With the first season behind us, let’s unpack the first ever Golden Bachelor series and examine what the first season really taught us about life, love, and midlife dating. To set the record straight from the outset, I am not a Bachelor Nation fan. I do not watch the show and frankly I am opposed to an army of women throwing themselves at one lucky guy who gets all the attention and kisses. Why is this a realistic and reasonable premise for a show? With women fighting to the bitter end to “win” the Bachelor, I never had any interest in watching the series.
Enter the first season of The Golden Bachelor. I hadn’t heard about the new “senior” show until a trusted friend suggested a group of us watch and commiserate on the outcomes together. As a team player who was slightly intrigued by the notion of an “older” bachelor, I decided to tune into the first show to take a peek at this senior leading man, knowing sheer curiosity would get the best of me. What I discovered clearly surprised me.
The Golden Bachelor and Contestants Were Different
First, I was struck by the selection of Gerry Turner as the Golden Bachelor. Yes, he was handsome and appeared to have aged better than some of his 72 year old counterparts. Different from the younger, overly confident bachelors, Gerry was sensitive, kind, willing to shed some tears, and quite likable. He was a retired restauranteur, pickleball fan, and widower with two grown daughters and grandchildren. Hmm … I decided to watch further to see the women selected for the show. And as each woman came out of her limousine, I was also unexpectedly surprised.
The female contestants ranged from 60 -75 years old, a completely older age range than I expected based on past contestants from Bachelor shows. They were not models, they were not stick skinny, they were not overly glam. They were normal midlife women looking for love. They had spunk, diversity and were full of life. And they were not afraid to show their personalities from the outset of the show. These women were definitely not the “senior citizens” others may have been expecting. So watching on, I began to realize this show is more than a dating contest. It captured the nation’s attention by teaching us so much more.
Each Contestant Had A Touching Story
What made this show different from past Bachelor shows was the real, down to earth nature of the contestants. From Gerry to each of the female contenders, real life stories were shared full heartache, family life obligations, personal struggles, touching losses, health issues and more. By age 60+, these midlife contestants had already experienced so much of what life has to offer. They raised families and were long-time empty nesters. So they came to the table with a no-nonsense knowledge about what they were looking for in a potential mate. Conversations during dates were open and frank, with hopes and dreams shared quickly. Older adults are often wiser in their relationship choices than younger people, knowing a good fit when they see it. This made the show feel more real, grabbing viewers’ attention, including mine.
Older Women Form An Unspoken Sisterhood
The support the female contestants showed each other was striking. It revealed an unspoken sisterhood that they had formed during their short time on set. This was a refreshing change from the younger, caddy, cat fighting you may see on the other Bachelor shows. These midlife women knew that one man does not fit all. They could relate to each others personal journeys. They formed real bonds and friendships that could last for years. Personally, I thought the real winners were female contestants themselves — showing America that women band together, support each other and are worthy of love at any age. They had an unspoken sisterhood that made us route for all of them.
Never Too Late to Find Love
The Golden Bachelor series showed America that it’s never too late to find love. Love is out there … you just have to be open to it. And what you look for at age 60 -75 may look quite different from your younger years. Midlife viewers understood their struggles. When Joan Vassos left the show mid-season to support her daughter, we all understood when she said “you’re always a mom, even when your kids get older“. Our hearts went out to her and each contestant as they were not selected. When Leslie Fhima was ultimately not selected as Gerry’s fiancé-to-be at the bitter end, she felt blindsided and devastated. We all felt her disappointment, since the stakes felt higher and she had finally broken down the wall to her feelings.
I wanted to shout out to all contestants that there is nothing wrong with any of them. That they are all vibrant, lovely women that can easily find love. That time is not running out at all. No doubt, it’s hard to put your heart on the line in front of millions of viewers. But hopefully each contestant left with a new found confidence. The Golden Bachelor showed viewers that a golden rose is available at any age. You just have to be willing to let another person into your heart.
Age Is Just A Number
Above all, the show revealed that age is just a number. The Golden Bachelor contestants have the same hopes and dreams as their younger Bachelor Nation counterparts. After all, 60 is the new 40. The image of midlife and ageism is being turned upside down. We need to celebrate life, love and the ability to experience anything we want out of life. We have so much ahead of us. And as The Golden Bachelor wedding showed us, even at ages 72 and 70, Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist will hopefully enjoy many more years of love and companionship together.
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