Mel expresses to Jesse that he hasn\u2019t told either of the women he loves them, and all he can give us is, \u201cI feel great about them.\u201d Even Jesse, who usually tries to be somewhat impartial, goes, \u201cCan you give them anything more?\u201d <\/p>\n
I \u201cfeel great\u201d about my new peanut butter brand. This is not exactly a rousing endorsement of the woman he may eventually marry.<\/p>\n
Peg and Mel\u2019s Fantasy Suites Date\u00a0<\/p>\n
Peg tells the camera that she needs someone who can communicate what they want and need, and she\u2019s not sure Mel will be able to do that. This seems to be the overarching criticism of Mel, as Emma Gray, host of the Love to See It podcast, observed in our Instagram Live last week.<\/p>\n
Mel pulls up in a dune buggy, and they inch along in the mud.<\/p>\n
Live footage of the dune buggy: <\/strong><\/p>\n Then Peg takes over driving and floors it. When they arrive at their destination, they unwind over champagne. Peg tells Mel that the deeper she loves, the deeper she gets hurt \u2014 which is actually just how love works in general. I\u2019m pretty sure nobody experiences an inverse relationship between the depth of love and potential for pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n She seems confident in their connection. At dinner, she tells him she can see them working out as a couple really well. She says she never wanted to get married again, but after having this experience, she would be open to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Peg: <\/strong>So, how are you feeling about us?<\/p>\n Mel: <\/strong>I\u2019m thankful you\u2019re giving me the opportunity to show you how I feel. I really like you a lot.<\/p>\n This is the closest we\u2019ve gotten to Mel expressing himself so far, and that doesn\u2019t say much\u2026 <\/p>\n Mel says, \u201cI love being around you, I love the way you talk to me and make me feel. I like your energy and spirit.\u201d It\u2019s got to be so brutal to hear your man say he loves everything but you. \u201cI love your hair\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Either way, Mel gives Peg a key to the suite, where they watch steel drum players from their balcony.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mel is able to say to the camera, \u201cThe way Peg looks at me \u2014 that\u2019s love,\u201d but can\u2019t say the L word to another human. It\u2019s a fascinating thing to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n The next morning, Mel tells the camera that the night \u201cexceeded expectations\u201d and gives a very shameless plug for the resort, which probably comped their rooms. They share breakfast in bed, and Peg tells the camera that Mel finally let his guard down. The fantasy suites work their magic once again. <\/p>\n Mel and Cindy\u2019s Fantasy Suites Date\u00a0<\/p>\n The next day, Mel drives up in a red Jeep to meet Cindy, who\u2019s literally jumping up and down with joy when she sees him arrive. They go out on a boat, which goes fast since Mel is\u00a0not\u00a0driving it. I kid, I kid.<\/p>\n They pull over at Stingray Bay to go swimming with the rays. Mel is afraid of the stingrays, which is kind of endearing. Hey, we all have our limits! One of Mel\u2019s is apparently animals \u2014 as Cindy reminds us, he wasn\u2019t a big fan of horses either. The guide tries to make him feel better by saying that in 24 years in business, nobody\u2019s gotten stung. This does not help.<\/p>\n Mel stands off to the side, completely avoiding the stingrays. Do the producers get the lead\u2019s input into the dates at all? Or is it like a Fear Factor thing where they choose stuff that will terrify them on purpose?\u00a0<\/p>\n Cindy tries to boost his confidence, proving she can be a supportive partner: \u201cYou\u2019ve always been so charismatic and drawn people to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Me: <\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s funny because at first I felt Mel\u2019s charisma too, but as time has gone on, watching him has felt a little like watching a robot come to life.<\/p>\n Cindy tries to press Mel for some feelings, and he tells Cindy, <\/strong>I like you a lot.\u201d All he will admit to is, \u201cI\u2019m open. We\u2019ll continue.\u201d This is supposed to be a declaration of love, not a job interview!<\/p>\n As she gets ready for dinner, Cindy tells the camera that she\u2019s falling for Mel and is crazy about him. Meanwhile, Mel says the following to camera, as if he\u2019s being forced to recite these words at knifepoint: \u201cShe is very special. She\u2019s loving, caring, and the person I could see a life with after this.\u201d<\/p>\n At this point, I wonder if I\u2019m being unfair, because Mel is very monotone \u2014 he says \u201cI\u2019m excited\u201d in the same tone that most people would use to say they have a dentist appointment. So maybe it\u2019s not that he doesn\u2019t feel things, but his voice just isn\u2019t capable of reaching different registers. I, too, am monotone, so I can empathize.<\/p>\n Cindy asks Mel if there are any glaring factors he\u2019s weighing between her and Peg. He says no, he\u2019s still working it out in his head and in his heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mel:<\/strong> But I love spending time with you, I love being with you.<\/p>\n Yikes, not going to lie, these are the exact words I\u2019ve heard from many men, right before the next words, which were: \u201cBut I don\u2019t want a relationship.\u201d <\/p>\n Mel tells her, \u201cThere\u2019s another person, so I can\u2019t sit here and tell you we\u2019re going to be happily ever after.\u201d This is the\u00a0least\u00a0reassuring conversation they could have at this stage, especially since he agreed with Peg that he could see them building a life together. Cindy asks Mel if he sees potential for them, and he says, \u201cNo matter what, a relationship would have to develop over time\u2026so\u2026who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n This is not as promising as his date with Peg. I\u2019m concerned; originally, I predicted Mel would choose Peg at the end<\/a> (and maybe skip the proposal). But now, I\u2019d be kind of surprised if he committed to either woman at the end of this; he just seems so reserved.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cindy really has to pull teeth to get Mel to talk about whether he sees a future with her and what he thinks about her.<\/p>\n Mel: <\/strong>It\u2019s difficult. It takes time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bro, she\u2019s just asking if you can see a future.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mel tells her he\u2019s not comfortable making a leap of faith. Cindy goes, \u201cYou agreed to be the Golden Bachelor. Isn\u2019t that a leap of faith?\u201d\u00a0Go Cindy! If getting engaged in about eight weeks of knowing someone isn\u2019t a leap of faith, what is?<\/p>\n Mel<\/strong>: No, you\u2019re searching for a partner at the end of the journey.<\/p>\n![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/lowrider-lowridermeatup-GIF-by-Off-The-Jacks.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"Mel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/178682_0044-2000x1333.jpg\")
Disney\/John Fleenor<\/p>\n![\"Cindy](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/178684_0018-2000x1333.jpg\")
Disney\/John Fleenor<\/p>\n![\"Gif](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Him-GIF-by-Chris-Cimino.gif\")
<\/p>\n![\"Mel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/178684_0045-1600x2000.jpg\")
Disney\/John Fleenor<\/p>\n