I ought to confess that I'm new to the Bachelor franchise. At most, I've seen a few snippets, memes and headlines relating to the most dramatic moments in Bachelor history. So, naturally, when I started ABC's first-ever Golden Bachelorette, I expected all the trappings of a juicy reality series, from petty fights and shocking reveals to painfully awkward dates. However, as I devoured the first three episodes, I was genuinely surprised to see that there wasn't much drama, and the lineup of contestants was actually...pretty solid.
Perhaps it's because they're older, accomplished men who know exactly what they're looking for—and the same could be said of our stunning leading lady, Joan Vassos. Following her stint on The Golden Bachelor, the 61-year-old grandmother is now embarking on her own journey to find true love. And according to her official bio, she's got a "zest for adventure and strong family values." Throughout the first three episodes, she emphasizes her desire to feel special and safe with her potential future husband, noting that he should be honest, but also be willing to let loose and have fun.
So, keeping those qualities in mind, I closely observed the remaining bachelors and selected three potential matches/winners, based on past dates, body language and even week four previews. Keep reading for my top picks.