The Golden Bachelorette Season 1 Recap

SPOILER ALERT! This article contains details from the premiere episode of The Golden Bachelorette.

After a difficult start to his journey to find second chance love on The Golden BachelorJoan Vassos tries his luck again.

The first episode of The Golden Bachelorette opens with Vassos preparing for her first night as the protagonist of the new series, where she will meet 24 golden men who want her heart. She says she feels happier than ever and hopes to find her second great love in this life.

She has four children with her late husband, John, who she was married to for 33 years before he died of pancreatic cancer. In a very emotional start to the episode, Joan opens up about the grief of losing her husband before explaining that she is ready to open her heart again to make room for someone else.

She is greeted by an elated Jesse Palmer at the Bachelor mansion on her first night, very ready to start greeting his contestants.

Things start off well with Pascal, a 69-year-old hair salon owner from Paris who now lives in Chicago and has a “very sexy” accent. She also seems to get along with Chock, 60, who brings her his own chicken noodle soup for her to try. Jack, a 68-year-old caterer from Chicago, surprises Joan by serenading her when she arrives.

Someone brings him a glass of prune juice to make sure the evening is going well, and another tosses him a baseball because he “heard she was a good catch.” And then there’s David, a 68-year-old rancher from Austin, who forgoes the limousine ride to ride a horse.

Then, as the arrivals are about to end, Joan is surprised by Kelsey Anderson, Joey Graziadei’s fiancée on season 28 of The Bachelor. And she brought someone very special with her. Since her mother passed away, her father Mark has been single for a few years now, and she hopes that he and Joan could become a loving couple.

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 father to take risks for Joan. By the end of their conversation, Joan decides that she’s definitely been “wooed by a Frenchman.”

As the night progresses, it seems that Joan is really getting along with a lot of these men. It’s also clear that she’s courting them as well.

Jordan, who told Joan upon arrival that he was a family man who truly admired her decision to leave Gerry’s season to his daughter, is a little worried that he missed her entrance. He eventually finds some time alone with her, telling her that his mind went a little blank at the time, but Joan is very understanding and assures him that he didn’t ruin anything.

As the duo breaks the ice with a game of pickleball, the rest of the men join in the fun. Balls fly everywhere as the two dozen men try to get a moment with Joan on the court.

As the night draws to a close, all the men begin to speculate about who will receive the first impression rose. But before Joan hands over the rose, Jack decides to go into the kitchen and prepare a meal that he hopes will seal the deal. He’s not the only one pulling out all the stops, as the men begin to shower Joan with chocolates, poems, and more.

Finally, Joan decides 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 feel safe and comfortable on such a stressful 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 their children. It’s a heartwarming moment, full of laughter and tears of joy, as all the children cheer on their fathers from afar.

At the very first rose ceremony, Joan hands roses to Dan, Jonathan, Mark, Guy, Charles K., Gil, Gary, Pascal, Chock, Kim, Christopher, and Gregg before becoming emotional at the thought of having to send someone home. She leaves the room with only a few roses remaining, and Jesse encourages her to take her time.

When she re-enters the room, she offers roses to Charles L., Jordan, Bob, Michael, and Jack. With Keith receiving the first impression rose, that means six men are going home, leaving 18 to embark on the first week of dating.

The Golden Bachelorette airs Wednesdays on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/PT.