Below Deck Sailing Yacht Recap: The Race For Chase

As a seasoned observer of human dynamics, I must say that this episode was a rollercoaster of emotions! The tension between Daisy and Cloyce, the drama with Danni and Gary, and the jellyfish incident (which reminds me of my own unfortunate encounter with one back in Florida) – it all made for quite an engaging watch.

Following an intense break from chartering in the previous episode, we’re diving back into our daily routines. Things appeared to be getting tense, yet this week, it’s more like a gentle bubbling. With Chase stepping in for Emma, the crew is adjusting to their new dynamics. I can hardly wait for the drama that’s hinted at coming up. For now, we have a love triangle unfolding and the regular demands of catering to guests. It might be tiring for the team, but it’s enjoyable to observe.

The main character is Ronnie, a CEO from Chicago, celebrating her 50th birthday with a girls’ trip. She anticipates top-notch hotel service, although it’s important to note that seven-star service doesn’t exist; even in the traditional five-star system, the Parsifal III might be considered more like a four-star establishment. During the preference meeting with guests, numerous activity requests are listed, but I find them hard to focus on due to the large font on the sheets, which makes them resemble cue cards more than detailed preferences.

In terms of work, Chase is aiming to keep a low profile rather than trying to gain approval from Gary, his boss. Glenn feels satisfied with having Chase on the team, and this proves to be a good decision when their initial voyage goes significantly better compared to when Emma was part of the crew. As for romance, Chase’s strategy to steer clear of any romantic entanglement seems to be failing rapidly. He finds both stews attractive, although he hasn’t yet realized the extent of their interest in him. Diana tends to date men similar to Chase, while Danni is thrilled because Chase is open to playing drinking games and being informal. Diana expresses her desire, but Danni aggressively pursues a connection with Chase. Diana shares photos from their nights out with Chase, and he compliments Danni’s attire, which makes Diana grow increasingly resentful.

It’s open to interpretation whether Danni’s actions are deliberate or not, but it’s clear that she’s escalating their rivalry. For instance, when she boasts about making the best espresso martini to a guest, it’s a veiled insult towards Diana, recalling her lack of coffee beans on a previous charter. Furthermore, Danni openly flirts with Anthony in front of Diana, while Diana remains focused on Chase. The O Beach host seems oblivious to Danni, and even Chase admits he can’t read Diana because she’s quiet. It appears that Danni’s bold flirting and physical affection are difficult for Diana to match. In this situation, it’s fair to say that Diana should have spoken up, but instead, she seems unable to keep up with Danni’s outspoken advances.

In the meantime, Daisy finds herself in a complicated situation with two men – Gary and Cloyce. She humorously states that living with Gary helps her keep tabs on him, but insists their bond is strictly friendly. Yet, she encourages him to focus on self-improvement. On the other hand, Cloyce, who’s known for his exceptional cooking skills, strives to maintain the culinary level he achieved during their last charter. He remains smitten with Daisy and they’ve developed a contentious dynamic reminiscent of an old married couple. For lunch, Cloyce presents a creative assortment, a vibrant mix of watermelon and feta, followed by a delectable medley of crab and avocado. To be fair, it seems more appropriate to refer to these dishes as a fusion or a symphony of flavors rather than calling them both salads.

It turns out Cloyce isn’t the only one making mistakes: Daisy realizes she failed to order rosé. Fortunately, Diana manages to find a bottle to tide them over while Danni and Chase go buy some more. It seems that Chase is already demonstrating his usefulness by driving the tender. Danni’s unconventional flirting involves jokingly stating that wine makes her immediately vomit projectiles. The first place they drop Danni off at is closed, and there’s nothing nearby, so they ask other boats for help, reminding me of the latest season of Below Deck Med. Unlike last time, though, it wasn’t Aesha who messed up; she had indeed ordered the rosé. Eventually, they find an open bar/store, and the mission is accomplished. Danni considers this simple errand a sign that she and Chase work well together.

Dinner starts off questionably with Cloyce’s attempt at tuna crispy rice. The rice doesn’t look crispy or well-presented, and to add insult to nigiri, Daisy calls it “tuna on fried rice.” She quickly clears the appetizer — it was literally one bite — which throws off Cloyce’s timing. He’s running behind on the next course, a yellowtail crudo. The guests do enjoy it, but the wind picks up, so they decide to move to the table downstairs for the rest of the meal. Glenn chats with the women by the bar, telling them a story about a time he saw a poisonous fish but didn’t touch it (boring). Daisy can’t find a moment to interrupt to ask them to sit down and fails to communicate what’s happening to Cloyce. He comes up with the main course while everyone’s still standing and is annoyed. His precious cod is best served hot, and he thinks Daisy’s screwing up his timing. He tells the guests he “wanted to play with black and white” but then calls it black cod in black miso. He must have meant white miso.

The visitors inquire about Cloyce’s past, but instead of sharing his culinary qualifications or heritage, he discloses his age to them. This information leaves them amazed and they engage him in conversation for such an extended period that the meal course is completed. I’m concerned this prolonged dialogue might interfere with his dessert preparation time. Below, Danni informs Daisy that Cloyce was being rather testy with her and grumbling about the communication within the interior. In response, Daisy decides to over-communicate via the radio: “We will be in the kitchen in 40 seconds.” Chase swiftly assembles his show-stopping dessert, and the mango sphere filled with coconut vanilla semifreddo shaped like a fried egg receives positive feedback.

Following their post-dinner chat in the laundry room, Daisy attempts to scold Cloyce for confiding in others instead of her. She advises him to discuss his issues with her directly. Despite her reprimands, Cloyce maintains a smile, seemingly finding her anger intriguing rather than taking her words seriously. Daisy erupts into laughter, leaving us guessing whether she’s amused by his behavior or if they’re struggling to maintain a dramatic facade for the show. Could there be hidden sexual tension between them in this confined setting? This peculiar scene leaves us yearning for more clarity.

Every morning, I crave a rich and velvety latte with a generous dash of sweetness, but it seems like Daisy’s struggling to get it right. She appears anxious about adding too much sugar, despite my clear requests for more. Another guest’s coffee is chilled, far from the impeccable service we strive for. After three attempts at my latte, I decide to switch to tea instead. The energy among us ladies during breakfast feels subdued today. It’s hard to tell if it’s due to the food or perhaps lingering effects of last night, or simply frustration over our morning coffee woes.

As a cinema enthusiast, let me recount an unfortunate turn my day took: A jellyfish sting added insult to injury during my already challenging morning. The crew was quick to act, rinsing the affected area with antiseptic, but the swelling and pain persisted. Glenn, our resident jellyfish expert, explained that a remaining stinger was causing the discomfort by releasing venom. Keith skillfully extracted it, reminding me of a scene from Doctor Odyssey, albeit without the romantic entanglements. The rest of the episode saw little more than this display of competence from Keith. I’m left wondering about his feelings towards Chase, but the script seems to favor cordiality over drama in their interactions. In comparison, Keith’s presence is akin to a main character compared to Davide, who’s becoming increasingly elusive, bordering on ghost-like.

Towards the end of the show, things really heated up as Daisy shared some juicy gossip with Chase about Danni’s love life – fittingly messy! Chase admitted he hadn’t heard any scandalous tales yet, but that changed when Daisy revealed that Danni and Gary had kissed right in front of everyone. Daisy also disclosed that Danni almost got involved with Keith, which made Danni furious. However, Danni told Chase both incidents meant nothing to her. In an interview, she said, “This is why I don’t have many girlfriends.” Not exactly a compliment! Surprisingly, Daisy left out the fact that she had invited a guy back to the boat just two nights earlier. And while it may sound corny, you should be proud to be like most girls who aren’t as catty and petty as her.

2024-12-10 18:54

Below Deck Sailing Yacht Recap: The Race For Chase

Read More

Minority Mindset