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SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the premiere episode of The Golden Bachelorette.
After a rocky start on her journey to find a second chance love on The Golden Bachelor, Joan Vassos is giving it another go.
The premiere episode of The Golden Bachelorette opens with Vassos preparing for her first night as the lead of the new series, where she’ll meet 24 golden men who are after her heart. She says she’s felt happier than she has in a long time and is hoping she’ll be able to find her second great love in this lifetime.
She has four kids with her late husband, John, who she was married to for 33 years before he passed away from pancreatic cancer. In a very emotional opening to the episode, Joan speaks about the grief of losing her husband before explaining that she’s ready to open her heart again to make room for someone else.
She’s greeted by an elated Jesse Palmer at the Bachelor mansion on her first night, very ready to begin greeting her contestants.
Things start off on the right foot with Pascal, a 69-year-old salon owner from Paris who now resides in Chicago, with a “very sexy” accent. She also appears to hit it off with 60-year-old Chock, who brings his own chicken noodle soup for her to sample. Jack, a 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, stuns Joan by serenading her upon his arrival.
Someone brings her a shot of prune juice to make sure the night runs smoothly, and another tosses her a baseball because he “heard she’s a great catch.” And then there’s David, a 68-year-old rancher from Austin, who forgoes the limo entrance to ride in on a horse instead.
Then, just when the arrivals are about to end, Joan gets surprised by none other than Kelsey Anderson, Joey Graziadei’s fiancée from Season 28 of The Bachelor — and she’s brought someone very special with her. Since her mom passed away, her dad Mark has been alone for a few years now, and she’s hoping he and Joan might be a love match.
Now it’s time for Joan to mingle with her men! She spends another moment with Pascal, who reads a note from his son encouraging his dad to go out on a limb for Joan. By the end of her conversation, Joan decides she’s definitely been “wooed by a Frenchman.”
As the night progresses, it seems that Joan is really hitting it off with a lot of these men. It’s also clear that she’s wooing them as well.
Jordan, who told Joan in his arrival that he is a family man who really admired her decision to leave Gerry’s season for her daughter, is a little worried that he botched his entrance. He eventually finds a moment alone with her, telling her that his mind went a bit blank in the moment, but Joan is very understanding and assures him that he didn’t mess anything up.
As the pair break the ice with a game of pickleball, the rest of the men join in on the fun. Balls are flying all over the place as the two dozen men try to get a moment with Joan on the court.
When the night begins to wind down, all the men begin to wonder who will receive the first impression rose. But before Joan gives out the rose, Jack decides to get in the kitchen and whip up a meal that he’s hoping will seal the deal for himself. He’s not the only one pulling out all the stops, as the men start gifting Joan with chocolates, poems and more.
Eventually, Joan makes her decision on who should receive the first impression rose. She gives it to Keith, a 62-year-old “girl dad” from San Jose, who she says made her felt safe and comfortable on such a nerve-wracking night. They also share a kiss!
Before the night is over, Joan has a surprise for all the men — a montage of video messages from all of their children. It’s a heartwarming moment full of laughter and happy tears as all the kids cheer on their dads from afar.
In the very first rose ceremony, Joan extends roses to Dan, Jonathan, Mark, Guy, Charles K., Gil, Gary, Pascal, Chock, Kim, Christopher, and Gregg before she becomes emotional at the prospect of having to send anyone home. She takes a step out of the room with just a few roses left, and Jesse encourages her to take her time.
When she enters the room again, she gives roses to Charles L., Jordan, Bob, Michael, and Jack. With Keith having received the first impression rose, that means six men are going home, leaving 18 to embark on the first week of dates.
The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
