As someone who has spent countless hours watching reality TV, I must say that the dynamics on this yacht are as predictable as a soap opera. It seems like every new crew member faces the same challenges and power struggles, just like characters on a scripted show.
On Labor Day, it seems appropriate yet incongruous to watch Below Deck Mediterranean. On one hand, we’re appreciating the crew’s hard work. On the other, we’re indulging in the internal conflicts among the crew members, which could potentially be resolved if they united against their superiors for improved working conditions, Ellie included. The second stew seems particularly affected by the hiring of a new stewardess this season.
At the crew gathering, Carrie shows up precisely on time, carrying a vibrant tie-dye bag from Alo that suggests a hefty expense. With eight years in yachting under her belt and previous roles as a chief stew, Carrie has accumulated extensive knowledge of knots, making her more seasoned than Ellie and Bri. She’s skilled in mixology, enjoys managing laundry, and is always ready to lend a hand wherever needed as a floater. Carrie manages to make an impact, though not on everyone – Ellie, for one, remains unaffected. In fact, Ellie isn’t amused by Carrie’s comment about her high heels resembling stripper shoes, and she finds the implied criticism of sex work distasteful. I too find it inappropriate to make such a remark when her heels are simply tall, stylish footwear that she seems to have trouble walking in.
During the dinner break, Joe confides in Carrie that Nathan is in a committed relationship. One might say he’s concealing information if we were in a courtroom. Immediately upon meeting, Joe tries to flirt with Carrie, which leaves Ellie and Bri visibly uncomfortable. Carrie reciprocates his advances mildly, even teaching him some traditional Scottish dances, but she maintains a level of restraint that is less provocative than her past counterparts. Instead, Carrie is more interested in forging a friendship with Aesha, who takes an instant liking to her. Aesha understands Carrie’s situation because she too joined the crew midway through season five. The two share a bond over their shared experience of non-romantic dancing, something that Ellie does quite enthusiastically.
Ellie may be bitter, but Nathan is having a truly terrible night. Earlier, he got a text with the news that his friend passed away from cancer, and he doesn’t tell anyone, quietly drinking his sorrows. Gael can tell he’s not okay, but in the car back to the boat, he turns mean, which prompts Aesha to climb into the backseat between Nathan and Gael. Now that is what a girls’ girl does. Gael asks again what’s wrong, and he finally tells her about his friend, crying. Gael encourages him not to be afraid to show his sensitive side. Nathan tells us his family doesn’t talk about tough stuff, and he doesn’t want to repeat their patterns. Back on the boat, Aesha tells Joe what happened and that he needs to support Nathan. Joe’s late-night pep talk isn’t the best, but it’s nice to see that their friendship can have depth to it. Early in the morning, Gael joins Nathan on his top bunk. It’s unclear if they’re doing more than cuddling, but based on how annoyed Joe looks in the bottom bunk and how he behaves later, I don’t think he’s that cool with it. As lead deckhand on a mini power trip, he calls out Gael’s squeegeeing and watches her clean like a hawk. The man doesn’t know how else to express that he’s jealous of Nathan’s thinking of joining Gael’s trip around the Greek islands after the season. Being there for someone through a loss is a big step in a relationship, but I don’t know yet if the couple can get serious without Aesha’s prodding.
Just like me who’s aspiring to step up in my role, Ellie is eyeing a chief stew position in the future. She recently approached Aesha, seeking guidance during the last few charters, hoping to gain the experience needed to lead on a smaller vessel post-season. However, Aesha gently discouraged her by suggesting she continue gaining experience instead. Instead of learning intricate tasks like provisioning orders or shadowing Aesha, Ellie finds herself showing Carrie around the boat. I must admit, it’s quite amusing to see her ambitions shift towards an influencer career path, as the producers show a clip of her studying branded partnerships during breaks – somewhat reminiscent of someone on a dating show being told they’re not there for the right reasons.
It’s astonishing that laundry issues persist, isn’t it? Frankly, I could do without discussing this again and again. However, my duty requires me to summarize, and just like Carrie, I strive to maintain my image as a diligent worker. Joe is left with only one foul-smelling polo, standing in for Bri who lost his second one. In search of it, he turns to Aesha. She discovers the missing polo in Iain’s room and is taken aback that her fellow crew members have been covering for Bri. Aesha remains optimistic when speaking to Bri, hoping to end the season with four stews and knowing Bri is making an effort. Sandy shares a similar sentiment, taking pride in not dismissing entry-level stews. We are treated to a montage of previous stews struggling with their roles. You might think you’ve long left your reality TV days behind, but Bravo has a knack for reminding us otherwise. Bri proposes implementing a color-coded beads system as reading names on tags isn’t working for her. While I question whether this new method will be effective, I admire Bri for seeking advice within the yachtie community. She truly is trying; God bless her soul.
The new team members for the primaries are Murphy and Beth from Dayton, Ohio, joined by three other couples who are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversaries. One of them might have a shellfish allergy, and Jono has to be careful after nearly losing his job during the last charter. However, since there’s no backup chef, there’s plenty of room for errors. On their first lunch service, Aesha pauses due to a glass falling over, calling the stewards to stand by. Ellie believes they should start serving dishes right away, which confuses Carrie and puts Jono’s timing in jeopardy. He worries he’ll be blamed if the food gets cold, but luckily, the guests are satisfied with their meal.
In a less cheerful dining area for the crew, Gael and Nathan are having their meal together. Joe inquires if Gael can re-enter the water, to which she replies she’s been told to change her clothes, as she no longer has any dry suits (the term ‘dry wetsuit’ is quite amusing for a uniform). Since Gael can’t go back into the water, Joe will have to take his place. He playfully calls her a princess, and she retaliates with a prickly comment. Their banter hints at deeper resentment, leaving Nathan in an awkward position. I agree with Gael’s belief that as she gets closer to Nathan, Joe becomes increasingly rude towards her. While I’d like to see Joe pursue Carrie to ease up on Gael, I wouldn’t wish such a situation on Carrie either.
Discussing the latest stew, Ellie appears increasingly agitated as she observes Carrie’s competence, seemingly due to concerns about her own position. On the other hand, Bri and Aesha are delighted to have additional assistance, but Ellie seems to be acting out of apprehension. The rapport between Carrie and Aesha makes Ellie feel like an outsider, and she worries that she might soon be replaced. Although a pay difference could justify such concerns, I believe both second and third stews receive the same compensation here, making this more about personal pride. Ellie voices her reservations to Aesha, who neither confirms nor denies a potential demotion but leaves room for the possibility. If there were any differences in rank, it would serve as a fitting retribution after Ellie tried to assert herself so forcefully over Bri. Aesha hints that Ellie may not be suited for the chief stew role because she fails to grasp the importance of the guest experience, suggesting that her sponsorship deals could prove beneficial instead.
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2024-09-03 06:54