Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season-Finale Recap: Old Patterns

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We’ve concluded the sailing yacht season, and compared to the latest seasons of Below Deck and Mediterranean, it seemed to pass by more quickly. However, unlike the usual enjoyable spinoff of the series, this one didn’t live up to expectations. The crew appears disgruntled and eager to move on, which is not the inspiring image we desire from a team that dreams of continuing their collaboration. While Danni is determined to stay with Chase, watching them argue about a theoretical long-distance relationship doesn’t provide the satisfying conclusion we expect.

On the final night of their charter, Cloyce found himself in a tricky situation – catering a sushi dinner for guests who don’t consume fish, including Captain Glenn. To prevent any allergic reactions, he meticulously cleaned his work areas. Unfortunately, the primary crew member, ML, was still dozing off from a nap and left her friends to start dinner without her. With Daisy managing the service, there were no mishaps despite the intricate meal arrangements. The ladies appreciated that everyone was catered for, making it a triumph for Cloyce and leaving Glenn impressed. Eventually, ML arrived, giving the impression of being slightly irritated that they started without her, but all was well in the end.

Regarding Danni-Chase’s less favorable situation, it’s understandable that Chase isn’t ready for a commitment after just two weeks together, causing Danni to appear more sullen than usual. Chase aims to conclude the season positively without misleading her, and they find an opportunity to reconcile as the last two awake that night. Chase assures that tomorrow will be positive, but I have concerns Danni might interpret this as him declaring his love and a lifelong commitment the next day. She has undergone a sudden change, now projecting an unsettling calmness that seems like an attempt to make Chase forget about her earlier moodiness.

In the previous instance, Glenn allowed Gary to park the boat during their last docking. This would have been a fitting end to a storyline emphasizing growth and Gary’s ambition to become a captain, had he progressed beyond the first act. However, he didn’t, which leaves me questioning Glenn’s judgment. Despite this, the docking operation proceeded smoothly.

ML calls out Cloyce as she exits, sporting a severely sunburnt back. The gratuity is $21,000, which is decent but not exceptional, considering the numerous dietary limitations. Cloyce feels proud of his progress and delivers an elated acceptance speech, thanking “every single one” of his teammates. They all agree that the final charter was a fitting farewell on a high note.

As a movie buff, I must confess my dismay at Glenn’s absence during the final dinner among the crew – could it be that he shares the same reservations about them as I do? Moving on, Gary made some bold predictions on his way out, suggesting Keith and Daisy would find themselves romantically entangled, while Chase and Danni were in store for a heated confrontation. These seem like surefire bets, yet it appears that Gary’s crystal ball might be clouded, as he struck out with both predictions.

Daisy and Keith maintain a modest relationship dynamic. During dinner, they step outside for a break, even though no cigarettes are in sight, hinting at future plans for Keith visiting Daisy in London. At the table, Danni subtly brings up relationships with Gary, which sparks an argument between her and Chase; both are seeking relationships but Chase is hesitant to rush into anything. Chase expresses his affection by saying he’s ready to move across the world for her and that she makes him happy. He then excuses himself to the bathroom, likely to avoid expressing his reservations in front of everyone. However, once alone, he kisses her and reaffirms his desire for a good relationship. It seems he’s not leading her on if he’s accepting his feelings towards her.

Danni deliberately avoids riding in a car with Daisy to the club, instead choosing to use that time to express her displeasure. Danni boasts about her expertise in interior design while labeling Daisy as an incompetent chief stew. It appears Diana has also turned against Daisy and no longer holds her in high regard. This seems unfair to Daisy, who laments the lack of camaraderie among the interior crew compared to her previous teams. Flashbacks to preferred stews from past seasons are shown, which feels rather unkind! The trio’s dynamic was tumultuous throughout, and they’re all tired of the constant strife.

At the familiar outdoor venue, it’s where another instance of post-two-drinks misconduct unfolded. This time, Keith and Daisy shared a kiss, prompting Gary to revert to his old tactics by attempting to win over Daisy again. He fabricated a story about the girls gossiping in the taxi, claiming he defended her and upheld the social order. However, Daisy was unimpressed, leading Gary to resort to his usual moves, confessing his deep-seated feelings and desire for an idyllic life together. This didn’t sway Daisy, and instead seemed to provoke Gary, who impulsively tried to kiss her. She recoiled, hitting her head on a railing, while Gary accidentally struck his mouth against hers. This was a clear case of sexual assault accompanied by regular assault, an incident that should have been the final straw. Yet, no one else seemed to notice, so the evening carried on as if nothing had happened.

On the boat, Keith and Daisy shared a tipsy kiss before retiring to their individual beds, while everyone else but Gary called it a night. He was the only one who wanted the festivities to continue. It’s amusing to recall that just a few weeks ago it seemed like he was planning to give up alcohol. All in all, it was an uneventful final evening.

As the day breaks, the farewells and conversations start. Glenn discusses with Gary about taking charge and distancing himself from the team, aiming to become a captain. He understands that leadership requires him to put it ahead of friendships, and Gary admits he’s learned this lesson… again. He acknowledges the need to take more accountability for his actions, particularly regarding alcohol, but hasn’t quite found a solution there, nor has he made any progress in terms of his behavior with women. To top off his lack of growth, he enters his cabin while Keith and Daisy are enjoying time together on her bunk, grinning widely. Right after all this talk about growing up, Gary lets out a “pull my finger” fart.

David was the one who left first. The engineer barely had hints of a personality development, just a bleeding nose instead. He claims he repaired numerous things, yet we never witnessed it. It seems David is heading out to nightclubs now.

Next up is Cloyce, who seems to have called it an early day, perhaps the standout entertainer of the season. By ‘MVP’, I’m referring to his lively performance, not necessarily his skills at the job itself. As for his parting shot, Cloyce delivers a season recap in rhyme, which I didn’t catch was a rap until halfway through. His rapping might need some work, but there’s definitely potential for growth as a chef.

Chase and Danni part ways amicably, each going their separate ways. He expresses his desire to see her soon, but he’s currently pursuing a yacht master training certificate and intends to embark on a five-year voyage around the world aboard his own boat – yes, FIVE YEARS, which is almost equivalent to seven Ultimate World Cruises.

When asked about her future plans, Danni playfully suggests she might try to win over a man’s heart… or was it just a joke? Oops! It turns out she wasn’t joking; Danni actually visited Chase on his boat, and they dated and sailed together for a year. However, their romantic relationship has since ended, so her ‘win’ was only temporary.

On Watch What Happens Live, Aesha and Daisy mentioned that things between Chase and Danni got complicated and toxic – a development that isn’t surprising given the past 24 hours of ups and downs and Danni’s attempts to keep Chase in a relationship. Being stranded on a small sailboat in the middle of the ocean with them sounds like it could be the beginning of a horror story.

Danni expresses her willingness to collaborate with Daisy once more if the opportunity arises. However, given Daisy’s reaction to Danni’s comments about her, it seems unlikely that they would work together again in the future. Diana is content that she honed her service skills, finding them more challenging than anticipated. She discovered the importance of speaking up, but unfortunately, she didn’t always apply this skill effectively: expressing affection towards someone is not synonymous with criticizing a superior.

As Keith steps off, Glenn praises him for exceeding expectations (contrasting him with Gary). Keith then bids farewell to Daisy, momentarily undermining the finality of their separation by suggesting they could spend a few more days in Ibiza before reuniting in London later. They dated for several months (or possibly even a year, as Daisy mentioned on WWHL) but are now just friends.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself captivated yet bewildered, convinced there was still an unspoken connection between Gary and Daisy. The editors skillfully crafted a chilling sequence reminding us of their past moments – the steamy embrace in the hot tub among them. Yet, Daisy poignantly reveals they’re two lost souls who try to shield each other, bound by attraction driven by misguided reasons. However, her inability to be there for him now is a harsh reality after last night’s questionable encounter – an attempted kiss or assault that leaves their story in a state of disarray. It’s crucial to remember: past consent does not equate to present consent. Whether they were too intoxicated to recall it, the situation demands clarity and understanding.

To conclude this season on a cheerful tone, the highest praise for Below Deck comes from desiring to collaborate with a crew member once more. Here’s our list, ranking who we’d prefer to work with – or simply enjoy watching again – in the following order:

(Note: I have rephrased your text to make it more natural and easy-to-read by changing the phrase “To cap off the season on a lighter note” to “conclude this season on a cheerful tone”, and “who we’d most like to work with — well, most like to see on the show – again:” to “ranking who we’d prefer to work with – or simply enjoy watching again – in the following order:”)

I’d be delighted to have Keith back: He’s the kind of person who can do no wrong, except for perhaps losing or ruining nine pairs of underwear, which is a mystery we could use him to solve!

It’s alright if Glenn and Daisy decide to leave: This wasn’t their strongest season. It would be great if Daisy could wrap up her time on “Below Deck” with a more competent interior team and without Gary around.

Would tolerate: Cloyce and Chase. The overconfident boyish energies can be grating.

Politely passing: Davide and Diana. They just didn’t give us enough to work with. 

I must admit, I found her behavior quite challenging and in need of improvement. Her self-awareness seems lacking, and a significant amount of personal growth is necessary before she’s fit for another stint on television.

Absolutely fucking not: Gary. 

These rankings are as official as Glenn’s rules, which is to say, they can change at any time.

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2025-01-28 23:55