Below Deck Mediterranean is back, baby! Season 8 promises to be as chaotic as all of those that came before it, judging by that super-tease we got before the premiere properly began. Captain Sandy Yawn is on board the Mustique, with familiar faces from across the Below Deck universe. “It’s already a sh*tshow,” Sandy said before we’d even seen a moment of crew action. Gulp. Let’s dive right into the Below Deck Med Season 8 premiere! Here’s everything that went down in Episode 1…
Visa troubles cause a headache for Captain Sandy
While starting the charter season out strong is the goal, visa issues for chief stew Tumi, formerly of Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Med’s returning stew Kyle, mean that adjustments are already being made. Thankfully, Natalya is back after a successful run last year, and has agreed to be interim chief stew. She already thinks she’s going to do a better job than anybody else could, so there’s certainly no lack of confidence.
Chef Jack arrives, and to anybody not from the UK, good luck understanding him. I’m predicting a lot of subtitles. He became a chef because he wanted to travel, and thinks that anyone who claims to love vegetables is off their rocker. If the vegetables aren’t soaked in something sweet, I’d have to agree.
We then meet bosun Ruan, from South Africa. Don’t get too comfortable with having him around, though. He’s had a tough upbringing, ran away from home in his teens because of an abusive, alcoholic atmosphere, and dropped out of school to pursue a life worth living. Ruan’s someone you instantly root for, which makes where he eventually ends up all the harder to swallow.
Newbies Jessika, Lara, and Haleigh all arrive next, but it’s Luka who’ll turn your head if you’re a fan of all the Below Deck shows. We’ve just finished watching him on Down Under, and he impressed Captain Jason Chambers so much, he recommended him to Captain Sandy. Natalya’s instantly attracted to the “surfer dude … mixed with God.”
Ruan’s problems begin
When an inspector from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency arrives, Ruan’s certificates cause problems. He’s not brought his originals, thinking photocopies would suffice. That’s not the case, and he’s told he must have the original documents posted within five days. If he can’t provide them, Captain Sandy’s gonna have to find a new bosun. Ruan says he’s not had this problem in his eight years of yachting, and the stress is clear.
We learn a little more about the crew as they prepare for their first charter, and temporary stew Brooke arrives. Natalya and Storm from Season 7 “naturally fell apart.” She’s got a new boyfriend now, but they’re in an open relationship. Meanwhile, Jack reveals he was a “zombie” until he turned eight. He was shy, but since that point, hasn’t stopped “yapping.” Haleigh says her dad wanted a son, and he got her involved in typically masculine activities since she was a child.
With Captain Sandy already concerned about Ruan, he does nothing to squash her fears during a distance calling exercise. He thinks 100 meters is 50 meters, which is “concerning.” Luka, on the other hand, gets it spot-on. The foreshadowing in this premiere is quite something.
The crew have a quick meeting, where the rest of the people on board are introduced. Captain Sandy runs down her rules, and I hope the spotlight on the “no racism” rule doesn’t mean we’re going to deal with ignorance this charter season.
“Let’s make it rain,” says Natalya. Bring on the big tips!
Heartache from home
In the first preference sheet meeting of the season, Captain Sandy drops the bomb that the primary is a personal friend. Dr. Kian Karimi repaired her eyelid after a car accident, and the two have been close ever since. He’s coming on board to celebrate his 40th birthday, which took place during the height of the pandemic. He and his friends now have the time to party, and what better place to do it than on a superyacht in the Italian Riviera?
When the guests arrive, it’s clear they’re here to party. We get our first tour of the yacht, and it’s a beautiful vessel. The first impressions are excellent, and Jack keeps everybody smiling with his food.
Unfortunately, not everybody’s having a great time. Things go from bad to the absolute worst for Ruan, when he learns his best friend has died back home. Honestly, scenes like this really bring home just how real reality TV can get. His emotional meltdown sees Luka comfort him, but it’s clear his head isn’t where it needs to be.
The next day, he tries to pull himself together, but there are more problems with his documents. His certificate has someone else’s face on it. Captain Sandy confronts Ruan, and tells him he has to get off the boat until he can certify his documents. It’s a fair assessment of the situation. Personally, I think Ruan has been scammed. There’s no way somebody would go on television and be so bold as to try and con their way to a head of department role. While he’s gone, Luka will step in as interim bosun – but Captain Sandy’s looking for a new crewmate ASAP.
Smooth sailing … for now
When Mustique FINALLY gets off the dock, with the added hassle of needing a “pilot” on board, things start to go smoothly. “If you f*ck it up it’s gonna be on the news,” Luka says of leaving the dock. Like Captain Jason was, you mean?
While Brooke doesn’t even know how to fold clothes, Natalya is using patience to ensure everything gets done. Jessika doesn’t have much, but is thankful to have Natalya as her leader. Meanwhile in the galley, Jack’s doing a stellar job. Captain Sandy says he has a lot to live up to after Dave’s excellence last season, but she’s not afraid to give him a compliment when all goes well. Could Jack take her top spot at the end of the season for best chef to serve on the series? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves…
Dinner goes well, even with the awkward attempt at “synchronized service” while Captain Sandy is telling her life story. Ruan later rings Captain Sandy to confirm he won’t be returning to the yacht, and instead will be going home. “Unbelievable,” she mutters to herself. Looks like she was right when she gave him a “0.5% chance” of getting his certificates in order.
Jack and Natalya are working really well together, and Natalya has proven she has what it takes to be chief stew. Sadly for her, that’s not gonna be her role for much longer. Luka is also killing it, but he’s excited for a new bosun to come on board.
When will that be exactly? Captain Sandy’s phone rings…
“You’re kidding me.” Uh oh. Looks like there are no bosuns available for the next two weeks.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Below Deck Mediterranean continues Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo.
TELL US – WERE YOU SHOCKED BY RUAN’S DRAMA IN EPISODE 1? WILL LUKA BE ABLE TO STEP UP INTO THE ROLE OF BOSUN FOR TWO WEEKS? IS THIS CHARTER SEASON ALREADY DOOMED TO FAIL?
