Two Shows, One Golden Goal
When The Golden Bachelor premiered in late 2023, it was billed as a bold experiment: a dating show that would center seniors instead of 20-somethings. Gerry Turner’s earnest search for love captured the attention of millions, and the franchise quickly greenlit a female-led spinoff, The Golden Bachelorette, starring Joan Vassos.
Now, with The Golden Bachelor season 2 starring Mel Owens underway, fans are asking: which version of the show is striking the right chord—and why?
Gerry vs. Joan: Authenticity and Relatability
Gerry Turner was a charming, soft-spoken widower with a Midwest charm that resonated with audiences, even if his final choice of Theresa over Leslie left some fans cold. He embodied vulnerability and seemed genuinely ready for love. But his whirlwind marriage and fast breakup with Theresa just months after their wedding led to some disillusionment among viewers.
On the other hand, Joan Vassos brought a sense of groundedness and quiet strength to The Golden Bachelorette. Unlike Gerry, Joan was previously eliminated from his season for family reasons, and her return as the lead felt like a redemption arc. She approached love thoughtfully, listened intently to her suitors, and never seemed to be playing to the cameras. Her engagement to Chock Chapple, still going strong months later, won over skeptics and gave the franchise a much-needed win in terms of lasting love.
Many fans believe Joan simply felt more authentic—and more relatable—than either Gerry or Mel.
Mel Owens: A More Complicated Figure
Now in the spotlight, Mel Owens brings a very different energy. A former NFL linebacker and now a lawyer, Mel comes with pre-existing fame, financial success, and a polished public image. His background stands in sharp contrast to Gerry and Joan, who were both portrayed as everyday people searching for connection.
While Mel’s professional accomplishments are admirable, there’s been criticism that he doesn’t fit the “Golden” mold that fans had come to love—one built on humility, vulnerability, and second chances. Some have even questioned whether Mel’s participation is driven more by visibility than genuine emotional readiness.
The Women Steal the Show
One consistent trend across both series is that the female contestants have provided the show’s most emotionally resonant moments. In The Golden Bachelor season 1, Leslie Fhima’s heartbreak and Theresa Nist’s optimism anchored the show. In The Golden Bachelorette, the men brought charm, but it was Joan’s poise and depth that carried the story.
Now, in season 2, the women competing for Mel’s heart continue to deliver the warmth, wisdom, and wit that viewers crave. Their personal stories—of love lost, careers built, families raised—offer something deeply human that younger dating shows often miss.
It raises the question: is the success of these shows less about who’s leading and more about who’s supporting?
Production Values and Tone: A Notable Shift
Another key difference lies in the tone and production of the shows. The Golden Bachelorette leaned heavily into intimacy and sincerity. It avoided the flashier elements of typical Bachelor shows, instead focusing on meaningful conversations and real-life dilemmas, like grieving past partners or navigating relationships with adult children.
Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor, however, appears to be leaning more into spectacle. Mel’s dates include yacht excursions and red-carpet galas—familiar Bachelor tropes that may feel at odds with the low-key tone fans fell in love with last year.
The contrast suggests a franchise still trying to figure out its identity: does it want to be feel-good and mature, or exciting and glamorous?
Who’s Getting It Right?
While both shows have their merits, many viewers and critics argue that The Golden Bachelorette has better captured the spirit of what made this spinoff series special in the first place. Joan’s journey felt like an evolution—proof that love can come quietly and confidently in later life. It didn’t need fireworks to feel powerful.
Mel’s season, by comparison, has felt a bit like a regression—returning to old formulas, placing a high-profile lead in the center, and risking the same missteps that haunted earlier Bachelor seasons.
Still, the franchise is young, and its audience is still finding its voice.
What’s Next for the Golden Franchise?
With ratings still strong and social media engagement high, it’s clear the Golden universe isn’t going anywhere. But its future may depend on whether it continues to evolve—and whether it truly listens to the audience that made it a hit in the first place.
The question for producers is no longer whether older adults can carry a dating show. They’ve answered that with a resounding “yes.” Now, the challenge is to keep the stories fresh, the casting authentic, and the heart at the center of it all.
