The Golden Bachelor recently returned for a second season. As fans tune in, however, some are starting to believe that things aren’t quite as they appear. Recently, some fans suspect that one contestant in particular could be a producer plant.
Mel Owens Recently Became The Next Golden Bachelor For Season Two
The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of The Bachelor series that features seniors as contestants. The series originally premiered back in 2023, with Gerry Turner as the season’s bachelor.
Fans saw the show return for its second season on September 24, 2025. This time, the titular bachelor is Mel Owens, a former linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams originally from Detroit, Michigan.
Meanwhile, Nicolle has been building up her connection with Mel. However, during the fourth episode, she explained she didn’t feel she was dating Mel, but dating America. She previously described her ambitions to become an influencer, and possibly a spokeswoman, and felt the show would give her exposure like she’s never seen.
A Scene With Lemon Bars & Nicolle Briscoe Especially Got Fans Talking
Nicolle also recently raised some eyebrows when she commented that Season 1’s contestants “weren’t so great-looking.” However, she was more complimentary towards the current lineup of contestants, describing them as beautiful.
On his end, Mel shared his belief that the contestants were all genuine, even being warned by contestant Robin Rocha. However, Nicolle’s comments have gotten some fans thinking she was specifically added to the show in the hopes of adding necessary drama.
Ultimately, nothing official has been said about Nicolle’s true status on the show. Fans will need to continue to watch The Golden Bachelor to see what happens next on the show.
The Last of Us Season 3: What We Know So Far
HBO is eager to continue the success of the hit PlayStation adaptation.
Minor spoilers below.
We haven’t yet reached the last of
The Last of Us. Following the hugely anticipated second season that aired from April to May 2025, HBO officially renewed the post-apocalyptic hit for a third season, confirming that the saga of Ellie and Abby will continue.
The renewal came as no surprise. Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann had long hinted that adapting The Last of Us Part II would require multiple seasons. Mazin told Deadline
back in 2024, “We don’t think we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons, because we’re taking our time to go down interesting pathways. Season 3 will be significantly larger — and the story may even require a fourth season.” HBO executive Francesca Orsi later echoed that sentiment in early 2025, saying,
“It’s looking like four seasons.”
Neil Druckmann Steps Back
The biggest creative shake-up came in July 2025, when The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann announced he would step away from day-to-day creative involvement on the HBO series.
“With work completed on Season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on Season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects,” Druckmann said in a statement.
He will remain credited as an executive producer and co-creator, but will no longer handle writing or directing duties. Druckmann is now leading development on an unannounced Naughty Dog title, which he described as “our most ambitious game yet.”
Meanwhile, Craig Mazin will continue as showrunner and primary creative force behind Season 3.
What to Expect in Season 3
Season 3 will pick up where the emotional Season 2 finale left off, expanding the dual perspectives of Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) as their paths collide once again.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the third season will shift focus toward Abby’s arc, exploring her time in Seattle and the early days of her fractured relationships after the events of Part II.
“This is where Abby truly becomes a co-lead,” Mazin told the outlet.
Fans can also expect returning cast members Isabela Merced (Dina), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac). HBO has not confirmed whether Pedro Pascal (Joel) will appear again, though Mazin teased that
“flashbacks and memories still play an important part of Ellie’s journey.”
Release Timeline and Production
While production has not yet begun, HBO has slated Season 3 for a 2027 release window. Filming is expected to start in late 2026, again primarily in Vancouver and Alberta, Canada, the same regions used for Season 2.
Mazin confirmed that Season 3 will be “longer than Season 2” and more structurally similar to Season 1, which had nine episodes.
“You’ll get more story and more time with these characters — more bang for your buck,” he told
GamesRadar in September 2025.
Bella Ramsey’s Commitment
Bella Ramsey has continued to earn acclaim for their portrayal of Ellie, securing another Emmy nomination in 2025. In interviews, Ramsey reiterated their dedication to the series:
“There’s no limit for me. They can do as many games or series as they like — I’ll keep coming back to Ellie,” they told ELLE.
Craig Mazin also praised Ramsey’s performance, saying,
“If I got to work on a set with Bella Ramsey every day for the rest of my life, I’d be thrilled.”
The Future of the Series
HBO has not confirmed whether Season 3 will conclude the adaptation of
Part II or if a fourth season will follow. According to Mazin, the creative team is still “figuring out the best shape of the story,” but insists the show will end “at the right time, not dragged out.”
For now, fans can rest assured that Ellie and Abby’s story will continue — with Mazin at the helm and Druckmann watching from a distance, ensuring the spirit of the games lives on.
Sources:
EW, The Verge, GamesRadar, Deadline, Elle, Variety, TV Guide (accessed October 2025)
