Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Fish Knife

As a seasoned cruise ship stewardess, I’ve seen my fair share of drama and eccentricities, but this episode was a rollercoaster! The goddess of fertility must be pulling some serious strings with Ellie and Joe. I mean, who kisses their co-worker on the cheek during a group photo, then jokes about it? Only in the world of hospitality!

At its peak, the Below Deck series offers an enticing blend of crew members’ personal conflicts and demanding work environment challenges, all set against stunning backdrops. This season has been somewhat deficient in the challenging guest department, but this episode addresses that issue effectively. The Dallas socialites featured in this episode are far from being adored national figures.

The main figure, Mahisha Dellinger, is the CEO and creator of a line of natural hair-care products and previously hosted a brief series about female entrepreneurship on OWN called “Mind Your Business With Mahisha“. If this pitch were for Bravo, I’m not sure she’d secure another show or manage to revive “The Real Housewives of Dallas“. In preparation for their visit, a friend’s spouse, Mike (a former NBA player), has a small basketball hoop assembled. Meanwhile, as he does this, a series of flashbacks depicting past deck-crew blunders seems to torment him in the background.

Gael joins Joe as they navigate the smaller boat, tasked with collecting supplies. She confides that handling this part of the job makes her most anxious, yet she’s excited about learning new skills. The provisions include a massive balloon arch for an evening “fire and ice” event, which has me anticipating some hilarious physical comedy trying to install it on the boat. Later, Aesha and Nathan struggle with the arch, narrowly avoiding having it squashed by the sliding doors. But she swiftly averts disaster using her knee. There’s no denying Aesha’s commitment – she’s not shy about putting herself in the line of fire. This week, she’s burning the midnight oil, staying up late to ensure the job is done well. In a nutshell, Aesha is committed and dedicated.

When the visitors arrive, their energy is more awkward than Raygun’s breakdancing. They seem underwhelmed by the meal, and Iain fails to exude much warmth as he leads them to “The Mustique.” It seems like Aesha or one of the crew members should have accompanied them to create a more positive initial impression. Upon receiving her requested martini, Mahisha immediately seeks a spot for a photograph. Aesha recommends using the sun deck or the shaded area by the couches. Mahisha finds the couches unsightly and insists they be moved aside for the photo. Granted, the couches look like an outdoor extension of Grandma’s house, but taking the picture somewhere else would have been better! After viewing the picture, I’m surprised they didn’t ask to shift the mounted flag as well.

Mahisha continues to voice her concerns, asking Aesha to retrieve a martini from just a few steps away. Later, Ellie brings a vodka soda to the swim platform instead of surprising Mahisha with an additional drink. This leaves Mahisha slightly disappointed. Next, she phones Jono to complain about the caviar in the hors d’oeuvres, saying it tastes like a damp washcloth. Jono replies, “That’s not good,” showing his nonchalance which Mahisha finds endearing. He explains that the issue lies with sourcing and promises to stop carrying that particular brand. I pondered if they meant the caviar tasted like soap, but I think towel is more about texture than taste. I debated licking a washcloth to verify my assumption, but ultimately decided against it.

During dinner, the vodka drinks kept flowing, with everyone appreciating Jono’s dishes except for Neysla who found an issue with the cutlery – she felt she was missing a knife. Aesha clarified that her knife wasn’t a butter knife as one might assume, but actually a fish knife. However, Neysla took offense at being corrected and declared Jono’s caviar service unsatisfactory. Yet, Aesha’s response made me chuckle. Aesha isn’t afraid of taking a stand for herself, even if it stirs controversy, which it won’t. Sandy found the whole story amusing, and like Aesha, trusted her judgment on the guests being ‘mean girls.’ Remember, friends: Fish knives have pointed ends, while butter knives are round. You never know when this knowledge might be useful!

Following dinner, the ladies move towards the sun deck, only to find no prepared drinks at the bar there. Aesha signals Ellie to go and fetch something, and they subtly request strong triple vodkas, suspecting a prolonged stay on the sun deck. Ellie promises to check on them every 15 minutes. Their tone suggests displeasure, and Neysla appears to roll her eyes as she departs. Aesha then summons Joe, hoping his presence might charm the others. Though they see through his intentions, the women seem to appreciate his company.

Reminiscent of the season’s early moments, Jono is seen preparing sandwiches for a late-night munchie. Regrettably, Mahisha isn’t a sandwich enthusiast. Her spouse mentions he’s never witnessed her savor a sandwich in two decades, and it now makes perfect sense. This lady seems to be far more content with a satisfying sandwich. Far too refined for a sandwich, I’d say? Does she realize there’s a $214 Serendipity grilled cheese or perhaps my favorite – a straightforward Brie and caramelized onion jam on a baguette? Mahisha asks for berries but takes an unfortunate tumble down the stairs en route to their bedroom, leaving her husband to await the berries and carry them back to her. Apparently, they must have been delectable, as she requested more berries at breakfast the following morning.

Mike praises the team to Sandy, and she uses the moment to share a tale with a cautionary undertone. Once, a man paid a million euros for a charter, but she considered canceling it because he was disrespectful to her staff. Neysla feels singled out: “I’m tired of this discussion.” It would be delightful if Sandy admitted the story was fabricated.

In simpler terms, Joe and Ellie lead their guests on a trip to the Temple of Aphaia ruins, with Joe acting as tour guide despite only having a small amount of research. Mahisha, however, is content taking photographs. The guests persuade Joe and Ellie to take a group photo together, which results in Ellie giving Joe a kiss on the cheek. This unexpected move suggests that Ellie might be under the influence of the temple’s fertility goddess. Ellie jokes about hiding the picture from Bri, fearing she may retaliate. The group is left surprised when they see the photo, and Joe reveals he doesn’t like stew but becomes aggressive when drinking alcohol. Gael expresses concern that Ellie might be developing feelings for Joe, while Joe might not be reciprocating these feelings honestly.

Let’s catch up on Laundrygate 2024: Ellie is only handling dirty rags and towels right now so Aesha can evaluate if Bri is capable. Unfortunately, Ellie’s evening gown was overlooked during this time. However, she doesn’t think it’s worth reporting the oversight regarding Bri. Instead, Bri dismisses the incident as something that happened prior to the new division of tasks. Since Aesha is unaware of any problems, she assumes there was merely a mix-up between the two kitchen staff members. Thankfully, the guests didn’t seem to notice or ask about laundry services, praise be!

In a deeply emotional instance, Sandy receives the devastating news from her partner that their beloved pet has passed away. Aesha offers solace to Sandy, and it serves as a poignant reminder of the hardships endured during work-related absences. Losing both her parents while at sea resurfaces for Sandy, adding to her sorrow.

It’s fortunate that Sandy’s day improves significantly, as the guests appear to have regained their good manners following their outing. The meal turns out well, and they generously leave a large tip of $20,000. Mahisha expresses excitement about “my lovebirds” (an apparent reference to two specific individuals) and hints that “you know who you are.” Joe is upset by being called out, but when Sandy inquires about their identity, both he and Ellie feign ignorance. Later, Ellie invites him on a date for the same evening. He accepts but soon has second thoughts. Joe admits to feeling surprised because he’s never been asked out by a girl before. Their conversation becomes more intimate as they sit together on a Jet Ski, but his words reveal immature and insincere behavior. He’s hesitant about the date and contemplates canceling it. We will have to wait until next week to see if jilted feelings might lead Ellie to take revenge.

Best Prop

Let’s take a brief look at some standout Props from this episode, as I miss the excitement of the Olympics. To keep things interesting, let’s hold a mini-contest! The scoring will be based on two factors: Iconic Value and Relevance, each with a maximum of 10 points, totaling up to 20 points.

• The Temple of Aphaia had a solid run but was disqualified for being a location and not a prop.

In a recent event, I found myself admiring the exquisite Birkin Bag as it momentarily graced the auction block. However, the attendees and I shared concerns about its potential water damage due to the tender’s environment. Regardless, it didn’t significantly impact the final outcome, earning four points.

• Fifth place: Dry-ice tablescape décor. It looked cool, okay?! Five points.

• Fourth place: Basketball hoop. Seven points.

• Bronze: The balloon arch failed to impress me during the latter part of the episode, despite my initial expectations. Earning a score of eleven points.

They managed to achieve something remarkable. You can see they’re high-quality because they came in cardboard containers, not plastic ones. They scored twelve times.

• Gold: Table cutlery (specifically a fish knife). Despite a brief reference to “mother-of-pearl spoons”, she remained focused and true to her nature. She ultimately clinched the victory in the category of silverware, breaking a world record with an impressive score of 20 points.

2024-08-13 06:54

Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Fish Knife

Best Prop

Read More

Minority Mindset