The Best Seasons Of 'The Bachelor', Ranked

The 17th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 7, 2013, featured 28-year-old Sean Lowe, a former Kansas State football player from McKinney, Texas. Throughout the season, Lowe went on several dates in various locations, including Montana, the Canadian province of Alberta, St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, and Thailand. Lowe ultimately proposed to Catherine Giudici. The season saw 25 new contestants, plus one from Bachelor Pad, and one surprising mystery woman. Sean and Catherine married in 2014, and have three children together.

The 20th season of The Bachelor featured 26-year-old software salesman Ben Higgins from Warsaw, Indiana. This season's locations ranged from Las Vegas, Indiana, and even Mexico City, to the Bahamas and Jamaica. After several dates and rose ceremonies, Ben ended up proposing to flight attendant Lauren Bushnell from West Linn, Oregon. They briefly had their own reality show, Ben and Lauren: Happily Ever After? However, they announced their breakup on May 15, 2017.

The 21st season of The Bachelor featured Nick Viall, a software sales executive. This was Nick's fourth appearance in the Bachelor franchise, after having been rejected twice on The Bachelorette, and having appeared on Bachelor in Paradise. Over the course of the season, Nick dated 30 women, and traveled to several locations, including his home state of Wisconsin, New Orleans, the US Virgin Islands, Bimini, and Finnish Lapland. He eventually proposed to Vanessa Grimaldi, a special education teacher from Montreal, Quebec. The pair announced their breakup on August 25, 2017.

The 14th season of The Bachelor featured Jake Pavelka, a pilot from Dallas, Texas, who had been a contestant in the fifth season of The Bachelorette. Pavelka eliminated numerous contestants over the course of the season, ultimately proposing to Vienna Girardi. Their engagement ended in June 2010. Pavelka went on to participate in many other reality TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars, Bachelor Pad, Famous Food, and Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off.

The 13th season of The Bachelor, which premiered on January 5, 2009, featured 32-year-old Jason Mesnick, a single parent from Kirkland, Washington. Jason, who was the runner-up of the 4th season of The Bachelorette, was the second former The Bachelorette suitor to become the Bachelor. He eventually proposed to Melissa Rycroft in the final episode. However, during the After the Final Rose special, Jason broke off the engagement with Melissa, and resumed a relationship with Molly Malaney, the runner-up, to whom he subsequently proposed. They tied the knot in a televised wedding ceremony on February 27, 2010.

The Bachelor's 8th season, also known as The Bachelor: Paris, premiered on January 9, 2006, with medical doctor Travis Lane Stork as the star. This incredibly dramatic season featured two eliminated bachelorettes seeking revenge on the remaining women, and returning to pick Travis's dates in week 4. Travis faced more challenges when he visited the final four women's hometowns, and their families put him under scrutiny. In a surprising twist, he ultimately chose Sarah Stone, but did not propose. They started a relationship instead, which ended shortly after the show aired. Jealousy took center stage during the aftershow, The Women Tell All, when Travis had to address the eliminated contestants.