasy Suites or final date. However, this wasn’t that moment. I believe Mel was thrown off by Cindy’s questioning and didn’t want to discuss it with others around, so even if she was his favorite, he wasn’t going to be pressured into anything.

Honestly, I was so impressed that Gerry was firm about not discussing his relationship on camera – he really stuck to his guns! And Cindy was spot on. Waiting around for years to see if someone might propose? That’s something you do when you’re young, not when you’re looking for a life partner later in life. She’s totally right that going on The Golden Bachelor implies you’re at least considering getting engaged. Plus, Mel had a great point – they can just get married whenever they want! A proposal and a long engagement probably look a little different when you’re sixty. I’m picturing Steve and Miranda just deciding over a couple of cheap beers that they’re ready to tie the knot!

Cindy hoped her partner would be completely swept away by her, and honestly, that’s a good thing to want. But she started to realize her guy, Mel, just wasn’t that person. I loved the moment when Cindy apologized, and Mel cluelessly asked, “Sorry about what?” She had to take the lead and even remind him to walk her out. Afterward, she went off to cry while he stubbornly stayed put to watch the fireworks. Someone had to nudge him to react, and his response was basically that he expects people to stick things out, implying he was upset that Cindy gave up. It’s frustrating that she had to do all the emotional labor.

Jesse pointed out that around twenty-three women were hoping to get engaged, but Mel disagreed, saying not everyone felt that way. Jesse repeatedly had to explain to Mel that people appreciate having their feelings acknowledged, but Mel kept bringing up the fact that the woman in question had simply left, even though she was clearly nearby – over 500 feet away.

Cindy is in the studio, and she’s sharing her feelings about her experience on the show, now that she’s competing to be the Golden Bachelorette. She explains that rewatching her final moments with Mel helped her remember things accurately, confirming her feelings about how he acted. She wanted to be sure he was serious about wanting to get engaged, and she emphasized that she shouldn’t have to convince someone to love her – a sentiment the audience clearly supported. She was hoping for a classic love story, while Mel seemed to be looking for something different.

Mel continues to explain that he just wanted to have deeper conversations in the Fantasy Suite, but he doesn’t seem to understand why Cindy was upset by his actions. It seems he was worried about proposing on camera and having to explain it to Peg. He insists Cindy wanted commitment before the show even ended, and argues that participating in the show is a form of commitment. Ultimately, he’s frustrated that she chose to leave. Cindy remains optimistic about finding love, and Jesse praises her grace. The big question now is how Mel will explain all of this to Peg.

It’s surprisingly simple! Peg is clearly struggling to react, responding to his news with short, emphatic bursts like “WOW!”, “STOP IT!”, and “REALLY?” This would have been the perfect opportunity for Mel to show some affection and tell Peg how much she matters to him. Instead, he just repeats that he still wants her to meet his sons and wants to finish things with her – implying this is the final chapter. He doesn’t want her to feel like an afterthought.

They also met Mel’s sons, Andre and Lucas, and a friend of his from college named Diane. It made me wonder – my own mom also has a friend named Diane, and both our families have connections to the University of Michigan! Is it a Diane magnet? It feels like these Dianes will be lifelong friends. Forget ‘Hail to the Victors,’ it should be ‘Hail to the Dianes!’

The rest of the final week isn’t very exciting, but Peg has a sweet game with Mel’s sons where they try to describe him with a single word. They mostly say he’s a mix of both analytical and emotional, but emphasize he’s much more logical than feeling. One of Mel’s sons affectionately calls Peg “my friend,” and it’s lovely to see how supportive his sons are of her.

Peg and Mel travel to a secluded island for their final rose ceremony, and it’s a very relaxed event. It would have been nice to hear some dramatic music when they expressed their love, but that’s just not their style! They’re a laid-back couple who seem happy enjoying simple things like drinking beer and going to the fair. It’s clear they’re committed to each other, and it’s lovely to see.

So, they’ve finally gone public, and Mel is taking credit for keeping the relationship a secret! He jokes that he only needed one woman, and he’s found her. It’s really cute – they’re clearly in love. Jesse is trying to get them to be more openly affectionate, while Peg thinks they’re both a bit reserved. Honestly, the woman who cheered from the dune buggy definitely doesn’t seem reserved! Gerry is wisely staying out of it and not offering any advice. Peg says they’re creating their own unique love story. We don’t hear anything about their living situation – whether they’re moving in together or anything like that – but we wish them all the best! Enjoy your time in Napa Valley!

Bachelorette Preview Bullet Points

• Taylor’s got some crushes.

• She’s doing things her way.

• The rule book has been thrown out the window.

The show featured cross-promotion with other Disney-owned properties, including a group date from Dancing With the Stars and a visit from the cast of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.

• No other Bachelorette has done it like this.

• She’s playing by her own rules …

• Her husband is definitely in the house.

• She’s doing things her own way …

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2025-11-13 23:00