Welcome to our Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, Episode 7 recap! In this week’s episode, aptly-titled “Tightly Unwound,” the drama between Tumi and Natalya has started up again. Not only that, but Kyle is furious with Jessika, and Captain Sandy has been forced to return to land to get an injury checked out. It’s all going on and going down in Below Deck Med Season 8, Episode 7.
Natalya’s boyfriend wants to be open, but thinks she should be closed
The most irritating storyline of the season kicks us off this week. Natalya’s boyfriend is enjoying the spoils of an open relationship, but sees red at the thought of her kissing another man. We watch as Natalya whines she’s gone too far, simply because she’s been snogging Luka. Her man may have been sleeping with countless other women, but she’s somehow in the wrong. For a woman who is so self-assured, Natalya as a girlfriend is subservient and ultimately, a bit cringe.
So, the next morning, Natalya tells Luka she doesn’t even want to talk to him for the rest of the day. He says that’s fine, and in confessional admits that the situation is way too messy to get involved in. Agreed, Luka. Steer clear!
Thankfully, Natalya does seem to stand up for herself on the phone later in the episode. What’s annoying is how she goes back to the crew mess and insists that everything is fine, and the call had to end because of bad reception. The chat actually ended because big baby boyfriend threw his toys out of the crib.
There’s something about Max
Now that Max is being given compliments by Luka, Haleigh, and Lara, dare I say he’s actually enjoyable to watch? Sure, he still comes out with lines like, “We have a Master Jedi of sex on the boat,” but he’s ultimately harmless. The new charter guests – a group of horny ladies – all certainly seem to like him. Funnily enough, it’s actually Lara who’s checking them out the most. She wants to eat one of the women alive, but she’ll have to get past James Bond Jack first.
Cheffy is on his best behavior, trying not to be distracted by the beauties on board. Of course, that’s easier to do when you’re stuck in the galley all day. He works hard to impress with a tasting menu on the first night, as well as a few fancy additions to the table including a seafood tower. He says it’s easy to do, but guests always remember it as a standout.
Was Tumi shading Jessika?
Kyle’s moaning about being on service for a bunch of women. Despite being the “service queen,” he maligns the position this charter because there are no men for him to stare at. In front of the entire interior team, despite having a chat with Tumi beforehand, the chief stew who has already told him he’ll be on service, he tries to wriggle out of the position. Offering Jessika up for the role, Tumi laughs. She later explains that this was because Kyle’s been trying to escape into laundry. But Kyle AND Natalya see an opportunity to stir.
In their own ways, they mess with Jessika’s mind, and make her think that Tumi was laughing at her abilities. It’s sad to see her feeling so belittled, but more power to her, because she confronts the issue head on. Once Tumi has explained the laughter, she’s starting to realize, “Natalya has her own agenda going on in her brain.” She also tells Tumi that Kyle makes her feel “green.”
This later blows up into a full-blown meltdown, heard by the guests. The interior team are all shouting at one another. “We’re working colleagues, we’re not chums,” Tumi tells Natalya, who’s harping on about a “refresh button.” Then she hits Tumi with, “You’re not a really good leader.” The patronizing tone is too much. Meanwhile, Kyle is confronting Jessika, and doesn’t trust “a soul” on the yacht. Gulp. Then there’s the mess upstairs…
Captain Sandy gets injured
While moving kayaks on the top deck, throwing them overboard with Luka, Captain Sandy suffers a fall. She thinks she’s broken her wrist, but proudly continues to help before retiring to the bridge and getting her wrist taped up.
Sandy is then forced to return to shore, despite the yacht being moored out. With no captain on board, and tempers rising, things could go south very quickly in next week’s episode.
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8, Episode 7 is available to stream on Peacock. Below Deck Med continues Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
TELL US – ARE YOU OVER HEARING ABOUT NATALYA’S NOT-SO-OPEN RELATIONSHIP? SHOULD EVERYBODY GET OFF TUMI’S BACK? IS MAX ACTUALLY FUN NOW?
