Having endured for two decades and counting with a whopping 27 seasons, “The Bachelor” firmly sits in the pantheon of longest-running reality shows. With so many, how do you determine which reigns as the best bachelor season? A little secret is that just because many couples may have crashed and burned doesn’t disqualify them as a top season. You need to consider the entertainment value, which often comes from the drama and “villains,” as well as the happy endings. Let’s call it what it really is: a good old-fashioned guilty pleasure.
It’s no wonder that some turn to reality TV to find love, considering the difficulty of modern online dating. “The Bachelor” unfolds like a modern fairytale, a quest for love set against a backdrop of extravagant dates and cocktail dress diplomacy. In this reality TV saga, a single, eligible bachelor embarks on a romantic journey with a bevy of beautiful bachelorettes. He whisks them away each week on breathtaking adventures, from helicopter tours over glaciers to intimate candlelit dinners. They grapple with group challenges, bare their souls in one-on-one conversations, and navigate the ever-present tension of rose ceremonies, where a single bloom holds the power to send hopeful hearts packing. Through laughter, tears, and the occasional dramatic cocktail party meltdown, the bachelor winnows down his options, ultimately hoping to find his happily ever after – all with the world watching and cameras rolling. But will it be a lasting love story or a fleeting reality TV fling?
They don’t let just anyone on the show, though. The audition process has been described as a rollercoaster ride. Most journeys begin online, with applicants filling out detailed questionnaires and submitting video introductions revealing their personalities and reasons for being “ready for love.” If your virtual charm sparks interest, an invitation to a casting call or virtual interview could follow. Here, nerves and charisma take center stage as you chat with producers, showcasing your personality and compatibility with the Bachelor’s rumored traits. Get ready for in-depth questions about your dating history, future aspirations, and, of course, your thoughts on roses! If you make it past this stage, brace yourself for background checks, psychological evaluations, and even medical examinations – “The Bachelor” doesn’t leave anything to chance. Remember, the process is intense, demanding, and not for the faint of heart. But if you’re confident, genuine, and ready for the spotlight (and potential drama), who knows, your next step might be stepping out of a limo, ready to charm your way into the Bachelor’s heart.
For now, let’s focus on watching other people’s dating journeys. Our list of the best “Bachelor” seasons of all time is comprised of the most recommended watches across 10 expert reviews. If your favorite dream boat’s season isn’t on our list, please leave it in the comments below!
The List: Top 7 Bachelor Seasons, Ranked by Bachelor Nation
1. Season 13: Jason Mesnick
Jason Mesnick was the first parent to be on “The Bachelor.” A single dad from Washington, Mesnick appeared after being a contestant on “The Bachelorette.” “To the shock of fans, at the end of the show, Mesnick chose to propose to Melissa Rycroft instead of runner-up Molly Malaney. Not long after, however, Mesnick began to have second thoughts about his engagement to Rycroft and, in a controversial move, broke up with Rycroft, then sought to pursue a relationship with Malaney once more. Mesnick and Malaney eventually married and had a family together,” says Stacker.
While Mesnick’s switch-a-roo landed him the title of “Most Hated Man in America” for a while, his relationship with Malaney blossomed into one of Bachelor Nation’s greatest love stories. “The couple married and welcomed their first child together, Riley Anne Mesnick, in March 2013,” informs The List.
This hot single dad wasn’t afraid to cry over a balcony. “By the reunion episode, in literally the most dramatic reunion ever, Jason dumped Melissa and asked Molly to take him back. ABC even did that show without a live audience because they feared Jason would face too much backlash. Today they milk those events! But back in 2009, this was scandalous. Jason may have made the wrong choice at the finale, but as it turns out, he made the right call with Molly,” offers Reality Tea.
2. Season 11: Brad Womack
While Jason’s season ended happily, Brad’s season of “The Bachelor” did not exactly have the happy love story fans were hoping for. “Businessman and entrepreneur Brad Womack was the focus of season 11 and remains the only bachelor to have led not one but two seasons. In an unexpected plot twist, Womack decided to reject finalists DeAnna Pappas and Jenni Croft in the season finale. Though some fans were frustrated, many applauded Womack for being honest and sharing his true feelings with the women. Womack would make another appearance on season 15 of ‘The Bachelor,’ picking contestant Emily Maynard. Sadly, the two eventually went their separate ways,” says Stacker.
Today I'm up to Bachelor #11, Brad Womack, who was also Bachelor #15. 😳 He's the only man that has been #TheBachelor twice. In season 11, Brad didn't chose anyone. In season 15, he chose Emily Maynard, but they later broke up, and Emily became #TheBachelorette.#BachelorNation pic.twitter.com/5IDyCfXbqU
— The Former Chris Harrison Show (@RosesTearsDrama) December 13, 2019
Did you catch that in the previous paragraph? Brad got to be The Bachelor twice! “After season 11, why not give Brad another chance at love? Bachelor producers brought Brad back for Season 15. He was even hotter than before but had barely changed his behavior. If he knew what was good for him, he would have chosen Chantal O’Brien, a vivacious beautiful woman who made him feel comfortable and like the man he needed to be. Instead, he chose a perfect-looking and super-sweet single mom, Emily Maynard, even though he knew she wouldn’t move to Texas to be with him. Brad and Emily ended their engagement months after the show aired,” informs Reality Tea.
Season 11 is the real list-worthy season as Brad made his unprecedented move for the show. “Viewers were certainly disappointed, but Womack’s shocking decision definitely made this season stand out,” insists Cheat Sheet.
3. Season 20: Ben Higgins
Ben Higgins is the stereotypical “dream boat.” “A clean-cut young man from the midwest, Ben Higgins comes across as sweet, if not slightly naïve. Unfortunately, Ben’s immaturity is also evident. One of the most entertaining moments of his season comes during a conversation with one of his final three women. Ben reveals to the audience that he’s worried that this particular contestant doesn’t have much depth because she’s too happy. On a one-on-one date, he tries to convince the girl to ‘open up’ to him by sharing deep, personal trauma. His contestant calls him out on this, but that moment made me lose a lot of respect for Ben,” offers Happy Healthy Stylish.
Though certainly not our favorite bachelor, this season had a particular draw with its dramatic contestants! “Contestants Olivia Caridi and Jubilee Sharp had viewers on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Although Ben Higgins wasn’t a fan favorite, his pick, Lauren Bushnell, was an explosive choice after telling both her and JoJo Fletcher that he loved them both in one of the best ‘The Bachelor’ episodes,” informs Cheat Sheet.
Ben and Lauren became another victim of “The Bachelor” curse which states that meeting someone and falling in love in six weeks on a TV show is probably not going to work out. “Things did eventually work out for Ben. He married Jess Clark last year after she caught his eye on Instagram in 2018, prompting him to slide into her DM’s, a true modern-day love story,” informs We Got This Covered.
4. Season 24: Peter Weber
Peter was a hot commodity after Hannah B’s season. At the time, he was a 28-year-old pilot from Los Angeles, California. “Peter was the most immature Bachelor of all time, but the over-the-top drama and theatrics made it worth a watch,” says Happy Healthy Stylish.
Peter’s season was number one on several fan lists. It did house some iconic moments like Champagne-gate. “Another memorable moment was Peter breaking off his engagement with fan-favorite Hannah Ann Sluss for Madison Prewett, who took herself off the show after realizing she and Peter had vastly different lifestyles,” confirms Cheat Sheet.
Whether fans loved or hated Weber, viewers clearly wanted to keep watching him. “He was not a great conversationalist, he didn’t just create tensions but also made some feuds worse, he was indecisive, and not to mention he failed to sell the obviously scripted Hannah B storyline with his bad acting,” informs Screen Rant.
5. Season 17: Sean Lowe
Even though he’s at number five on our list, Sean Lowe’s season of “The Bachelor is everything that the show should aspire to be. “From the beginning, Sean was open to the possibility of a relationship with every woman that he met. He treated all of his contestants with kindness and respect. Even while eliminating the season’s villain Tierra (one of the most irritating villains in the franchise’s history) he still exhibited compassion. Another note about Sean’s season is that he was one of the most self-aware Bachelors in the history of the show. Since he knew who he was and what he wanted out of life and a relationship, he asked each of his contestants questions that determined whether or not they were compatible. This is refreshing to watch, especially since many Bachelors seemingly determine compatibility based on which contestant has the best sob story,” explains Happy Healthy Stylish.
Lowe had his heart broken on Emily Maynard’s Bachelorette season, but his status as a fan favorite landed him the leading role in Season 17 of The Bachelor. “Lowe’s season introduced multiple contestants who would go on to find popularity within Bachelor Nation, such as Lesley Murphy, Tierra LiCausi, and then-future Bachelorette Desiree Hartsock. However, Season 17 remains one of the franchise’s best and most beloved largely due to the happy ending Lowe found with contestant Catherine Giudici,” offers The List.
A graphic designer, Giudici was far from the safe choice for Lowe. They were opposites, but in this case, opposites really attract. “Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici fell completely in love and married in 2014, a year after the show’s airing. They now have three children and are the ultimate standard to which all ‘Bachelor’ seasons are measured,” says We Got This Covered.
6. Season 21: Nick Viall
Nick wasn’t exactly a fan-favorite among many in Bachelor Nation. A major reason it’s on the list of best Bachelor seasons is because of its contestants. “Some of the best people to come out of the franchise are Nick’s Bachelorettes. Even the season’s villain, Corinne, was hilarious and had a lot of redeeming qualities. For this reason, Nick’s season moves from meh to iconic,” says Happy Healthy Stylish.
At this point, Bachelor fans had seen a lot of Nick Viall already in “The Bachelorette” and “Bachelor in Paradise.” Screen Rant elaborates, “There was an element of predictability in this season which actually carried through till the final rose was given out, as most viewers could already guess that Viall was about to pick Vanessa Grimaldi.”
Nick Viall pushed people to ask whether or not there should be a limit on the number of times someone can appear on “The Bachelor” franchise. “Nick ‘Iron Man’ Viall has been a little controversial but never disingenuous,” informs We Got This Covered.
7. Season 7: Charlie O’Connell
Brother of the actor Jerry O’Connell, Charlie graced us with season seven of “The Bachelor.” “Instead of having a cocktail party on the first night, Charlie eschewed tradition and ended up doing body shots with the new contestants. That’s one way to start a show,” informs Bustle.
As the season progressed, O’Connell opened up about his drinking problem; regardless, most of the women remained enamored by him. “In the end, he chose to pursue a relationship with Sarah Brice, offering her a promise ring. Unfortunately, O’Connell’s drinking problem would be the bane of their five-year on-and-off relationship. After they split up, Brice infamously sold the ring on eBay. Unsurprisingly, Charlie O’Connell is now married to Playboy Playmate Anna Sophia,” explains Collider.
Fun fact: When O’Connell granted winner Sarah Brice with a promise ring that she later sold on eBay when the pair broke up. “The New York City native earned points for going where few contestants had gone before and truthfully identifying himself as an actor, rather than ‘dog lover.’ Charlie chose not to get down on one knee, but rather to start a relationship with winner Sarah Brice. The two had an on-again, off-again relationship for a few years before splitting for good,” informs Entertainment Weekly.
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Sources:
- Stacker
- The List
- Bustle
- Reality Tea
- Episode Ninja
- Happy Healthy Stylish
- Cheat Sheet
- Screen Rant
- We Got This Covered
- Collider
- Entertainment Weekly
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