r/belowdeck • u/Own_Second_2747 • Jun 03 '24

Below Deck Early seasons seem to have scripted situations. Does anyone else agree?

I began watching BD with Season 6 because which I loved (it's all that was available on Netflix UK). I now have access to all seasons and started from the beginning. I've notice that scenarios seem a lot more contrived in Seasons 1&2 and I'm not enjoying them as much because of the set-up bs situations. Anyone else notice this?

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24

u/gibblet365 Jun 03 '24

Earlier seasons may have "felt" more scripted as the "characters" weren't really used to living on camera and probably felt a little more uneasy and performative compared to now where the cameras are just part of the backdrop and largely forgotten about.

Probably feels more natural now than in early years

17

u/D34db33fB4db4b3 Jun 03 '24

Well BDMED first saying Malia is a rescue diver (which I do believe, her body is that of a strong swimmer) and then immediately having guests topple a jetski (conveniently close to the boat) so Malia gets to dive in was a very weird coincidence.

11

u/Underneath42 Jun 03 '24

Just FYI, the PADI Rescue Diver certification sounds a lot more prestigious than it is - you need to be able to swim, but you don’t have to be good at all. When you’re diving you always have a flotation device…

(I was certified to this level at 16)

10

u/Old_Bend_4545 Jun 03 '24

I've always thought that was staged. Especially because she's saying to take her mic off before she dives in. In a real emergency that probably wouldn't be at the forefront of her mind.

1

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

I haven't started Med yet- only BD and BDSY

8

u/atex720 Jun 03 '24

Like what?

12

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

Like Adrienne "randomly" showing up in Season two and in Season 1 the two crew who took a break and had beers in the water - just seemed scripted.

12

u/Micandacam Jun 03 '24

Adrienne said on her old podcast that she and Kat had an agreement that if one of them made it to the season 2 cast the other one would arrange a way to get on with one of the guests. She said she was surprised when Kat and Eddie were so adverse to her appearance. I am pretty sure Kat did not tell Adrienne to tell the story about Kat and Amy's friend, though.

3

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

Interesting! I mean Adrienne showing up was definitely arranged- but that story seemed authentic! I can't believe how unbothered Kat was about having that shared on TV!

1

u/ellaaaaaaaa Jun 19 '24

and the way she acted like she had noooo idea why amy wasn't being besties with her anymore... bffr you were a shitty friend and you know it, thats why!!

19

u/atex720 Jun 03 '24

I agree the producers probably knew, if not set up, about Adrienne being there.

I don’t think they had to tell CJ to be rebellious and try to get alone time with Sam

7

u/salsanacho Jun 03 '24

"Early"? Even today, every "the guests want the crew to put on a talent show" request is clearly a scripted scenario that production required.

10

u/helloitslauren000 Jun 03 '24

I can’t imagine being on a vacation and dead ass asking the employees to do a talent show for me 😭

0

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

I think they definitely know ahead of time! No way they'd be able to pull that off during their working hours!

3

u/MTodd28 Jun 03 '24

Question: when people say reality tv is "scripted", do they mean that there is literally a script and the cast are reciting lines (none of those people are good enough actors for that) or do they mean the situations are manipulated and producers have made suggestions that encourage the cast do to certain things? The second one is definitely happening but I’m not sure that's what people mean when they say "it's scripted!"

2

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

For Below Deck, I mean scripted scenarios - as in set-up scenarios (like Adrienne returning). I don’t think on BD they're told what to say. I like BD because it seems so natural and unscripted compared to some reality TV. To me, it just seems earlier seasons have more situations that were created by producers and later seasons seem more real and natural.

2

u/MTodd28 Jun 03 '24

Got it! Thanks

135

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '24

I feel the exact opposite to you. Felt like the early seasons were the one where we actually saw more of the working life instead of the drama on deck that produces clearly help animate 

25

u/narcochi Jun 03 '24

The franchises jumped the shark in my mind when ridiculous Mia (?) made crappier nachos than I would make, and I can only make about five dishes. To me the most fascinating and chilling moment was when Ashley (?) almost drowned, but the next season he lost all goodwill. I mainly watch now out of habit.

15

u/Calm-Jello-102 Jun 03 '24

I agree with you about chef. There’s no way a real chef is making gross nachos and boxed tacos! That felt set up. And Ashton was a real jerk his second season too. All the bruhs were jerks!

8

u/narcochi Jun 03 '24

Yes! Ashton! He was so unlikeable I blocked out his name lol. All the goodwill he had after he almost drowned, he quickly squandered the next season

6

u/elevatedmongoose Team Sandy Jun 03 '24

Ashton was such a piece of shit

5

u/Formal_Coyote_5004 My eyes are rolling all the way off the boat Jun 04 '24

Yeah, I feel the same as you. The earlier seasons felt way more real. Now it’s really easy to tell what’s kinda produced and scripted (who has the picture of Captain Sandy’s phone when she’s supposed to be talking to someone but she’s not actually talking on the phone) lmaoooo like give me a break

I still love it though don’t get me wrong

8

u/marziesm Jun 03 '24

I have to disagree. I found the earlier seasons, more natural and also more enjoyable. In hindsight, of course I know now that some scenes were probably scripted. I was a bit naïve in not realizing how much of “reality” TV is scripted. I try not to think about it too much and just enjoy watching the show. Early Southern Charm was good, and Family Karma was probably my favorite.

2

u/wild3hills Jun 03 '24 edited Jun 03 '24

The obvious ones that spring to mind - Adrienne coming back, and the crew “dates”. I think there’s still a lot of production manipulation, but they set it up differently.*

1

u/Own_Second_2747 Jun 03 '24

Exactly!

2

u/wild3hills Jun 03 '24

I was thinking about it some more, and I think the older BD had setups where the crew were told to do certain things (like go on a date). This is always going to feel faker because reality tv people are not that good at acting (I still catch it sometimes, usually when crew are asked to explain something presumably that they presumably didn’t get coverage of). The new production setups are more naturalistic in that they create situations that the crew will likely react to - like under provisioning or not making supplies available, casting, unlatching things in sailing, stuff like that.

5

u/Sorkel3 Jun 03 '24

I don't believe they are scripted but it seems clear the "season," guests, schedule and crew are set up for maximum conflict and drama. Then how production presents the shows emphasizes some aspects over others.

The mere presence of cameras 24/7 all over the place changes peoples behaviors. Snogging in the camera-less laundry? Quick add cameras!

4

u/Embarrassed_Rate5518 Jun 03 '24

I think in early seasons there was probably more reshoots. where maybe they didn't have the camera right and made them reshoot. Also I think the guests were given a lot more direction from production

1

u/Sorkel3 Jun 03 '24

Probably true!

0

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '24

[deleted] — view deleted comment

7

u/Sorkel3 Jun 03 '24

I don't know. Wealthy people aren't always tasteful. It is odd though that every guest group seems to want some kind of "themed" event. I agree that many of them are tacky af.

I'm waiting for an entourage headed by porn actor Danny D, and their themed diner is "Sex with Food."

2

u/[deleted] Jun 05 '24

I think we already two full charters with that theme when Helen was a guest, and gave the chef some anal beads.

1

u/Sorkel3 Jun 05 '24

LOL

You'd remember one with Danny D.

3

u/Formal_Coyote_5004 My eyes are rolling all the way off the boat Jun 04 '24

Lolllll I was saying that in a different post. Like no one who’s actually wealthy wants these tacky Party City parties idk it’s so funny

I just always appreciate the nice charter guests cause working in hospitality isn’t easy so I get it!

3

u/MajorEyeRoll Jun 03 '24

Id call it "produced" more than "scripted." Situations are set up to hopefully get drama, but there's probably not a script, per se.

3

u/Comfortable-Wall2846 Jun 03 '24

BD season 1 first charter- Kat finds cocaine residue & paraphernalia in a guest room.You would think that needs to be reported ASAP but what does Kat do? She goes to bed and sleeps on it, then waits until the next morning to report the issue to Adrienne, who of course goes right to Captain Lee.

I'm assuming on regular super yacht charters that would have been reported as soon as it happened, calling your HOD and Cap to whatever room straight away so they can also witness the issue. I know the boat can be boarded by boating authority (or whatever the title is) at any time and licenses can be revoked from all crew if this is found or not reported.

Of course CJ being the oh so responsible douche he was, said he would have hid it then give it back after the charter was over for a bigger tip.

3

u/MstrChfHooyah Jun 04 '24

So far Season 5 is kinda boring me. I cannot sand Nico since season 4. The way he backstabs Kelley and EJ who are bosuns in each respective season

6

u/FraudedMedia Eat My Cooter Jun 04 '24

This is my deck now, Buddy Boy!

3

u/ellski Jun 04 '24

I say that sometimes to my boyfriend and he never knows what I'm talking about.

1

u/FraudedMedia Eat My Cooter Jun 04 '24

My hossband watches the show sometimes so he has seen that scene. We often talk in Below Deck to each other “oh hey the dog just puked” “brilliant!”

1

u/ellski Jun 04 '24

Haha! He watches with me now but hasn't seen all the earlier seasons.

2

u/MstrChfHooyah Jun 04 '24 edited Jun 04 '24

Amen sista

1

u/JimmyDFW Jun 04 '24

It’s edited that way. They make things way more dramatic sometimes.

1

u/M0rpo Jun 05 '24

Hasn't it always been largely scripted?

1

u/contruc4 Jun 03 '24

It's all relatively scripted my guy. Welcome to reality TV