Below Deck Season-Finale Recap: Out with a Bang

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Like all reality TV seasons, this season of *Below Deck* had to end, and the finale was packed with everything that made it so memorable. We saw the usual drama – arguments between Solène and Rainbeau, plenty of romantic connections, hurt feelings, and Anthony experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, including a heartfelt apology. And of course, the crew made one last trip across the bridge in Sint Maarten. Captain Kerry happily declared this season’s deck team the best he’s ever had, saying he was absolutely delighted with their performance.

The deck team really came through, particularly after Kerry dismissed Caio, the first bosun, who I’d become friendly with. Hugo remained calm as his crew got caught up in Solène’s schemes and successfully avoided most of the personal conflicts on board. Occasionally, this affected the interior team, like with the issue involving Solène and the embargo. However, for the most part, it worked well – the deck crew consistently did their jobs. Aside from a few minor mistakes, which the captain quickly resolved, there weren’t any major problems.

The interior team, however, was set up to fail from the beginning. Rainbeau worked incredibly hard to stay positive and composed while working late nights with Solène all season long. It’s strange that Fraser never considered changing up the shifts – either swapping Solène and Bárbara, or rotating the stewardesses in general. I don’t have any experience with yachts, but Fraser, as a professional, should know better how to manage a team, and it was unsettling to watch the same conflicts repeat themselves over and over.

After finishing her final night shift on the chartered yacht, Solène celebrated with a glass of wine and told Rainbeau she’d decided to stop arguing. Meanwhile, Damo was upstairs on the sun deck, trying to earn extra tips by flirting with the guests. He proposed a round of shots, using a special dispenser that poured alcohol directly into people’s mouths. When a guest asked Solène to join her for a shot, Solène agreed. Damo, despite knowing crew members shouldn’t drink with guests, didn’t object and even poured the shot himself.

Rainbeau is visibly annoyed when she enters the chaotic frat-party atmosphere. Things escalate when Solène, after everyone else has gone to bed, starts doing cheerleading with Damo by the jacuzzi instead of finishing her work. Rainbeau tries to get Solène to focus so they can all go to sleep, but Damo is distracted and chases after Solène. Surprisingly, no one mentions Kyle, despite Solène having just cuddled and kissed him goodnight hours earlier. When Damo finally finishes his tasks, he offers to help Rainbeau, but she’s already done and waiting for Solène to finish hers. The scene cuts to Solène doing handstands in the main room. Damo tells Rainbeau that Solène isn’t a true crew member; she’s a socialite looking for attention. Unlike Kyle and Jess before him, Damo isn’t fooled by Solène’s flirtations. He realizes she’s only interested in getting famous, and her actions have nothing to do with genuine feelings or work. This understanding allows him to remain detached, making his interactions with her brief and unimportant. It’s a strangely admirable but frustrating approach – he knows he shouldn’t encourage her behavior, yet he avoids taking any responsibility by pretending it’s not his problem.

Once Damo was asleep, Solène told herself she needed to finish her work – it was almost three o’clock. However, she found a partially full glass of wine near the Jacuzzi and got sidetracked. She took the wine to the main salon, but quickly tried to hide it when Rainbeau walked in. Rainbeau was upset, reminding Solène that she wasn’t supposed to be drinking and explaining she was staying up late only to help Solène finish. Solène shockingly laughed at her, which was incredibly rude. Rainbeau became visibly angry, telling Solène she was the most difficult person she’d ever worked with and that she was glad their professional relationship was over. Solène tried to calm Rainbeau down, but Rainbeau had enough. She immediately texted Fraser about the incident, including Solène’s drinking, while Solène clocked out at 4 a.m. It wasn’t clear if Solène had completed her work.

Fraser reacted to the morning’s texts with a helpless shrug, unsure what to do. It was the last day of charter season, the final guest departure. He simply apologized to Rainbeau for her difficult night and left it at that. I believe he missed a chance to address the situation openly and acknowledge Rainbeau’s feelings. A key rule on the boat is no drinking while guests are onboard, and Solène clearly broke that rule without facing any consequences. Rainbeau and Solène seem unable to resolve conflicts on their own. Before leaving, Solène recalled advice from her mother – that treating people well is more important than job performance – a statement dripping with irony, considering who was saying it. Solène initially apologized, expecting Rainbeau to do the same, but when Rainbeau refused – rightly so, as she had nothing to apologize for – Solène retracted her apology. A performance review for Solène would be pointless, as she’s unlikely to continue working on yachts outside of the show, but it feels wrong that she faced no repercussions for her behavior. At the very least, it reflects poorly on the boat’s reputation, and could encourage future crew members to think they can get away with anything as long as they’re friendly with everyone.

Everything started with a fantastic eight-course dinner, just as expected. Anthony had recovered and was able to confidently present each dish, even flambéing several items like steak au poivre and baked Alaska. He really surprised everyone with a bizarre creation – a spicy cucumber and bell pepper cappuccino, which I couldn’t even picture how it would taste. Afterward, Fraser orchestrated a surprise fireworks display, perfectly capping off the evening. The guests loved it, though slightly unsettling music throughout the show did make me worry about a potential fire on the boat.

The captain was thrilled with how well Anthony was doing and went to congratulate him personally. Anthony was visibly moved and dedicated his success to his father, which I thought was really touching. He’s a very passionate guy. By the end of the charter, Anthony and Fraser had completely mended their relationship. It’s hard to believe now, but Anthony originally returned to the *St. David* wanting to get back at Fraser, and their bond actually became stronger as a result. We’ve learned to not take his frustrations too seriously. In a private moment, Anthony told Fraser that he wouldn’t be where he is today without him, and Fraser encouraged him to believe in himself more. They shared several affectionate hugs and kisses, expressing their love for each other multiple times before the episode ended.

Not all connections deepen equally. While saying goodbye to the last guests, Jess and Bárbara tentatively planned a visit for August, when Bárbara would have time off, hoping to spend quality time together. However, Bárbara worries a long-distance relationship won’t work, despite her feelings for Jess. Over drinks, she explains she wants to focus on her career, as she’s finally in a position to save for the future. She also admits she struggles with trust, making a long-distance relationship difficult. Jess responds with kindness and understanding, and the two end their brief romance respectfully and maturely.

Kerry praised his team at their last meeting, and they were rewarded with a huge $28,000 tip! That breaks down to $2,153 for the charter and $15,037 for the entire season. It makes you wonder if anyone could tolerate Solène’s behavior for that much money – I think I could! The captain led everyone on a hike to a fort in St. Louie, where Solène posed for a group photo without anyone reacting. Kerry found it amusing. But if that wasn’t strange enough, Solène’s interactions with Kyle and Damo throughout the evening were even more bizarre. She kissed Kyle on the way back to the boat, and later, at dinner, Kyle confessed he wanted to see her again and asked what she wanted. She shrugged, saying she might feel differently in just two days, then they held hands.

At the party, almost everyone was kissing, except for Hugo and Anthony. Even Fraser kissed both Rainbeau and Damo. Solène told Kyle he was free to kiss anyone, but hinted they’d be intimate later. He said he didn’t want to kiss anyone else, but she ended up kissing Damo – at least she gave him a heads-up. Damo admitted in a private interview that he only looks out for himself, but this felt like a flimsy excuse for his behavior. He’s not necessarily a bad person, just acting like one. On the way back to the boat, Anthony confronted Solène, who was sitting with Kyle, asking why she was treating him so poorly, pointing out that while they weren’t married, it wasn’t right.

Back on the boat, Solène checks if Kyle is upset with her, then continues kissing Damo. Before things get too intense, she briefly wonders if she’s being fair to another guy, which is ironic considering she didn’t think twice about kissing Damo right in front of him earlier. Kyle responds with angry texts, saying she’s treated him terribly. She then asks Kyle to join her in a cabin for the night, after finishing with Damo. While I believe everyone has the right to make their own choices about sex, this back-and-forth feels chaotic and doesn’t look good on anyone involved. Kyle describes his inability to resist Solène by comparing her to a bag of money covered in manure – something he’d still take despite how unpleasant it is. Honestly, it’s a messed-up comparison, and it feels fitting because Solène doesn’t seem to treat Kyle with any more respect than that either.

The next day, Fraser explained the complicated relationships on the boat to Bárbara, realizing everything seemed to revolve around Solène. Rainbeau tearfully said goodbye to Fraser, acknowledging her as the standout performer of the season – she’d handled everything with grace and professionalism. Jess and Bárbara also said their goodbyes, and Jess skated off. Before leaving, Kerry gave Kyle some advice, urging him to focus on his potential instead of partying. Kerry and Damo left together as friends, having no regrets. Anthony and Hugo departed feeling good about themselves, sporting some questionable early 2000s fashion choices. Fraser became emotional saying goodbye to Kerry, reflecting on a difficult but ultimately satisfying season. He’d managed to keep his interior team together from beginning to end, even if it wasn’t always the smartest move. Kerry signed the ship’s logbook, marking the official end of the voyage. It’s been a wild ride watching this season with all of you-thanks for being genuine. Until next time!

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2025-09-16 04:56