Who Was Eliminated on 'The Golden Bachelor' Tonight? And Who's Advancing to Hometown Week?
In many respects, Season 2 of The Golden Bachelor feels like it has just begun. However, after bidding farewell to three more contestants this week, Mel Owens has officially selected his three ladies for Hometown Week and is gearing up to meet their families!
Yes, you heard that right! Hometown Week is just around the corner, followed by Fantasy Suite Week, a special Women Tell All episode, and ultimately, the Season 2 finale of The Golden Bachelor! So, who made the cut, who was sent home, and who chose to leave before the pivotal week? Let’s dive into the details.
In tonight's episode, Mel enjoyed his final group date at Butterfly Mountain, which was followed by a romantic one-on-one date with Cindy Angelcyk Cullers, a 60-year-old retired biomedical engineer. In a surprising twist, Mel opted not to distribute any roses until the rose ceremony, allowing himself ample time to contemplate his significant decisions.
So, who went home on The Golden Bachelor tonight, October 15? Who self-eliminated before the rose ceremony? And who is moving on to Hometown Week? Let’s break it down!
The Golden Bachelor Group Date Recap: Positive Vibes Only
For the season's final group date, Mel took Peg, Debbie, Cheryl, Nicole, and Carol on a spiritual journey to Butterfly Mountain, where they aimed to cleanse themselves of negative emotions and find alignment. Mel seized the opportunity for meaningful one-on-one conversations with each lady as they engaged in activities like mud baths, ice plunges, and tantric yoga. However, two contestants, in particular, were radiating negative energy.
The first was Nicolle! After episodes filled with public displays of affection with Mel and her ambitions to leverage her time on the show for an influencer career, she revealed her true intentions when asked about her future. Instead of sharing a heartfelt vision of romance or family, Nicolle stated, "My dad is my accountant, and he says, 'You could have a little more income coming in'... I work on Instagram, I’m trying to monetize it, and I’d love to write a cookbook with plant-based recipes." After their conversation, Mel expressed to the cameras, "There were a few things that made me pause... This could have been what Robin mentioned." Indeed! Yet, instead of probing further, Mel dismissed her concerns and sent her home.
The second source of negativity came from Carol, who recognized that her relationship with Mel was lagging behind the others, as she was the only remaining contestant without a one-on-one date. With Hometown Week approaching, Carol concluded that, despite her interest in Mel, they hadn’t developed the necessary connection before the crucial week. She chose to self-eliminate, and while I was a fan of Carol and found her to be genuine and sweet, I appreciated her ability to assess the situation accurately and leave on her own terms. At this stage in the competition, it seemed clear that Cindy and Debbie were likely to receive roses, Nicolle’s charm over Mel had faded, and the final rose would likely be a contest between Peg and Cheryl.
Mel Owens and Cindy Angelcyk Cullers’ One-On-One Date Recap: The Sun, The Moon, and The Stars
Although Cindy didn’t receive Mel’s first impression rose, it was evident from the very first night that he was drawn to her, and their chemistry quickly intensified. For their one-on-one date, Mel took Cindy on a horseback ride to the Griffith Observatory, where she opened up about her divorce from seven years ago, her three daughters, and her challenges in finding love since then.
"I am genuinely surprised by how I feel," she confessed, telling Mel, "My feelings for you are authentic." Mel reciprocated her sentiments, even gifting her a personal star in the sky. The evening was filled with kisses, bonding, dancing, and stargazing at the Observatory, leaving Cindy to declare, "He’s the sun, the moon, and the stars for me all wrapped up into one." It’s safe to say she’s headed to Hometown Week!
The Golden Bachelor Group Date Recap: Who Went Home? And Who’s Getting a Hometown Date?
Before his most challenging rose ceremony yet, Mel mentioned that he had "prayed on it" and made his decisions regarding which three women would move forward. Prior to the big night, all the contestants had a chance to FaceTime their loved ones before discovering their fates. Ultimately, in addition to Carol, Cheryl and Nicolle were also sent home.
As she exited, Nicolle couldn’t resist stirring the pot, saying, "When it doesn’t work out with the one you pick, because it probably won’t, you can call me. I mean that... I’m a bit surprised by this outcome; I really thought it would be me, it should have been... Mel didn’t choose me, but maybe you’ll consider me for The Golden Bachelorette, you never know." ABC, please do NOT select her for The Golden Bachelorette; let’s keep it wholesome!
So, who’s advancing to Hometown Week? Here are Mel’s top three:
- Cindy Angelcyk Cullers: a 60-year-old retired biomedical engineer from Austin, Texas.
- Debbie Siebers: a 65-year-old fitness professional from Denver, Colorado.
- Peg Munson: a 62-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Will Mel’s potential future in-laws welcome him with open arms, or will they be as skeptical as Bachelor Nation was at the start of Season 2? Stay tuned for next week’s recap!
New episodes of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 air on Wednesdays on ABC, with next-day streaming available.
