GOLDEN Bachelor fans have applauded runner-up Cindy Cullers for dumping Mel Owens and expressed their disappointment over the finale.
Mel didn’t have to choose between the final two ladies, Cindy and Peg Munson, as one ended up walking away from the former athlete.
The episode picked up where it left off two weeks earlier, with Cindy and Mel having a serious discussion about their future during their date in Antigua.
Cindy admitted she questioned Mel’s true feelings for her and whether he was ready for a commitment and a proposal.
Mel seemed to confirm her fears, as he revealed he most likely wouldn’t be popping the question during the season finale, as he was still torn between his feelings for her and Peg.
Cindy then made the difficult decision to end their romance, and she walked away in tears.
Mel later recapped what happened to Peg, who agreed she was still interested in getting to know the former NFL star.
After meeting his sons and best friend, Diane, and receiving the stamp of approval, the couple solidified their relationship in a romantic beach setting.
Instead of a proposal, Mel gifted Peg a massive diamond “promise ring” and asked her to continue their journey and see how the relationship progresses, to which she accepted.
Mel reunited with both ladies during the After the Final Rose special, hosted by Jesse Palmer.
He and Cindy shared their final peace, with Cindy revealing she’s happy that Mel didn’t try to convince her to stay.
She further noted that the pair “didn’t align,” and wanted different things from the experience, but there were no hard feelings.
Fans praised Cindy for expressing what she wanted and not settling for Mel when she realized they weren’t on the same page.
“The biggest WINNER on The Golden Bachelor is Cindy. Good for her, for not settling for Mel & his indecision. It took a lot to walk away. ABC: There is your next Golden Bachelorette,” one person wrote on X.
“Dodged a bullet, Cindy-dodged a great big bullet,” said another.
“That was brutal. The only good thing that happened was that Cindy handled the situation on her terms.
“She deserves someone who wants a commitment, not saying they want to wait two years to see what happens! She deserves someone incredibly special,” a third reacted.
Viewers also shared their frustrations with the “boring” finale, especially after Mel and Peg seemingly dodged questions about a possible proposal and wedding in their future.
“This is so boring I actually went and did laundry,” one fan admitted.
“I have never been so happy for a season to be over,” a second remarked.
“This is not getting me excited for her season. Sorry abc, it’s not working,” a third commented.
Despite their smiles onstage, The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that there’s already trouble in paradise between Mel and Peg, according to a source.
The insider also revealed that the duo planned to come out as a “united front” for the live show to ensure fans didn’t sense that their relationship was on the rocks.
Most fans were furious when The Walking Dead killed off Carl and failed to replace him, which unsurprisingly left a huge hole in the series. Likewise, Glenn’s death sparked a lot of controversy, and while opinions are still split about whether it was the right decision or not, such a brutal exit was always going to cause backlash.
However, despite these peculiar decisions being frustrating several years later, Beth’s exit remains one of the most disappointing Walking Dead deaths after the series spent so much time building her up. She had some great progression, particularly during season 5, and I’m convinced the franchise should have swapped her fate with another high-profile survivor.
Considering Maggie was an extremely important comic character, fans may have responded angrily to her dying on TV, but I believe
After Beth failed to escape several times, Rick’s group eventually found her and bargained to free Maggie’s younger sister. However, she was shot in the head after stabbing Dawn with some scissors, which many fans felt was a complete waste of her development.
Even if the show felt they needed a big death during “Coda”, Beth was the wrong culprit, and killing off Maggie instead would’ve been just as impactful while offering a huge swerve for comic readers. Sure, it would’ve been controversial, but Maggie’s death could have completely reshaped the series, potentially allowing Beth to step into a bigger role.
Likewise, while Glenn’s Walking Dead death may still have happened, seeing him as a grieving widower going down a darker path would have been fascinating. Perhaps the creators felt Maggie was simply too critical to the franchise’s future to die in season 5, but looking back, it feels like there was more to gain by keeping Beth around instead.
Seeing her step up as a leader and taking over Hilltop was exciting, as was watching her develop some more ruthless tendencies. However, despite getting numerous opportunities, Maggie decided not to kill Negan in
Lauren Cohan has the third most appearances of any
While this was fun at first, their reluctant partnership has gone on for years, and it has felt like Maggie’s entire arc has been trying to overcome her hatred for Negan since season 9. As a result, the survivor’s story hasn’t really gone anywhere recently, and I can’t help but feel
During her introduction, Beth was presented as a shy and timid survivor — the type that looked like she’d never last in the apocalypse. This made it all the more satisfying to see her learn how to handle herself while still providing a level of innocent optimism, with the hospital arc really testing her resolve and resilience.
Her friendship with Daryl would’ve undoubtedly provided some balance, and Beth could have evolved into the ultimate underdog, with many villains completely underestimating her. The idea of this once scared survivor turning into a badass — similar to Carol’s development — would have been a joy to watch, especially if she ended up honoring her sister’s legacy.
It’s still hard to imagine what The Walking Dead would look like without Maggie, given she’s been a focal point on and off for years, but with how much Beth matured throughout the series alongside her limitless potential, I would’ve loved to see her stick around longer.
Alternatively, Maggie’s death could’ve provided the same shocking payoff, and while viewers may have been angry about a classic comic character being killed off so soon, in hindsight, it wouldn’t have been the worst decision. Seeing Glenn and Beth’s reactions would’ve also made for a brutal moment full of heartbreak that I’m sad we didn’t get.
Considering that Maggie’s character eventually hit a wall, whereas Beth could’ve continued to thrive without any restrictions, I believe the two should’ve swapped fates in The Walking Dead, and for better or worse, this decision would have completely changed the franchise forever.