The new and uninteresting season of Sailing yacht below deck makes me think that Bravo needs to come up with a better spin-off to revitalize the franchise. THE Below Deck The franchise began in mid-2013, but only later did Bravo introduce spin-offs and expand the franchise. In 2020, the network launched Sailing yacht below deckwhich starred now-fan favorite Captain Glenn Shephard on the 180-foot-long sailing yacht. The spin-off featured a younger cast visiting exotic locations, with season 1 in Greece, season 2 in Croatia, season 3 in Spain, season 4 in Italy, and season 5 in Ibiza.
I liked the first seasons of Sailing yacht below deck because it looked different Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean. The spin-off featured key cast members like Colin Macrae, Daisy Kelliher and Gary King, who returned every season to join Captain Glenn in Parsifal III. Sailing yacht below deck Seasons 1 through 3 also included a lot of unexpected twists and interesting moments, which made me feel connected to the crew members. Unfortunately, Season 4 didn't impress me, and Season 5 made me realize why the spin-off wouldn't be as good as before.
BDSY's Gary King Hurt the Franchise
Gary keeps coming back to the show
The ratings for the Sailing yacht below deck declined, with Gary's role on the show being the main factor. When he debuted in Season 2 as First Officer, he quickly became a fan favorite due to his impressive skills and likable personality.
I enjoyed watching Gary's dynamic friendships with Colin and Daisy, which sets them apart from the franchise's other cast members. However, in the following seasons, Gary tarnished his reputation by appearing desperate in his pursuit of romantic relationships with several female crew members such as Mads Herrera and Anna Zhou.
In Season 4, Gary went from desperate to obnoxious. He found himself in two love triangles, chasing Chief Stew Daisy and Junior Stew Mads.
Gary's choices strained his relationships with Colin and Daisy. However, many viewers, myself included, began to really dislike him when a member of the production team accused him of sexual misconduct. Allegedly, Gary tried to force one of the makeup artists. Regrettably, the Below Deck the franchise did not fire Gary for his behavior. Instead, they brought him back for Season 5, which caused me and many other fans to lose interest.
A new Below Deck spin-off would renew interest
Renewing a spin-off could bring back the spark for viewers Although I don't believe Bravo should cancel Sailing yacht below deck due to low ratings, they should implement significant changes to resolve the issues.
This included recruiting a new team with friendlier, more fun-loving individuals than Gary. If Bravo is unable to replace Gary and other longtime crew members, they should consider launching a new spin-off. Creating a new program would generate greater interest and revitalize the franchise. This would help to make the Below Deck brand more prominent on social media and potentially attract back viewers who stopped watching.
Below Deck is a great example of how a new spin-off can win back fans. When I first watched the spin-off in 2022, I was pleasantly surprised to see Captain Jason Chambers in action at sea. From him the youthful energy brought a new vibe to the show while the core concept remained the same. His calm demeanor and unapologetic attitude added intrigue to the seasons, making each episode unique. Bravo should consider creating another spin-off similar to Below Deck. With two successful shows, viewers' interest in the franchise would certainly reignite.
What Below Deck spin-off could be introduced?
Increased celebrity involvement has the potential to increase viewership
THE Sailing yacht below deck became dull and unappealing due to Gary, controversies, and lack of originality. Meanwhile, the original Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean they have been mediocre programs for some time and have not improved.
I believe that if Bravo wants to revive the franchise, it needs to create a show that stands out from the other spin-offs. The new spin-off could differentiate itself by including Celebrity guests and reality TV cast members in each episode. It could also focus on smaller boats in a less luxurious environment, possibly replacing Sailing yacht below deck.
Source: Bravo/YouTube, Below Deck/Instagram