Below Deck Recap: See You Never

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Many individuals believe that the heart of something can be the most challenging aspect to tackle creatively, as beginnings and conclusions naturally spark excitement, whereas the middle may lose momentum and become dull. As we reach the midpoint of this season, Below Deck seems to be encountering this predicament. The conflicts are repeating themselves — Solène continues to cause issues both professionally and personally; Rainbeau exhausts herself without standing up for herself; Anthony frequently brings up his anger towards Fraser, yet never takes action, instead rehashing events from the previous season. This repetitive pattern becomes irritating because it fills time without increasing tension or conflict. How many times do we need to be reminded that he was fired? He’s managing well now!

Following the conclusion of the charter, Kerry is concerned that the crew might stop functioning effectively if they grow too comfortable – it seems that’s where the storyline is headed unless things start changing soon. This week, we find Fraser in a state of worry as there are only seven hours left until the concert and no signs of stage construction yet. However, the event planner appears unfazed, and it won’t be long before Fraser receives photos from the dock showing progress. In an attempt to make the absurdity of organizing an entire concert for just seven people more bearable, Fraser invites the marina to bring their friends and family so the venue will appear less empty.

During this time, the guests are having a pleasant day, oblivious to the pressure they’re putting on the crew. Anthony prepares a delightful Provençal lunch for them, with a tartelette and Niçoise salad. However, the tension of the day is evident on both the chef and chief stew. Over the radio, they debate the dinner schedule, with Anthony seeking confirmation that it’s set for 8 p.m., while Fraser replies “between seven and eight,” a response that often frustrates chefs, and for good reason. Fraser, visibly agitated, marches to the kitchen to express his displeasure if this timing is causing issues, suggesting they simply say 8 p.m. instead.

Out on deck, Hugo’s calm and confident demeanor has rejuvenated the team, skillfully navigating the boat back to dock as Kerry beams with satisfaction at the effortless docking. Meanwhile, within, Rainbeau struggles with Solène. She inquires about her least favorite dish to wash, a question that seems to cause Solène pain. It would be unrealistic to expect all crew members to be friends, especially under the scrutiny of cameras. Connecting with colleagues can already be challenging, and adding the pressure to portray a character makes it even harder. However, Solène is not merely difficult; she’s downright rude. Instead of being cordial during the charter, why not save the drama for your off-hours? That would create much more interesting television, as viewers could cheer for the conflict rather than one of the participants.

Solene seems to have a distorted understanding of what constitutes good TV programming, as she manages to become the central figure for the current season. Throughout the voyage on the St. David, Kyle appears disheartened due to the public displays of affection between Solene and Jess. Kyle expresses his concern that Solene is manipulating people’s feelings, stating that he believes she doesn’t care about how her actions affect others. I share this sentiment as well! In a tender moment during their break, Jess confides in Solene that Solene intimidates her, likening it to how all women can sometimes be scary. Seizing the opportunity, Solene reminds Jess that she typically does not date women. In a private reflection, Solene recalls Kyle’s existence and ponders the possibility that they all may end up kissing each other at some point.

Barbara is socializing with Jess and Solène when Fraser phones her to organize the VIP area for the evening. It took my breath away when I discovered that this highly anticipated VIP area would be… on a boat. As the event progresses, we observe guests disembarking from the dock to view the performance more closely and dance, but it’s hard for me to comprehend why they’d be on the boat at all during any of it. In my hometown, Carnaval is primarily about losing oneself in a sea of people and identity blurring.

Kerry believes there are no impossible demands, just challenges that need to be addressed. The concert kicks off at 6:15 p.m., with guests being warmly welcomed by the band, dancers, and fire performers after a bit of gentle teasing of the crew. As for the elaborate setup, it’s hard not to be impressed, especially since Fraser (or rather, production) managed to obtain the necessary permit for this grand structure. Leslie even congratulates the captain on delivering such an impressive display. At 8 p.m., Anthony serves up a mouthwatering selection of finger foods – caviar blinis, mini croque monsieurs, small soups and steaks – a menu that’s been on my wish list for ages. However, when Fraser accidentally drops a plate on the ground, Dawn scolds him. Remarkably, the guests call it a night at 9:30 p.m., leaving the crew to enjoy their well-deserved rest. I’m glad they didn’t have to stick around after all that!

Rainbeau nearly voices a genuine concern to Fraser about Solene’s contribution feeling more like a burden while they tidy up the pantry. They both ponder her whereabouts, and Rainbeau accurately deduces that she’s engaging with the deck team. She expresses that Solene’s laziness is discouraging and impacting her productivity. Fraser acknowledges he recognizes the complacency. Meanwhile, on the deck, Hugo outlines tasks for Damo and Jess before they retire for the night, as Jess and Solene secretly discuss rekindling their romance. Damo observes that the two seem to be diverting each other’s focus; a brief scene earlier in the day is shown where Jess was joking around with Solene during work hours and was called away to the deck.

At night, Solène tends to her tasks in an unenthusiastic manner, even though Rainbeau has thoughtfully prepared a detailed checklist for her. However, Solène insists she’s unsure about restocking the refrigerators and generally handles her work, which appears light, with a poor attitude. Rainbeau refuses to assist her and instead connects with Damo before retiring at 2:30 a.m. It would be wonderful if these two were a couple; they seem to have fantastic compatibility.

On the last day of the cruise, Solène is tardy for work despite Rainbeau being active earlier. Barbara suspects Solène overslept her alarm, but instead she’s caught kissing Jess in their cabin. The situation becomes so glaring that it eventually wakes Fraser – he discusses with Kerry about how certain individuals are not contributing sufficiently to the department while others are overworking. He foresees the problem escalating and wants to address it proactively – Kerry advises him to inform the stewards that they won’t hesitate to dismiss someone if necessary.

After the guests depart, the crew is utterly drained. Their fatigue eases with a generous $27,000 tip shared amongst them, equating to $2,100 each. At the reward gathering, Kerry applauds the department heads for their commendable work under challenging circumstances and rewards everyone with two days off at a nearby villa – Casa Amor! However, there may be someone who needs to depart upon their return to the St. David. Could it be Solène?

Fraser convenes his team to reinforce the rules as promised. Bárbara is reclining while he speaks to them about becoming overly familiar, and he has to nudge her awake. This incident vividly demonstrates how crucial it was for him to remind them of their professional responsibilities. He acknowledges that they are all weary, but that’s the nature of yachting. “I’m not educating you about what yachting entails,” he asserts, emphasizing his point. “You should already know, or you shouldn’t be here.” I appreciate the leadership Fraser is exhibiting now, and it’s refreshing to see him take charge, though I believe he and Rainbeau ought to discuss Solène’s impact on the department. Fraser has recognized the signs, but he hasn’t addressed the root cause yet.

During the gap between guests departing and the upcoming team meeting, the romantic landscape aboard the boat becomes more open. Kyle confides in Jess that he and Solène shared a kiss on the first day of the charter, following discussions with Damo and Fraser about it. Fraser and Bárbara express concern over Jess’s actions, with Bárbara cautioning against trusting straight women due to her past experiences with infidelity. There have been subtle signs suggesting that there could be a budding relationship between Jess and Bárbara; during the Carnival concert, Jess asked for a “birthday kiss” from Bárbara, but Bárbara remained loyal to Solène. Later, Jess inquires about Bárbara’s coffee preferences, in front of Solène, which seems to provoke jealousy in Solène.

It appears that Jess’s actions might have stemmed from learning about Kyle’s kiss. After the guests depart, she privately speaks with him, but Jess downplays it, stating it’s not a major issue. However, in a private conversation, she admits to feeling slightly hurt. Interestingly, Jess has apologized to Kyle, something Solène, who instigated this situation, hasn’t considered. Furthermore, when Barbara and Fraser question her about it, she remains calm. Jess, as always composed, apologizes to Damo and Kyle for being preoccupied during the charter and expresses gratitude for their assistance in covering for her distraction.

In an effort to ensure no stones are left unturned, Jess discusses her association with Solène, who slips away with Kyle during their conversation, while Kyle stands firm, telling her she’s “setting herself up for trouble.” The phrase doesn’t resonate with her, and in any case, the one truly preoccupied with maintaining cleanliness is Rainbeau, who yet again failed to impress upon Solène the significance of her responsibilities. I can’t fathom where Solène derived the notion that “neatness isn’t a significant issue on this ship” when Kerry routinely inspects the entire vessel before any guest embarks. It’s preposterous for Solène to insinuate that Rainbeau will suffer a heart attack due to work-related stress, seeing as she herself is the source of that stress.

The scene ends with Rainbeau struggling to breathe heavily once more. When Fraser queries why the bedsheets in the master suite haven’t been moved to the main lounge, Barbara and Solène merely shrug, implying it’s Rainbeau’s task. However, one might wonder why no one assists Rainbeau when she takes on others’ tasks. Anthony notices Rainbeau crying and offers her a consoling speech and a comforting hug. Change will never occur unless she voices her concerns; the bravest action would be for her to express herself.

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2025-07-15 21:54