After more than a year off the air,Below Deck Sailing Yachtviewers were hoping for a triumphant return in season 5. Past seasons of the secondBelow Deckspin-off have been considered some of the best within the franchise due to the dynamics between Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher, Chief Engineer Colin Macrae, and First Officer Gary King. But the highly anticipated return is proving to be a disappointment.
Daisy and Colin’s boatmance made season 4 entertaining, but it somewhat damaged the cast.The unresolved tension between Daisy and Gary created a love triangle that shattered the dynamics between the trio. Following an explosive reunion, Colin did not return for season 5, while Gary and Daisy’s uncomfortable chemistry created an awkward atmosphere for the crew. Along with lackluster debuts from the new cast members,Below Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5fails to impress as it reaches its midpoint in the season.
The Cast Is Trying Too Hard To Cause Drama
Their Conflicts Feel Forced
After a drama-packed fourth season, the new cast is struggling to keep up the pace.The friction between Gary and Daisy was expected to be season 5’s biggest conflict, but they both seem ready to leave the turmoil of season 4 behind them. Rather than drudging up the past with Gary, Daisy would rather avoid him, which doesn’t make for riveting viewing.
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Conflicts between the rest of the crew seem forced in the absence of more engrossing plot points.Arguments between Stews Danni Warren and Diana Cruz often feel petty at best, and their disproportionate responses suggest they’ve been exaggerated for entertainment value. Danni’s constant pursuit of a hookup feels overplayed, as does Diana’s jealousy. Even the ineptitude and firing of Deckhand Emma Crouch ended up being relatively uneventful.
Many of theBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5 storylines thus far are tropes recycled throughout the franchise. The Junior Stews exasperate Daisy with their immature arguments and tease a romantic rivalry over midseason addition Chase Lemacks, a dynamic that most recently played out onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9.Chef Cloyce Martin appeared incompetent,only to step up his game immediately after receiving criticism.
Diana, who is also a model and actress, began the season with a tale about working on Russian ships seized by the FBI.
The lack of genuine drama onBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5 has raised speculation that several crew members are producer plants. Diana, who is also a model and actress, began the season with a tale about working on Russian ships seized by the FBI. Cloyce’s over-confident attitude and history of reality television appearances suggest he’s using hisBDSYappearance to create a name for himself. Even returning favorite Daisy drew speculation with her villainous behavior.
Daisy Seems Like She Doesn’t Want To Be There Anymore
Her Negative Attitude Turned Her Into A Villain
Daisy was determined to redeem herself in season 5 after a less-than-stellar season 4 performance.She has always been a very competent Chief Stew, but she ended up sidetracked by her drama with Colin and Gary. At the start of season 5, Daisy promised to leave the drama behind and reclaim her dedication. However, her attitude is noticeably different, and it is causingBelow Deck Sailing Yachtto suffer.
Daisy is easily frustrated with the interior team, drawing criticism that her leadership style is too harsh.She pressured Danni and Diana to practice making cocktails in between charters but didn’t understand why Diana was upset about being made to do extra work.Although she remains professional to the Stews' faces, Daisy’s confessional interviews reveal her true thoughts.
Daisy seems burnt out after her romantic drama.She returned to Parsifal III to begin filming again only days after her reunion confrontations with Gary and Colin. Daisy shows commitment to her job but she would have benefitted from more time to recover. She’s lost her main confidants aboard the ship, and her exhaustion shows through her frustration with the rest of the crew.
Colin Macrae’s Energy Is Missed
The Season 5 Crew Lacks Unity
Colin’s absence is the most noticeable shift betweenBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseasons 4 and 5.Colin, like Daisy and Gary, was a constant presence since season 2. His easygoing nature, as well as his boating expertise, made him a fan favorite. Unfortunately, his relationship with Daisy didn’t paint Colin in the best light, and understandably, he chose not to return.
Colin’s season 5 replacement, Davide Morosihas a very different presence aboard the Parsifal III.Davide stays out of the crew’s drama for the most part, aside from his drunken lollipop fight with Gary.He was rarely seen during the season’s early episodes, but his brief appearances gave glimpses into his eccentric personality. Whereas Colin was a calming, unifying presence aboard the boat, Davide had a wild side that threatened to be unleashed at any moment.
Season 5 badly needs a united group to offer some stability. Without Colin, Gary, and Daisy’s friendship, the crew feels disjointed.
While Colin’s return would makeBelow Deck Sailing Yachtless boring, season 4 ruined his friendships with his crewmates.Season 5 badly needs a united group to offer some stability. Without Colin, Gary, and Daisy’s friendship, the crew feels disjointed.
Did Gary King’s Sexual Misconduct Allegations Cause The Season To Become Boring?
The Final Cut May Have Been Heavily Edited
Gary’s season 5 appearance was the topic of heavy speculation after he was accused of sexual misconduct in August 2023.The alleged offense occurred while filmingBelow Deck Sailing Yacht. The allegations were made public after season 5 had already filmed with Gary as an essential member of the crew. During the show’s hiatus, viewers wondered how Gary’s role would be handled when it returned.
While it was impossible to remove Gary from season 5, he has suggested his role was minimized due to the allegations.Gary’s behavior seems to have been cleaned upin editing.However, it’s possible Gary’s role isn’t the only thing affected by producer interference.
Due to the intense scrutiny surrounding the misconduct claims, the production crew likely exercised extra caution while editing of season 5.They wanted to avoid showing not only bad behavior by Gary but behavior by any cast member that could be seen as questionable. With viewers already dubious of the decision to allow Gary to remain on the show, production needed to prove that inappropriate behavior wasn’t condoned. As a result, season 5 was likely heavily edited, resulting in an uncharacteristically boring final product.
AlthoughBelow Deck Sailing Yachtseason 5 had a disappointing start, there is still a chance for it to pick up the pace. Emma’s termination opened the door for Chase, creating a fresh dynamic among the crew. It also forces Gary and Daisy to bunk together, which is a recipe for disaster.BDSYseason 5 may never reach the highs of prior seasons, but it still holds onto a chance at redemption.
Below Deck Sailing Yachtairs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.
