The long-awaited return of Sailing yacht below deck
It’s turning into a disappointment. Bravo’s second spin-off on Below Deck the franchise has already been a huge success. However, its promising future changed after more than a year off the air following season 4. Sailing yacht below deck Season 5 faces declining success amid behind-the-scenes scandal. Although the drama initially brought attention to the show, it failed to avoid dismal reviews.
Sailing yacht below deck Season 5 takes place in Ibiza, Spain, with the Parsifal III sailing in the Mediterranean Sea. Captain Glenn Shephard returns to lead a crew made up of veterans and newcomers to the Below Deck franchise. First Officer Gary King and Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher were already fan favorites, but their dynamics changed later a tumultuous season 4. Now the show struggles to find its footing as viewers shift their attention elsewhere.
Ratings are not as high as last season
The debut saw disappointing numbers
Despite the Below Deck the widespread success of the franchise, Sailing yacht below deck is facing falling ratings. According to TV Details, viewership fell by almost 50% in season 5with its premiere reaching 497,000 viewers compared to 815,000 for season 4. The highest-rated episode in Season 5 still ranks below the lowest-rated episode in Season 4.
Fans are still interested in the Below Deck franchise. Below Deck Mediterranean season 9, which ended shortly before the Sailing yacht below deck season 5 premiere, had a decent audience comparable to previous seasons. It seems that the scandal around Sailing yacht below deck harmed its ability to attract a larger audience.
The Gary King Scandal Tarnished the Show
His return turned off viewers
All eyes were on Sailing yacht below deck in August 2023, when allegations of sexual misconduct against Gary became public shortly after Season 4 went off the air. Gary was accused of assaulting a member of the production teamwhich opened up a wider conversation about Gary’s questionable behavior in the past. Season 5 was halfway through filming when the allegations were revealed, leaving viewers eager to see how production and Bravo would move forward.
Unfortunately, the response to the accusations was less than satisfactory. The article stated that the production only separated Gary from the victim during filming, and he never faced discipline for his actions. After rampant speculation about Season 5, the allegations do not appear to have impacted Gary’s role in the series. Gary returned as first officer and remained a main cast member.
Many viewers now feel like the accusations against Gary get in the way of their enjoyment Sailing yacht below deck.
Many viewers now feel like the accusations against Gary get in the way of their enjoyment Sailing yacht below deck. With no official repercussions for his actions, viewers who feel uncomfortable watching Gary have no choice but to turn off their televisions. It is difficult to observe his actions knowing what he was accused of, and it is equally difficult to support a network that allowed his behaviors to continue.
What Below Deck Sailing Yacht Can Do to Redeem Itself
Can it overcome the failure of season 5?
Despite its slow start, Sailing yacht below deck season 5 has a chance to redeem itself. The best bet for success would be to fire Gary and addressing the allegations against him. By ignoring the media storm that surrounded the publication of the article, the network runs the risk of appearing to condone Gary’s behavior. Gary’s presence on the show is no longer enjoyable and the only chance for recovery is for him to be replaced.
Crew dynamics in season 5 are already suffering with the departure of chief engineer Colin Macrae, who had been on Parsifal III since season 2. Now that Daisy and Gary are out, the crew feels disjointed. However, it would be possible to regain interest by getting rid of Gary and jumping straight to season 6. If Sailing yacht below deck returns quickly with a renewed teamBy allowing Daisy to give a solid performance without being weighed down by her drama with Gary, the show could return to the success levels of previous seasons.
Sailing yacht below deck Season 5 also provides an opportunity for the new crew members to be breakout stars. Several new faces have already made a strong impression, including Chef Cloyce Martin, Chief Engineer Davide Morosi and Stew Danni Warren. If any of them become fan favorites and stick with the franchise, they could garner enough viewer interest to keep the show going.
Source: TV Details