The Golden Bachelor: Love it or Leave it?
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
As of September 28, 2023, ABC’s Bachelor franchise has a new face, and it’s a little more wrinkled than usual: Gerry. Gerry is a 71-year-old man, and after his wife Toni passed away six years ago, he is looking for what he calls “a second love in [his] lifetime” via the new Golden Bachelor television series. Out of nowhere, this premiere has become the most-watched series debut on Hulu ever, so I figure it must be worth delving into.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
The show generally starts with some background of the bachelor or bachelorette and introductions to the contestants as they arrive at the bachelor mansion one by one, coming out of a limousine. The Golden Bachelor was no exception. During this introductory period, Gerry gracefully explained a bit about himself, his first marriage, and how his daughters and granddaughters pushed him to do the show. He even added that his granddaughter told [him he] “had rizz.”
He then met the 22 beautiful women after his heart. Those in the mix who I found most notable were April, a therapist from Florida; Ellen, a retired teacher also from Florida; Faith, a high school teacher from Washington; Leslie, a fitness instructor from Minnesota; and Theresa, a financial services professional from New Jersey.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
Faith ended up getting the first impression rose from Gerry after charming him with her motorcycle skills, singing voice, and above all, “making [him] feel very special.” Then at the actual rose ceremony, three women were sent home.
Image Courtesy: Pinterest
What made this part of the episode feel very different than a typical Bachelor rose ceremony was how sad it was. Usually, the women being sent home still have plenty of time to find their husbands, but these older women only have so many more opportunities to date, and you could tell how heartbroken they were. Even though the show was meant to break “the stereotypical view of what a senior looks like or acts like,” the show did not leave me feeling uplifted. Rather, I could not help but think of the prospect of aging and dying alone.
Image Courtesy: Instagram
However, the producers did try to keep it light-hearted by wrapping up the episode by showing Jimmy Fallon’s aunt, who had been one of the contestants, being woken up by the host Jesse after she had supposedly slept through the rose ceremony. Unfortunately, this meant she did not get a rose and would have to go home, to which she replied, “Not even a petal?” This did lift my spirits a bit after seeing the three evicted women in tears as they went on their way home. But then I was hit with another onslaught of emotional footage: previews for the rest of the season with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” playing in the background.
There seems to be lots of kisses, deep conversations, drama, and of course tears in store for the rest of the season, as well as a lot of women and a man who “won’t stop believin” in true love. So, if you are looking to watch Gerry fall in love again while getting to know a lot of interesting and beautiful women, and you can handle watching heartbroken older women in tears, this is the show for you. Unfortunately, I don’t know if I have the emotional maturity or availability that this show requires from its viewers to continue watching it, but I do wish Gerry and all of the lovely women pursuing him the best of luck on this new adventure in their lives.
Strike Out,
Julia White
University of Notre Dame
Editors: Elisabeth Olsen, Victoria Dominesey, Maddie Arruebarrena
