cast to face each other at a reunion. The season included a crew almost entirely made up of newcomers to the franchise, with only Chief Stew Aesha Scott, Second Stew Elena “Ellie” Dubaich, and Captain Sandy Yawn making return appearances. Many of the new crew members struggled to keep up with their jobs, even fielding accusations of being producer plants. The tumultuous season ended on a high note with Sandy’s engagement to her now-wife, Leah Shafer.
Reunions typically give cast members a chance to confront their peers about conflicts that played out on the air. Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 had its fair share of drama, especially due to a love triangle between Ellie, Third Stew Bri Muller, and Deckhand Joe Bradley. In addition, tension between Aesha and Ellie ramped up near the season’s end as Ellie overstepped her role. A reunion would have allowed them to respond after watching the season along with viewers.
The Below Deck Franchise Hasn't Had A Reunion In Years
This Is The Second Below Deck Med Season In A Row To Forgo A Reunion
Below Deck Mediterranean hasn’t had a reunion since season 7 aired in 2022. This has become a pattern within the franchise. Even the original Below Deck series hasn’t had a reunion for the past two seasons. Reunions were first scrapped in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, which set the stage for more flexibility going forward.
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Despite the lack of an official reunion, the Below Deck Mediterranean season 9 cast has had plenty of opportunities to discuss the season in real-time. Most of the cast appeared on the Below Deck Mediterranean After Show or Watch What Happens Live during the current season. This allowed them to react to the episodes much sooner than a reunion, but it didn't have the benefit of bringing the entire crew together.
Andy Cohen Used To Host Them
Andy Continues To Host Real Housewives Reunions
In the past, Below Deck reunions were hosted by Andy Cohen, the executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise and host of Watch What Happens Live. While Real Housewives reunions are a big production spanning as many as four episodes, Below Deck reunions have traditionally taken place on a smaller scale.
Below Deck Mediterranean is available to stream on Peacock.
The many Real Housewives shows monopolize Bravo’s lineup, leaving Andy less time for other shows. However, similar to Below Deck, some Housewives seasons have recently gone without reunions. The Real Housewives Of New York City season 13 and The Real Housewives Of New Jersey season 14 ended without reunions, which the cast agreed was for the best. Drama among the cast had taken a dark turn, and there was no need to drag it out.
Will The Below Deck Franchise Bring Them Back In The Future?
Reunions May Threaten The Crew’s Professionalism
Below Deck continues to be a popular franchise, and the lack of reunions doesn’t seem to hurt the show’s viewership. Reunions may have simply become impossible due to the show’s international nature. Crew members often live in various countries around the world. Many take jobs on ships outside the franchise in between seasons, and the logistics of bringing them together are nearly impossible.
Without rehashing old arguments at a reunion, the Below Deck Mediterranean crew can end the season on a somewhat dignified note.
Unlike the Real Housewives, the cast of Below Deck has a professional duty outside of reality television. They are co-workers performing real jobs. Even though the charters are filmed for a reality show, the crew needs to maintain some level of professionalism. In that respect, they should avoid getting too wrapped up in petty drama from the past. Without rehashing old arguments at a reunion, the Below Deck Mediterranean crew can end the season on a somewhat dignified note.
