Mel Owens’ journey on “The Golden Bachelor” has been full of drama since before his season even started. (As his contestants’ chose not to let him forget, he said on a podcast before entering the Bachelor Mansion that he would eliminate any women over 60.) That remained true until the end, when the 66-year-old former NFL linebacker had to make a decision about whether to choose 60-year-old Cindy Cullers, 62-year-old Peg Munson or neither of them.
That third possibility began to look more and more likely after last week’s “Fantasy Suites” episode, which ended on a cliffhanger.
Both women expressed frustration throughout the episode that Mel wasn’t clearer about his feelings for them. On Peg’s date with him, she tried to ask how things are going between them, and he answered two of her questions by simply saying “good” before changing the topic to the dune buggies they’d just driven together. “He deflects, you know? And I don’t know if it’s because of all of the outside stuff. I have a little bit of concern: Is it something [where] he’s not emotionally available, or he’s just being guarded?” But later that night, over dinner, they connected with slightly more depth and decided to take advantage of the Fantasy Suite, an overnight date away from the cameras. The next morning, they both expressed that they felt closer to each other, with Peg calling Mel “emotionally intelligent.”
Things didn’t go as smoothly with Cindy, but it was unclear if that was about her connection with Mel or about her marriage-focused questions. The two went on an awkward date, with Mel full of fear as they swam with stingrays. At dinner, after Cindy tried asking how he felt about both her and Peg, he said, “It just takes time. I’m gonna make educated choices. I’m not going to take the leap of faith, so to speak.” Cindy responded by saying that the whole show is about a leap of faith, but Mel disagreed: “I’m smart enough to know that’s not how my life operates.” As their tense conversation continued, Mel repeatedly evaded the topic of whether he’s actually ready to get married again. Cindy aptly pointed out that “The Golden Bachelor” is meant to end in a proposal, but Mel emphasized that it’s about “finding a partner,” and didn’t seem to appreciate when Cindy suggested that, being divorced, maybe he should be open to getting engaged sooner than he did in his first marriage. Cindy thanked him for the “very insightful” admissions, but was clearly displeased by his inability to clarify his feelings about her and marriage as a whole. “If there’s a will, there’s a way,” he tried to assure her, so she asked if there was a will. The episode ends before he answers — and without showing whether Mel and Cindy went to the Fantasy Suite.
During Wednesday night’s finale, it was revealed that Cindy decided to leave after realizing she and Mel weren’t on the same page about their relationship.
“He’s not interested in making any type of commitments for several years,” Cindy said in a confessional. “I’m in my golden years — I’m 60 years old — and I’m not interested in being put on hold. He is just not my person.”
After walking Cindy out, a stunned Mel returned to the dinner table alone. “I’m shocked. The date with Cindy, it was perfect,” he said. “I came in tonight thinking there was a future. But she quit… I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
Not long after, though, Mel regrouped and introduced Peg to his two sons, Andre and Lucas, as well as his college friend, Diane. During her one-on-one time with the sons, Peg asked what kind of partner they thought would be ideal for their father.
“Just an easygoing, not-too-much-drama, mellow person who really enjoys life,” Lucas said.
As they got to know each other, Lucas added, “I think you’re, like, the perfect gal for my dad, because the energy — you help bring him up, the uplifting.” He and Andre also shared with their father that they were fond of Peg and believed she was a perfect match for him.
“Peg and my boys got along swimmingly, and getting that resounding thumbs up is wonderful,” Mel said.
Following the family’s approval, Mel ultimately chose Peg. And even though he didn’t get down on one knee and propose, he gave her a ring, explaining that it “represents our commitment to love, to give time to figure out together what our future holds.” He also presented her with the final golden rose.
“I got the perfect gal right here,” Mel said, to which Peg added, “I got the perfect guy.”
