After Week 5 of The Golden Bachelor, Mel Owens decided to save Peg, Debbie, and Cindy for Hometown Week and send Nicolle and Cheryl home. Carol, meanwhile, eliminated herself prior to the rose ceremony.
The drama of the episode started on a group date to Butterfly Mountain, where Mel was able to sense each contestant's energy, the women engaged in spiritual cleansing rites, and they burned emotional attachments on palo santo.
Carol and others questioned the depth of their bond after Cindy was given the one-on-one date that evening. Carol acknowledged that she didn't have the connection she needed with Mel without a one-on-one and made the decision to go on her own terms.
Mel gave roses to Peg, Cindy, and Debbie at the rose ceremony and then accompanied Cheryl and Nicolle out after saying farewell. The choices demonstrated not only chemistry but also Mel's consistency, sensitivity, and ability to gauge emotional trust before the season's most intimate segment.
The Golden Bachelor Week 5: Who Mel let go & who he took to hometown week
Week 5 of The Golden Bachelor put hearts and resolve to the test. Carol voluntarily left, and Mel advanced Peg, Debbie, and Cindy while eliminating Cheryl and Nicolle during the rose ceremony. Following spiritual rites, emotional epiphanies, and one-on-one dates that forced relationships into profound reflection, the decisions were made.
Carol’s exit & the emotional weight of self-elimination
Many were stunned when Carol decided to withdraw from the show. She acknowledged that she had never met Mel Owens one-on-one and that she felt her relationship with him was unclear due to the shifting dynamics. She broke down in tears as she confided in Mel that although she loved him, she didn't think their connection was strong enough to continue. Her self-elimination changed the rose ceremony's course and put more emotional strain on the other women.
Her departure had a knock-on effect as well: Mel still needed to reduce the group to three, but he was spared the task of eliminating three ladies that evening. Carol's farewell caused a lot of emotional strain during the ceremony, and as Mel got closer to making final decisions, you could see him struggling with astonishment, sorrow, and responsibility.
Why Mel cut Nicolle and Cheryl — and why the top 3 advanced
Mel ushered Peg, Debbie, and Cindy into Hometown Week after eliminating Nicolle and Cheryl this week on The Golden Bachelor. Mel reportedly became suspicious of Nicolle's ambition and her discussion of using her celebrity, influencer connections, and future ambitions, leading him to wonder if her goals coincided with his own.
Despite being kind and sincere, Cheryl lacked the unique qualities that set her apart. Cindy's one-on-one encounter at the Griffith Observatory, on the other hand, cemented emotional depth. Peg and Debbie demonstrated genuine constancy and stability over time. This lead prefers connection over spectacle, as evidenced by the three people Mel kept, who gave him the emotional trust he required to feel comfortable advancing them.
Stay tuned to ABC to watch The Golden Bachelor every Wednesday at 9/8c.