New reality series “Golden Bachelor”: Stayed young

Whether video games, albums or series – “Gold Editions” always arouse high expectations among the audience. RTL also follows this principle and gives the well-known “Bachelor” format a new dimension with the first German season “Golden Bachelor”: Instead of young people, the focus is now on more mature singles – with stories that touch and an authenticity that defines the genre Haven’t seen him in a long time. Anyone who thought dating was only for twenty-somethings will be proven wrong here.

The focus is on Bachelor Franz Stärk, who is in his early 70s and leads the show with remarkable aplomb. Opposite him are women who, like him, have had eventful lives. The candidates share fates such as separations, the loss of a partner or even the pain of the death of a child.

One moment in particular remains in the memory: a participant confides in Franz that she lost her son and describes how she would have felt if she had died in his place. Such scenes show that it’s not just about romantic feelings, but also about understanding – a rare depth for reality TV. The solidarity among the participants also makes the relay stand out. Not only do they share the experience of being single in old age, but they also share a genuine willingness to embrace the experience.

Of course, the potential for foreign shame typical of reality TV is not absent. In one scene, for example, a participant appears in a gray wig and stages an indirect appeal to Franz to “look behind the facade”. Another describes her own son as “totally awesome” – a somewhat inappropriate comment coming from her own mother.

The special thing about the “Golden Bachelor” season is its “wholesome” character. Unlike recent “Bachelor” seasons, the show seems less like a casting for the next influencer career and more like a real search for connection – at a time when reality TV is often reduced to show and drama becomes.