Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Bosun, Brosun

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After weeks of drama and cliffhangers, this episode feels surprisingly calm. We mostly watch the crew relax at a beach club in Barcelona on their day off. While things aren’t completely uneventful, the events that happen are pretty dull – lots of sunscreen application and casual kissing. Honestly, I could do without seeing any more close-ups of people kissing! Aesha shared that she spent three hours dancing alone because everyone else was too preoccupied with each other. It’s a mystery what Josh was up to during that time, and why he didn’t join her. Perhaps he was hoping to find someone to dance with himself, or maybe he was just lost in his own world. One more thing: editors, please stop showing that nude photo of Josh with the roses – we’ve seen it enough!

The flirting really kicked off the night before with a hot tub session, where Kizzi and Max kissed right in front of Cathy. Aesha pointed out to Cathy that Kizzi seems to target guys who are already with someone, suggesting she wants to be seen as the most desirable. Kizzi later told V she overheard Aesha and Cathy, and it upset her. It also probably didn’t feel great to hear Max ask Cathy for a kiss the next day, but it’s clear Kizzi isn’t looking for anything serious. She’s confessed she’s just interested in casual kissing.

Max feels conflicted after kissing someone else, realizing he’s actually interested in Cathy – a fact that’s pretty obvious to everyone! The situation highlights how complicated the male mind can be. Later, while traveling to the beach club, Kizzi shares with V, Cathy, and Josh that she was upset by a conversation between Cathy and Aesha. Cathy quickly deflects, claiming she didn’t say anything negative, even though the discussion was about her. Once the group reunites, Kizzi brings up the issue with Aesha. They resolve it quickly; Aesha affirms her love for Kizzi but stands by her previous comments. Kizzi admits she agrees with Aesha’s assessment of her need for attention, but wished she’d had a chance to respond. Like Joe, who also struggles with commitment, Kizzi is very self-aware – she even tells Josh she craves attention – but seems unable to change her behavior.

She’s been kissing a lot of people as part of an effort to promote women’s empowerment. This energy seems to be driving her connection with Nathan, and they’ve been making out frequently in the pool. Nathan, meanwhile, was looking to relax and have fun after a long day of work, admitting he needed to relieve some stress. He feels pressured by Captain Sandy and dislikes having to be harsh with his crewmates to get the job done. He hasn’t realized, though, that he doesn’t need to be unkind—he simply needs to focus on being a good leader.

Things are likely to get more complicated when the next charter starts, but first, let’s check in on Joe and V, and another couple. The night before their day off, Joe and V end up sharing a bed in Joe’s cabin and kissing. The next day, they’re very affectionate at the beach club. On the way there, Joe tells Aesha and the other crew members that he’s interested in V and isn’t looking for anyone else, phrasing it like he’s finished a job hunt. He tells V how he feels, but quickly adds that their relationship will only last for the duration of the charter, which V surprisingly accepts without reaction.

I’m beginning to wonder if the sea air is causing this woman to see things, or if I’m the one imagining things. It reminded me of a story Joe once told about losing everything – his job and home – in a fraudulent scheme. Joe admits he hasn’t felt this connected to someone since his former love, who he had to leave when his life fell apart. V feels the same way, saying she hasn’t been this interested in anyone since Beau. She tells Kizzi this, and Kizzi surprisingly announces she won’t pursue Joe because she knows V likes him – right in front of Cathy! While the situations are different – V and Joe had a much deeper connection than Max and Cathy did when Kizzi kissed Max – it was still thoughtless of Kizzi to share her feelings with V so publicly.

I feel so bad for Kizzi! Cathy was already in a mood and took it out on her, criticizing her beach outfit even though it was totally cute – a classic Lilly Pulitzer look! Thankfully, things turned around quickly. As soon as Cathy and Max reunited, she seemed much happier. It was so sweet to hear Max say that dancing with and kissing Cathy was one of the best days of his life – you could tell he really wanted to make things right, and he did!

The crew stumbled back to the boat, a mix of drunk, tired, and still caught up in making out. Nathan was already feeling guilty about his choices and told Josh he needed to pull himself together for the next day. He also admitted to Joe that pursuing Kizzi might have been a mistake, as he was still thinking about Gael. Kizzi, however, found the whole situation amusing – she’d once had all of them interested, and now she was lucky to even get a kiss from Nathan.

Life on board isn’t always smooth sailing, and the crew quickly gets back to work after the previous drama. Aesha swaps stew duties for the next charter, meaning Cathy will be serving guests while Kizzi handles laundry – a change Kizzi resents so much she unexpectedly brings up Tonya Harding. Captain Sandy, wanting to ensure everything is perfect, takes the deck team in hand, becoming very hands-on and closely supervising Nathan, demanding a spotless exterior by sunrise. She’s concerned he’s technically skilled but lacks leadership qualities. This pressure causes Nathan to become defensive and snap at his colleagues, leaving them unsure whether to treat him as a teammate or a superior, as his attempts to assert authority are unpredictable.

The guests are proving to be difficult, which is really bringing down everyone’s spirits. Sandy is trying to welcome them aboard the Bravado when Imran – who’s been a problem since the beginning, though not the biggest one – rudely interrupts to complain about the hand towels. While Aesha is showing them around, Imran actually asks if there’s “a servant” available to do his laundry. Then, when the boat has to return to the dock due to the waves – something that’s happened on almost every charter this season – he gets in Sandy’s way while she’s carefully maneuvering the large boat into a tight space. And Sandy was already frustrated; earlier, Nathan asked if they could leave the inflatable boats inflated, and she had to firmly remind him that the yacht isn’t a trailer park.

The weather is clearly rough – a door is banging in the wind, and the hot tub water is being tossed around. The guests aren’t helping matters, but they’re right to point out they’re docked in the least attractive part of the marina, right next to a parking lot. It’s not a great view! Thankfully, the ancient Greece-themed dinner is a hit, with beautiful decorations and a fantastic menu created by Josh, despite Imran finding something to complain about – he’s quickly becoming the group’s resident complainer. Kizzi, meanwhile, confides in Josh that she’s been in a funk all day, particularly annoyed by Cathy’s overly enthusiastic “yachtie” personality (though she can’t quite articulate what bothers her about it). Josh realizes she’s feeling insecure and left out, and she admits she feels small, while also acknowledging that Cathy is actually a kind person and the issue likely stems from her own feelings. Aesha is trying to smooth things over with positivity, and it seems to be working, at least for now.

Despite everything else that happened, Nathan’s difficulty docking the boat was the most frustrating part of the evening. The Bravado approached the dock from an unusual angle, meaning all their mooring lines were set up incorrectly and they had to quickly adjust them before Sandy lost her patience. They eventually managed it, but Nathan was so tense that when V got confused about removing a line, he snapped at her and Joe. Sandy told him to calm down and stop getting upset, but he insisted he wasn’t angry, just “assertive.” It’s becoming clear Nathan doesn’t really understand what that word means. Max pointed out that he could learn a lot from Sandy, who handles things firmly without losing her cool.

It’s clear Nathan is struggling with his new leadership role, but I wonder if Sandy is being a bit too aggressive in her approach. It seems like the more she pushes, the more flustered he becomes. He needs to see that being assertive doesn’t mean resorting to yelling or swearing. The next morning, Sandy immediately asks the first mate to wake everyone up, wanting to leave the dock in just 15 minutes. She then questions Nathan about why the deck crew isn’t up as early as the interior team, which feels like a point she could have raised earlier. One of the crew members watching from the doorway finds their interaction quite entertaining, as Sandy continues to challenge Nathan.

Things don’t improve for the crew once they’re back on the water. The guests immediately want to use all the water toys, so after a mostly smooth anchoring process, the crew rushes to set everything up. Max is busy with the guests when Imran – predictably – asks to drive the small boat. Max agrees, while Nathan briefly jokes around with Kizzi and Joe in the kitchen, only to be caught by Sandy. When they return to the swim platform, they see Max and Imran have gone quite far out on the boat, and Sandy is furious. Nathan seems to be feeling increasingly like he can’t do anything right, and that problems only arise when he’s trying to relax. I’m starting to feel sorry for him. It’s almost as if he’s being deliberately targeted with bad luck. He’s not that bad, is he?

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2025-11-25 05:56