Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Time Stamp-alooza

As a seasoned yachtie with years of experience under my belt, let me tell you, this charter season is turning out to be quite a rollercoaster ride! The hot water crisis could have been a disaster, but thankfully Ionel managed to fix it quickly. However, the real drama seems to be unfolding among the crew members.

Tonight’s installment continues from where we left last week: Sandy has summoned Ellie and Bri to the bridge for a resolution. Ellie declares she has no issue departing today as she takes pride in her work and believes she’s been an effective leader. The screen flashes (6:10 p.m.), sparking anticipation that something dramatic is about to unfold. However, it turns out that Aesha won’t be handling dinner service alone. Fortunately for the guests and staff, no such event takes place. Unfortunately for us spectators, no drama ensues. Sandy prefers not to alter the crew in the midst of a charter, so she merely requests the two stews to be amicable until then. Frankly, if I wanted to watch kindness unfold, I’d opt for The Great British Baking Show.

In a prudent move, Sandy advises Aesha to alter the cabin assignments to ensure Bri and Ellie don’t sleep together. Aesha appears hesitant but informs Gael and Bri that they will exchange cabins. However, two nights have passed in this episode, and there’s still no sign of a switch. I’m unsure why the delay – every moment matters when these cooks are close enough to potentially suffocate each other while asleep.

The dinner celebrates Colleen’s birthday with a goddess theme, and the guests impressively dress up for the occasion. They appreciate Jono’s scallop pasta, although “many flavors” may not convey the same praise as “excellent flavors.” Jono also prepares a cake, expressing self-doubt because he entered culinary arts later in life and lacks formal training at a culinary school. While the phrase “if you wanted to, you would” is often used in relationship advice, it seems fitting here. Couldn’t you take a brief pastry course, Jonno? I believe these skills could cover the cost. As Coleen sees the cake, she cries. I didn’t find it as unattractive as she did, but it’s all joyful because her tears are happy ones. Jonno avoids any criticism.

In the meantime, Joe finds himself in a tricky situation. As Ellie prepares for their post-dinner pajama party, he serenades Iain and Nathan on the piano, singing about his relationships, questioning, “Who’s it gonna be? Bri or Elle?” Unbeknownst to him, Ellie is setting up a pillow fort nearby for the slumber party. The scene might seem too sitcom-ish, but life sometimes mirrors such situations. When Ellie enters the room and informs them of her presence, she enjoys the music. Joe exclaims, “Oh, crap,” realizing his mistake. He tries to dismiss it as a harmless joke with the boys, but Ellie has had enough. She’s had it up to here with him, and for once, I wholeheartedly agree with her stance.

On the following day, which marks the end of the charter, Stacy wakes up ahead of schedule and requests the hot tub to be activated. Gael demonstrates to Nathan how he had turned on the hot water at 7:25 a.m., and by 7:35 a.m., the hot tub was ready. I find myself paying close attention to the sequence of events, much like a true-crime podcast aficionado would. Stacy departs at 8:05 a.m.

In a later scene, Iain queries Nathan and Joe about the jacuzzi incident. This time around, Nathan claims he didn’t interfere, but assumes responsibility as he doesn’t wish to cause trouble for Gael. However, this act of chivalry might not be as noble as he believes – he was standing right beside her when she activated the hot tub! Joe speculates that Nathan is taking the blame because he’s romantically involved with Gael and that the lone female deckhand is being pampered like royalty. The unsavory side of Joe is evident in this episode. Nathan informs Gael about what transpired, and she apologizes to Iain, offering to speak with Sandy. Despite her tardiness in ending things with her ex-boyfriend, she emerges as the most mature member of the deck crew. Iain accepts her apology, but Gael still approaches Sandy to accept blame because she feels Iain shouldn’t shoulder it. She admits fault, visibly nervous and emotional. Sandy isn’t angry and appreciates her taking responsibility. Gael also demonstrates wisdom in her budding relationship with Nathan: She expresses that she doesn’t want to rush things by moving from one relationship to another. Nathan harbors hopes for a future with Gael after the charter season. I share your sentiment – it seems we’ve encountered this love story before, but I remain cautiously optimistic about their prospects.

By now, we’ve been watching for about 20 minutes without any mention of laundry, so it seems likely that it will eventually be addressed. Bri finds it difficult to distinguish her chores from Ellie’s, hence her request for Ellie not to move or do the laundry, which Ellie obliges. The tone here is quite melancholic and dejected. Bri confides in Aesha about this predicament, but Aesha insists that Bri shouldn’t be the only one doing laundry.

As a movie lover recounting an event, here’s my take: After dropping a whopping $21,500 in tips, Sandy made another exciting announcement – tomorrow we’re off to the Acropolis and a bustling beach club! But truth be told, the crew is drained and yearns for some shut-eye, not another day under the scorching sun surrounded by throngs of tourists or another late night dinner out. Ellie, who seems to have a keen sense for these things, chooses to stay in. Sadly, this might widen the social gap between her and the rest of us. In the post-show discussion, she conducts interviews alone, which appears quite telling.

In the cars heading to dinner, everyone learns about the song Joe overheard. Joe mentions he’ll apologize to Ellie tomorrow, but that comes too late as her respect for him is irreversibly lost. Bri also decides not to pursue Joe any longer. The following day, as they prepare to part ways, Bri informs Ellie about the song and expresses sympathy. Ellie explains that it was about both of them, admitting she hesitated to tell Bri due to potential upset. This moment offers a glimmer of hope for them; there’s something powerful in coworkers bonding over mutual dislike for another colleague. Bri remains unsure of how Joe perceives their relationship. Ellie exclaims, “Precisely! I was thinking, Girl, I’ve got NFL players messaging me.”

As a film enthusiast standing atop the historic Acropolis, I capture moments of Bri and Ellie, their camaraderie evident in each click. A quick pan reveals Captain Sandy on her boat, presumably managing crew schedules, thankfully no more talk of dismissals for now. History buff Aesha shares tidbits from a solitary sheet of paper as our tour guide, but I can’t help but wish they had the free Rick Steves Audio Europe guide to delve deeper into the over 3,000 years of history.

At the beach club, Joe’s yet to offer an apology for the song. Ellie mentions her hurt feelings and Joe eventually apologizes, though it seems he’s taking his time. Meanwhile, much like South Africa might feel about Iain’s choice of swimwear, Ellie feels disrespected by the song. However, based on season previews, it looks like Joe won’t be altering his behavior any time soon.

Following a rather quiet day off, the team sets sail ahead of schedule for the upcoming charter, as wind conditions dictate. They’ll be receiving supplies and guests anchored nearby. We’ll encounter the guests in a week’s time, and it promises to be delightful: They’ve asked for an exquisite dinner that rivals a Michelin-starred establishment. They might earn a Bib Gourmand award, though it’s uncertain. And it’s not just me putting pressure on Jono; he himself acknowledges the challenge, pointing out there’s no Michelin restaurant operating with only one chef. The reason behind this franchise’s reluctance to employ sous-chefs remains a mystery.

As a movie enthusiast, let me rephrase this scenario in the first person:

2024-08-06 23:54

Below Deck Mediterranean Recap: Time Stamp-alooza

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