Below Deck Recap: Blame Game

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It seems there’s a strong sense of sympathy for Caio, possibly due to a deep sense of camaraderie. Is he struggling with his job? Yes, that appears to be the case. Has he taken Kerry’s repeated advice to heart? Not as yet. Does he seem to fit the description of insanity, defined as repeating the same actions and expecting different results? Possibly so. After an arduous five-day charter where the crew was unfairly deprived of a fair tip (as Kerry called Skyy’s $19,900 tip “pathetic” and I would add ‘insulting’), seeing him play guitar melancholically while the rest enjoyed the hot tub might have tugged at your heartstrings, if you haven’t become numb to such scenes on Bravo.

Initially, I didn’t empathize with Caio until we reached the end of the previous episode, where he found himself in trouble with Kerry. This week finds us resuming with Caio receiving a stern reprimand from Kerry. The first mistake Caio makes is to turn the conversation into a team issue instead of addressing it individually. He informs his colleagues that Kerry had asked if they were all ready for the task, which is not entirely accurate, and this triggers animosity among the deck crew instantly. Later on, Caio seeks solace in asking Jess if the men are supporting him. She comforts him, saying they all stand by him, and it’s a new job – they’ll face it together. Out of everyone aboard, Jess is the most balanced and normal individual. I adore her.

The rest of the team on the boat isn’t feeling overly self-assured, particularly Kerry. Under duress, he opts to step aside and guide the night kayaking trip, allowing Caio space to handle his challenging day. It’s a thoughtful gesture, but it’s also clear that Kerry has ulterior motives: he’s worried that any further complications might make him appear incompetent in front of the guests, a fear he harbors deeply. The kayaking trip appears to be an exciting adventure: the kayaks are equipped with neon lights, casting a vibrant glow on the water as the guests paddle. They may encounter turtles, various fish, and perhaps even a shark.

Over the following days, Kyle and Damo become increasingly vocal about their discontent towards the bosun. During lunch preparations at the nudist beach with Fraser, Damo confides in him that working alongside Caio has been “difficult.” Unprompted, Caio contacts them via radio, stating he’s near with the guests. Fraser asks him to circumnavigate the bay until the beach staff is ready. Upon arrival, the guests swiftly disrobe. True to form, Kyle, aided by Damo, skillfully creates an impressive sand sculpture of a penis that leaves everyone in awe, resulting in an enjoyable day for all.

Despite causing only minor hiccups, Caio’s careless communication method risks disrupting the harmony of the excursion. He unexpectedly brought Anthony back to the St. David from the beach without informing anyone else. To be fair, he might have attempted to alert them, but the radio was malfunctioning, producing static instead. Nevertheless, it was his fault – even someone like me, who has barely used a walkie-talkie except for that one stressful weekend during college when I worked on a student film set, understands that the purpose of a radio is to say “go” and “copy.” Unhappy with this, he then returned the guests without warning, a mishap that was narrowly avoided because Kerry, who was keeping a close eye on them, noticed the situation. In the end, it was the captain who stepped in to pick up Fraser, Damo, and Kyle from the beach.

In my perspective, amidst the bustle of guests cleaning up, Caio cheerfully informs Kyle and Damo that tidying things up won’t be a hassle and they are welcome to grab a bite in the crew mess if they’re feeling peckish. Kyle humorously spins this as Caio “hollering about food” around the guests, which might not entirely be accurate, although his point is understood. Later on, Kyle confides in Kerry that Caio’s leadership style could use a touch of warmth, as he tends to focus more on the technical aspects of the job rather than guest experience, an essential aspect of ‘Below Deck.’

As the final day of the charter arrives, Caio expresses his longing for bed and his guitar in a somewhat whiny tone. This seems both frustrating and sad to me. Caio appears to be struggling with the demands of his role as both bosun and reality TV personality. There’s a certain wistfulness about him that I find poignant, as if he feels he should already have this figured out. He seems more disheartened by his performance than anyone else.

It’s evident that both Solene and Fraser differ significantly in their commitment to their roles. Unlike Fraser, who appears to be disengaged from his department, Solene gives the impression of improving as a stewardess, which might suggest a lack of self-awareness on her part. This becomes clear when she tells Kerry that she’s “getting better,” yet moments later, Rainbeau has to remind her where certain cups belong, despite having been shown this multiple times before. Given that Solene is new to yachting, it’s understandable that she might feel overwhelmed and unsure about the boat’s layout. However, it can be frustrating when she acts as if everyone else knows the boat better than she does. Interestingly, Rainbeau, who seems to have stepped in to help, had never been on the St. David before Solene, which raises questions about how she managed to learn the cup placement so quickly while Solene seems to struggle with it. It’s worth noting that all crew members, including Solene and Fraser, have spent an equal amount of time on the boat, except for Fraser, who has yet to field her queries.

Rainbeau’s difficulties with Solène begin on the second night of the charter. Desiring to circumvent the issue she encountered the previous night – needing to complete tasks left unfinished by Solène during her shift – Rainbeau provides detailed instructions for Solène. Initially, it appears that this approach is successful: Before retiring for the night, Solène informs Rainbeau that she has completed the main salon and the bar area. Rainbeau lavishes praise on Solène for accomplishing the absolute minimum required and gives her a warm hug. However, upon inspection of the main salon the following morning, everything remains untidy, including all the penis-related items from dinner. By this time, it’s after 2 a.m., and Rainbeau is already awake and working before Solène wakes up on the next day.

Fraser takes the nudist beach trip with the group, leaving Rainbeau in charge of assigning tasks and breaks. Meanwhile, Barbara confides in the captain about past betrayal. During this time, Rainbeau calls upon Solène, who was mistakenly referred to as “Celeste” in post-production, to abandon her pantry duties and attend to the cabins because they need to be ready when the guests return. In a private conversation, Barbara admits that she finds Rainbeau’s request-making manner unrefined, recalling similar difficulties with Solène, who required extra attention, on their first day of work together. Later, however, Barbara offers Rainbeau advice: “Treat her like a grown-up.

The situation escalates when Rainbeau sends Solène on break, despite there being unfinished work in the pantry. Solène desires to complete the task, but Rainbeau, speaking with an evident frustration, explains that she needs to take a break before the guests return so the entire team can be present upon their arrival. Perplexed by the idea of task priority, Solène refers to Rainbeau as “cuckoo,” which in turn causes Rainbeau to cry (it’s somewhat amusing that this term upset her). Jess, observing from the crew mess, advises Solène to take a deep breath – there is nothing more she can do at this moment, and everything she has already done.

In the midst of setting up for our “S&M Venetian private club” themed dinner, Rainbeau tries to soften the situation with Fraser by stating Solène simply disobeyed her. I see she’s trying to maintain harmony within the team and avoid getting Solène into trouble. However, if this issue isn’t addressed promptly, it could escalate and negatively impact our department. Rainbeau seems to be grappling with anxiety; during a phone call with a friend, we learn that she’s been experiencing panic attacks since college but hasn’t sought professional help yet. Perhaps watching the show might encourage her to take that step and reach out for assistance when needed. In my opinion, she should find her voice and express her concerns openly.

What’s even more concerning is that Fraser completely ignores Rainbeau’s complaint. He neither asks any subsequent questions nor included any questions he did ask in the final edit. Instead, Rainbeau decides to resolve the matter herself by reconcile with Solène. The question about Solène remains unanswered by Fraser; it seems like a looming issue that might escalate. Meanwhile, Fraser spends most of his time transforming the St. David into a mansion resembling the setting from “Eyes Wide Shut” and encouraging every crew member to adopt roles reminiscent of a sex cult. He becomes overly immersed in this role, even directing the chef to speak condescendingly to the guests in a suggestive manner. While Fraser appears to enjoy himself, the entire scenario seems out of place and disappoints the guests. Fortunately, Anthony manages to deliver on the food front.

In a lively manner, the chef treats each dinner on the charter as his personal “Super Bowl,” always aiming for perfection. Despite the pressure, he generally succeeds, except for one mishap on the second night when he overlooked guest Marcel’s shellfish allergy and served him shrimp tempura. Fraser is quick to point fingers at the chef, but it’s also his responsibility to ensure that the preference sheet details are adhered to. Fortunately, the rest of the charter goes smoothly without any further incidents. To make room for other events, the fourth day is condensed into a fast-paced montage, leaving space for some romantic moments in the hot tub.

During our downtime on the yacht, I found myself making advances towards Solène by inviting her out for a drink. Meanwhile, Fraser was flirting with Damo, despite being in a relationship, expressing shock that his boyfriend wasn’t comfortable with him getting cozy with others. You see, we barely get to spend time together due to our busy yachting schedules. Later that evening, Fraser went ahead and kissed Damo in the hot tub, disregarding his boyfriend’s feelings on national television. As for me and Solène, we shared a moment later when everyone else had gone to bed. She was slightly concerned about Kyle’s affections, knowing he falls quickly and deeply, and didn’t want to hurt him since she wasn’t interested in a relationship. Essentially, my romantic entanglement with Solène is destined for failure, just what I need to improve my performance on the job. Let’s hope Rainbeau and BĂĄrbara can handle this boatmance drama!

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2025-06-24 05:54