La vie à bord

Below Deck (TV) 8 stars 2013 5/15/2020

This reality series gets high marks because it pairs interesting characters with an interesting premise. We may never charter a luxury yacht, but "Below Deck" gives us an all-access pass, including a look behind the curtain. These are some reasons that the concept of the show works so well:

1. The Venue. A charter yacht is like a floating Vegas casino in the sense that it demands the ultimate in client service while simultaneously requiring crew skills. If you fall short in your dealings with the clientele, you will lose money. If you fall short in your sailing duties, it can result in loss of life or serious property damage. Furthermore, the quarters are cramped, especially in those areas where the crew lives for weeks at a time. This creates cabin fever and stressful interactions. 2. The Crew. The business attracts young people, especially those looking for adventure, who are not saddled with responsibilities. As a result, there are plenty of partyers and young people looking to hook up. Conversely, the captain wants a responsible crew that puts the business and the boat before self. The crews tend to be attractive and fit. 3. The Guests. These people pay big bucks to be pampered. Like the whales in Vegas, they expect the best. And they are often not afraid of making odd or presumptuous requests. Their tips significantly define the degree of success of each charter.

The ship is run like a military operation, with a hierarchy of ranks. Discipline is strict. But if you are living among the beauty and the tender climes of the Caribbean, surrounded by comely coworkers and entertainment venues, you might allow your attention to wander occasionally. The result is plenty of drama and comedy.

The show also pierces the veil of cordiality, contrasting the polite ministrations of the crew with their behind-the-scenes editorials. This is a show for adults.

This show is the perfect example of when a reality TV show is clicking on all cylinders: compelling characters, juicy drama and crazy situations. But, being that it takes place on a yacht with a revolving door of guests to please and new crew members to break in, it stays fresh and the histrionics don't have to be manufactured quite so often as in other reality shows like the Real Housewives' series.

The series really hit its stride with the arrival of resting b*tch face, head stew Kate, in season 2. It then reached its peak in season 3 with the drama brought to the table in the forms of surly chef Leon, the quirky antics of deck hand Connie and the incredibly memorizing behavior of 3rd stew Raquel "Rocky" Dakota. After a few so so seasons 4 and 5, it returned with perhaps its best ever production in season 6, which just serves to demonstrate that this show's ability to not become stale and repetitive or just plain mundane in later seasons like, for example, Jersey Shore did. Even its latest season, number 9, had enough curve balls in it to keep me interested. The OG of the Below Deck franchise still seems to still have plenty of legs left.

Brilliant. I can't stop watching it. I love how you get to have an all access pass, so you can see what the charter guests are seeing and what a life of luxury they have. But also that you get to see what happens "Below Deck", what there going through and what romance is in the air. What I think I like about it the most is that you get to see the different sections of the crews, and that they put in what the person is saying at that moment which is always funny. I must say though I do like Kate and Ben they are so funny together, which makes it have a great vibe, especially when it gets really irate in the kitchen. Love it, watched, Brilliant.

Let's talk about Kate Chastain. We saw her last year on The Traitors and I was interested to see where she came from, which led me to Lower Deck. So we tried it out, and it's a surprisingly entertaining show about what happens among the crew of an elite motor yacht.

I see comments from people calling Kate "mean" or a "bully". That's nonsense. The producers hire a LOT of questionable employees ... Captain Lee doesn't get to make that call, though hopefully he gets to weigh in. At least he gets to fire the worst of the worst.

However, every season has some employees who think they're the tail that wags the dog, rather than EMPLOYEES who should shut up and do their jobs. If you've never managed employees, maybe you can take the side of these infantile idiots. If you've ever been a manager, then you'll see that Kate's reactions to the goof-ups and goof-offs is often remarkably restrained.

It's a high-end business, not a kindergarden. When the boss says jump, don't question if you should jump, say "How high?" Some of these nitwits don't even understand the word 'jump' in the first place.

You get to see some great scenery, and some of the bits with guests are a pleasure to watch. Some of the guests are people I'd NEVER hang around with or invite to my house ... especially the drunks. No excuse for that, vacation or not.

I've taken to trying out a few of the things the chefs on the show do. It's fun and tasty.

And the editors are clever enough to make the end of each episode demand starting the next. It's a terrible temptation to binge old seasons for that reason. LOL.

Mmmm let's start with Kate a mean girl who thinks she's a really all round nice gal. News flash she's not. She's every bully I've ever met rolled Into one person. Captain Lee, Kates very own personal assistant. Can be an over the top disciplinarian, and other times a wise old mentor. The others crew mates are a various bunch of misfits with various issues. Yet I love it so... I guess that kind of makes me a hypocrite. Oh well...