The Below Deck franchise is one of Bravo‘s most noteworthy reality television series, but is it going downhill? After the debut of its newest spin-off, Below Deck Adventure, the franchise received criticism as viewers felt the new season was too cringe.
Since then, however, Below Deck has released subsequent seasons of different spin-offs and, in doing so, redeemed themselves after Below Deck Adventure. While Below Deck certainly has some things to work on, the series has not yet reached its demise!
Below Deck Med Season 8 Has A Lot Of Potential
While Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8 has not been everyone’s cup of tea so far, there are nonetheless a lot of entertaining aspects to this season. Season 8 is currently airing, and premiered on the heels of Below Deck Down Under Season 2, which we’ll get to in a second!
Captain Sandy Yawn is leading the crew as usual, but her vibes are a little different this season. Sandy is one of the more controversial Below Deck captains, but so far on Season 8, she has been nothing but kind and understanding. For instance, she did not hesitate to send 4th Stew Jessika Asai to the hospital when she wasn’t feeling well and checked up on her constantly.
The feud between Chief Stew Tumi Mhlongo and 3rd Stew Natalya Scudder is another interesting storyline this season. While the two briefly made up, they already began butting heads in the most recent episode. Of course 2nd Stew Kyle Viljoen is doing everything in his power to amp up the drama. However, he is arguably one of the most entertaining cast members in Below Deck Med history, despite being problematic at times.
Season 8 also features one of the most hardworking deck teams Below Deck has seen in a while, and we are loving it! The dynamic between Bosun Luka Brunton and Lead Deckhand Lara Du Preez has been enjoyable, as it is evident they both take their work very seriously. Max Salvador was slacking when he first joined as a deckhand in Episode 3, however, he has since come around as well.
Below Deck Down Under Season 2 Was Also Great
Below Deck Down Under Season 2 was also a hit, especially after Below Deck Adventure was perceived so poorly. This spin-off features Captain Jason Chambers, who is one of the franchise’s most likable captains. Captain Jason was once again joined by Chief Stew Aesha Scott, who is also a major fan favorite. Watching Captain Jason and Aesha’s playful dynamic onboard is a ton of fun, and these two really are what makes Down Under so great.
Apart from the return of one of our favorite Below Deck duos, Down Under Season 2 also featured some juicy drama. Season 2 saw multiple love triangles among the crew, which always makes for some interesting television. After Below Deck Adventure was such a flop, Down Under Season 2 definitely did its part in getting Below Deck back on track.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 4 Did Not Disappoint
Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 4 was another amazing season that aired recently, proving that the Below Deck franchise has not yet passed its prime. This season featured many familiar faces, including Captain Glenn Shephard, Colin MacRae, Daisy Kelliher, and Gary King. Season 4 was filled with drama, which of course is part of what helped to make it so enjoyable.
One of the main storylines on Season 4 was the infamous love triangle between Colin, Daisy, and Gary. This was one of the most entertaining aspects of the season, especially since this was the third time viewers saw the trio working together. Strong work ethics were also apparent from the majority of the crew throughout the season, which was something notably lacking on Below Deck Adventure.
While Below Deck Adventure was not a good look for the franchise, it has nonetheless redeemed itself through its other spin-offs. Below Deck Med, Down Under, and Sailing Yacht have all hit it out of the park with their most recent seasons, While Below Deck Med Season 8 is still airing, it has the potential to be one of the spin-off’s greatest seasons yet.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK THE BELOW DECK FRANCHISE IS GOING DOWNHILL?
