Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Overstepping

As a seasoned observer of this grand floating spectacle, I must say that the crew of Bel Esprit have been a delightful ensemble to watch unfold. The latest episode brought about some intriguing developments, and it’s clear that tensions are running high among the staff members.

This past Emmy weekend has come and gone, leaving the Below Deck franchise once again empty-handed in terms of awards (it’s worth noting that Below Deck Down Under was nominated for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program and Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program). Despite not receiving any Emmys, this beloved series remains a favorite among viewers. To add some extra excitement to the season finale recap, I’ll be bestowing fictitious awards throughout our discussion.

Tonight’s episode resumes with Aesha consoleing a tearful Gael, who’s disheartened because Joe and Nathan made plans to hang out after the season, which conflicts with her own travel plans with Nathan. Composing herself, Gael approaches Nathan’s bed where he whispers his desire to journey with her and his growing affection for her. While they reconcile for now, Gael wonders if her feelings are genuine due to the rapid pace of their relationship. She’s concerned about repeating past issues since she doesn’t know Nathan beyond a work setting. Here’s hoping they can navigate post-season challenges smoothly. If not, there’s always the prospect of winning the “Most Attractive Cast Member” award – and Gael seems to be the front runner in that category.

As Carrie and Joe chat playfully over a late-night slice of pizza, Joe assures Nathan in the morning that Carrie is an excellent match for him, denying any interest. Nathan finds this hard to believe, seeing it as just another one of Joe’s patterns when a woman doesn’t give in easily. In an interview, Carrie admits that she and Joe are merely friends. When asked if she has ever gotten romantically involved with her pals, Carrie shyly admits yes. The nominees for the award “Girl, Don’t Go There” are Carrie, Ellie, and Bri. However, Ellie and Bri are disqualified because they gave in to their feelings for Joe. As a result, by default, Carrie wins the award.

As a movie critic, I found myself engrossed in the climactic scene of the latest reality TV series, “Down Under.” The primary characters, Stacey and Brad from Virginia, were celebrating their 27th anniversary, adding a touch of romance to the mix. Aesha, our guide, had the pleasure of meeting them as secondary guests, and she couldn’t help but praise their charm (even if I must admit that their rowdy friends left something to be desired).

Aesha observes smudges on the hallway that appear to be fingerprints and contacts Ellie who is currently enjoying herself in the crew mess area. Since the fingerprints need to be wiped away, Aesha needs to locate her. Ellie, upholding her high standards, mentions she’s leaving because she feels disrespected. Aesha seems more terse with Ellie now that Carrie has joined the team, but if Ellie truly wanted to improve in her role, she would learn to accept constructive feedback. I find it disappointing this season that Ellie seems like an antagonist due to a lack of self-awareness. She often comes so close to understanding the situation but then misunderstands, which leaves me feeling sympathetic towards her. Unlike many reality TV stars who recognize when they’re given the villain role and either embrace it or create chaos, Ellie appears unable to enjoy herself.

Ellie consistently strives to outdo Carrie, making the process of creating espresso martinis into a contest. However, Carrie remains unfazed. We discover that her role as chief-stew in New York transformed into caregiving when the owner’s wife fell ill, making it delightful for her to have fewer duties here, providing a respite from more demanding jobs. What a refreshing change of pace! Unfortunately, my tranquil thoughts are shattered when a guest requests a vodka-soda with a hint of pre-workout.

While Bri takes a break, Ellie steps in to assist Carrie in the laundry room. Carrie is jotting down notes and being careful not to disturb Bri’s setup, fearing there might be too many people involved, which upsets Ellie, who perceives this as a senior crew member instructing a junior on her duties. When Bri returns, Carrie fills her in about the whirlwind manner in which Ellie entered the laundry room. This seems to validate Ellie’s role in the previous laundry mishap, even if it was unintentional. In terms of tidiness and detail, Ellie doesn’t seem particularly meticulous: At the bar, Aesha continues to remind her to replace bottle lids. Ellie finds solace in table decorations on this “draining boat.” Later, Aesha calls for Carrie to visit the pantry, followed swiftly by Ellie requesting Carrie’s help with deck decoration. Aesha views this as a power play and is prepared to nip any potential rebellion in the bud. If Aesha represents Jesus and the crew are his disciples, Ellie embodies Judas: “Is it me, Jesus?

Tonight’s entertainment is centered around Swedish-style pop music (since Mamma Mia! wasn’t available for licensing). Jono is thrilled to have a diverse group of LGBTQ+ guests and is eager for them to savor the food. They do, although they mention that all his dishes seem to have a slight delay before their spiciness kicks in. The main group requested a post-dinner performance by the crew, which Joe and Gael delivered with a choreographed dance while the rest of the guests improvised and moved rhythmically behind them. Nathan donned a neon leotard for the performance, but truthfully, it wasn’t their finest showing. The Outstanding Choreography award was not handed out this evening.

The following day, Aesha acknowledges Bri’s progress by arranging a visit to the Temple of Poseidon for her. Meanwhile, Iain, who hasn’t had this experience yet, takes charge of the deck crew. In the car with the passengers, Bri admits she should have looked up some information about the place beforehand. However, Iain assures everyone he’s got it under control! Despite being primarily a behind-the-scenes member on Mustique, he often handles entertainment duties. As they explore the ruins, Iain astonishes everyone by reciting facts flawlessly without referring to any notes. Given that Bri and Iain are in contention for Most Improved, Iain’s impressive performance seems to have secured him the title. After a challenging initial phase, he maintained his composure, ensuring all recent dockings were error-free, and guiding as a tour guide sealed the deal for him.

In the evening, once more, Ellie assumes control over Bri and Carrie under the pretext of decorating. She claims knowledge when it comes to draping tinsel curtains. She constantly communicates demands to them and meticulously oversees a seemingly straightforward rainbow balloon wall arrangement, which Aesha observes keenly. Aesha queries Carrie about Ellie’s behavior, and Carrie responds that it happens occasionally; if it persisted for an entire season, it would be problematic. The honor for Exceptional Design (A Pretext for Bossing Others) is bestowed upon Ellie.

Due to the attention given to Ellie’s internal matters, there isn’t much news regarding the deck crew at this time. As they wrap up their duties, they share a heartwarming group hug and tidy up the floating dock and water playthings. They appear to be strong contenders for the title of Most Harmonious Team, but an unexpected twist sees the honor going to another group of passengers instead! These guests have brought a Pride flag for the ship to display, maintain a positive demeanor, and coordinate costumes for a Greek gods-themed night. It’s truly heartwarming to witness their spirit.

Over the course of dinner, Aesha communicates to Jono that they’re wrapping up the first course. Shortly after, Ellie does the same. It appears Ellie may not have heard Aesha, but in actuality, Ellie has never before signaled the clearing of an entire season! This seemingly minor oversight is what finally pushes Aesha to her limit. To put it another way, this is the final drop that caused the camel’s back to break. Or, if we want to maintain the nautical theme, we could say “the final drop that choked the turtle,” although I understand if you find that image a bit grim. In any case, Aesha decides to speak privately with Ellie to express her concerns about Ellie’s overstepping as second stew in recent days. We see a series of flashbacks depicting Ellie’s past transgressions, such as the argument she had with Bri in episode nine that should have been the breaking point. Does it seem like I’m reaching here, or would this exchange make for an unforgettable lip-sync performance? “Bri, listen to me. You cannot speak to me like this, ever again. Who are you? I am the second stew. Stop what you’re doing. Stop. Stop cleaning. We need to talk. You’re out of control. Since you don’t understand how boats work, as a second stew, I have seniority over you. That is who I am.

Currently, Ellie feels singled out, believing she’s unfairly blamed for her actions. This doesn’t add up since Aesha has finally stopped shielding her. To illustrate, Ellie behaves much like an only child of two years old who’s struggling with a new baby sister. She tries to assert herself by preparing her own breakfast, resulting in spilled Cheerios and milk on the floor. This incident makes Mom (Aesha) realize that Ellie may not be as self-reliant as she thinks. With only hours left on the charter, it’s unlikely any changes will occur before it ends, but Ellie might follow Barbie’s lead and depart a day early.

Next week, I’m expecting some tangible evidence of a lifetime commitment in the form of an engagement ring for Sandy. Earlier this week, I had a chat with Sandy about the specifics of her proposal – flowers, a violinist, champagne, and so on. She wants everything to be absolutely flawless. I’ve been given the green light to watch from a distance (had a good chuckle at that), but based on the sneak peek I’ve seen, it seems like a heartfelt mistake might complicate the plan.

2024-09-17 06:54

Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Overstepping

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