Summary
Below Deckseason 11 ended with a bang as one of the crew members lost their cool and left St. David early, but the rest of the franchise feels like it’s out to sea,leaving me wondering what’s next for the once bright future ofBelow Deck. Throughout the years, Bravo has createdBelow Deckspin-offs catering to different styles of yachting and parts of the world. The originalBelow Deckbegan in 2016, as shows likeVanderpump Rulesbecame more popular and brought more notoriety to Bravo as a network.The beginning of theBelow Deckfranchisewas humble.
WhenBelow Deck Mediterranean,the first spin-off, began later in 2016, the franchise didn’t diversify again quickly. Viewers were interested in the duality of the shows, combining something as luxurious as chartering a superyacht with the difficult grunt work it takes to keep the vessel running. After years of watching the Captains work with their crews, Bravo invested more in theBelow Deckfranchise with the creation ofBelow Deck Sailing Yachtin 2020, followed byBelow Deck Down UnderandBelow Deck Adventurein 2022, butthings have changed quickly in the franchise and it feels like it’s crumbling.
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There’s No News On New Seasons Of Below Deck Sailing Yacht & Below Deck Down Under
AfterBelow DeckandBelow Deck Mediterraneangot premiere dates in mid-2024,many were curious as to when the newest seasons of the other shows in the franchise would be announced.Below Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5, which has already been filmed, andBelow Deck Down Underseason 3, which has been announced by Bravo, are still nowhere to be found. It’s possible that with some major casting shifts for one series and some major legalities for the other, theBelow Deckspin-offs are being held by the network, but both have been announced and hyped up by the network.
WhileBelow Deck Down Underseason 3 is likely less of an issue for Bravo, I believe the troubling nature of the cast members on the shows is what’s holding up announcements about the future of both. First OfficerGary King was accused of sexual misconductafter the last season of the series. Despite viewers calling for his removal from the series,Gary was spotted filmingBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5last summer.
The issues onBelow Deck Down Underseason 2 surroundingLuke Jones’ attempted assault of Margot Sissonwere handled during the season, as Luke was let go after Captain Jason Chambers was made aware of the issue. Still, the reputation of the series and its connotation with troubling sexual behavior may be a problem for Bravo. To me,it feels likely that the network is worried about further scandal,which is delaying the show’s return.
While two ofBelow Deck’s other spin-offs are gearing up for seasons that may not find themselves released,Below Deck Adventureis a mystery that may remain unsolved. AlthoughBelow Deck Adventurestarted off strong with a crewincluding Captain Kerry Titheradge. The Captain and his crew were responsible for taking charter guests to beautiful locations that could provide thrilling adventures, like caving expeditions, biking courses, and other extreme undertakings. With the crew responsible for the guests’ experiences, there was more at stake from charter to charter, and with higher stakes, sometimes more failure from theBelow Deck Adventurecrew.
Though many enjoyedthe more extreme nature ofBelow Deck Adventureseason 1, the difficulties of producing the series were far more obvious than with otherBelow Deckshows. Bringing guests on adventures that were meant to be challenging meant that the crew was dealing with higher stakes through every charter, which made it more difficult for them to do their jobs in general. Audiences were surprised whenBelow Deck Adventurewas only given one season, but I thinkthe quick runwas likely a test for Bravo to see if viewers were interested in more in-depthBelow Deckcontent.
Bravo May Stick To Their Mainstays: Below Deck & Below Deck Med
WhileBelow Deckis a successful franchise, the main two shows have been the most successful while the newer spin-offs have either been flops with viewers, or problematic for their cast behavior. ThoughBelow DeckandBelow Deck Mediterraneanhave had their more difficult charter seasons, the shows have both been able to function through years of filming and become some of the top-performing shows on Bravo.Below Deck Adventurewas an unfortunate flop for the network, and while the future of the show hasn’t been formally announced,the fact that it hasn’t come back is telling.
WhileBelow Deck Down Underwas a hit for the network, the troubling nature of the casts’ behavior during the most recent season was enough to give Bravo pause about the next season of the series. It appears that something similar hashappened withBelow Deck Sailing Yacht,even though viewers are aware that there’s already another season of the show filmed. I believe thatBravo is hoping to stick to the main two series to keepBelow Deck’s legacy alive, as they’ve been the most successful. WithBelow Deckcontinuing to reign supreme, it’s worth keeping the franchise small.
Source:Below Deck/Instagram
Below Deck
Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client’s needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.
