One of the most beloved cast members may have just left Below Deck Mediterranean. Even as he struggled to understand the existence of vegans and complained about preparing a meal for a group full of them, Chef Kiko remained as lovable as ever in the July 27 episode due to his undying desire to impress his boss, Captain Sandy. He even skipped a night out on the town to fully prepare for a long day of work. But a nacho-related error might have driven an irreparable wedge between Kiko and the rest of the Below Deck Mediterranean crew, even if his intentions were in the right place.
Kiko greeted the charter's guests with a plate of oysters, which were loved by all. All except Captain Sandy, that is. She explained in a confessional that she wants Kiko to make "more of a superyacht-style dinner." But with a Vegas-themed meal on the horizon, Kiko had to juggle two very different visions for the meal. Per Hannah's suggestion, he ultimately settled on an assortment of fried food, as well as a batch of nachos that just might have proven fatal to his time aboard. Kiko was already on thin ice with Sandy due to his less-than-stellar time management skills, but her disappointment in his Las Vegas menu may be the nail in Kiko's coffin.
The strangest part of Kiko's mishap, however, was his ensuing interaction with Sandy. While she scolded him for his unprofessional menu, as well as his need to Google what a Vegas-inspired menu might look like, Kiko urged her to let him go. While Sandy made no clear reference to firing him, Kiko seemed intent on jumping ship. The episode ends with Kiko asking one last time if he can leave, and Sandy nods in return. As Decider points out, however, Kiko is spotted cooking in the preview for next week's episode, so perhaps this was just another tease from the Bravo smash hit, which has been fortunately problem-free, unlike some other shows on the network.
Kiko's commitment to his craft has brought a refreshing degree of levity to Below Deck Mediterranean, and his leaving the ship would surely be a huge blow for viewers. On the other hand, his departure would mark a pretty satisfying ending to his time on the show, as a guy who simply couldn't get out of his own way. Of course, it seems he is perfectly fine with leaving, which may have something to do with the elaborate pressures the show puts upon the crew.
There have been several reality stars taking issue with Bravo as of late, and while Kiko may not harbor those same frustrations, perhaps he is exhausted by the world of reality television. Whether he stays or goes, the fallout of the latest episode will be filled with drama. After all, it was Hannah who suggested Kiko put nachos on the menu. Will Kiko hold a grudge towards her, or will he continue to take personal pride in his role as chef?
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9pm EST on Bravo.
Source: Decider