Bravo released the Below Deck season 10 trailer and premiere date during BravoCon 2022, which revealed that fan-favorites Captain Lee Rosbach, Chef Rachel Hargrove, and newly promoted chief stew Fraser Olender will all be returning for the yachting season in St. Lucia. Viewers may be surprised at Captain Lee’s return as he faced health problems and was met with mixed reviews last season. Overall, Below Deck season 9 was not received well by fans, as some even called it the worst season to date. Some of the issues that plagued the Below Deck season 9 cast included Captain Lee joining the charter late due to health problems, criticisms over his overall lack of management and discipline, and themes of misogyny and sexism among the cast.
Captain Lee may have faced some backlash last season, but he is still among the series’ most beloved cast members. The Below Deck season 10 trailer was released at BravoCon and revealed that fiery chef Rachel Hargrove will return, along with Below Deck season 9 favorite Fraser Olender in his new role as Chief Stew. Also joining the cast of Below Deck, which returns November 21, is a slew of new crew members including bosun Ross McHarg, second and third stews Hayley De Sola Pinto and Alissa Humber, deck/stew Camille Lamb and deckhands Tony Duarte, Katie Glaser, and Ben Willoughby. The Below Deck sneak peek, revealed on the Below Deck Instagram page, suggested that while these crew members may all begin the yachting season together, they will likely not end it together.
Below Deck Season 10 Trailer Hints At Early Exit For Captain Lee
Amid a montage of drunk charter guests, partying, floaty fun, and Below Deck cast hookups came a series of yachting mishaps and crew errors. At one point, Captain Lee addressed the crew, stating, “I’ve got a pocket full of plane tickets that I’m not afraid of handing out.” Captain Lee may have to make good on this promise as the yacht appeared to become filled with smoke, prompting an evacuation. As the dramatic Below Deck season 10 trailer neared its end, Captain Lee made a somber announcement during a crew meeting. He admitted, “Mind’s there. My heart’s there. My body just won’t cooperate...So I’ve made a decision.” Viewers will learn the outcome of the decision when Below Deck season 10 premieres in November.
Captain Lee’s leadership style has produced fiercely loyal crew members and affectionate bonds with charter guests in the past. Due to this loyalty, his crew does not react favorably when another captain has to step in, such as when Captain Sean Meagher began the charter season during Below Deck season 9. The Below Deck season 10 trailer suggests history may be repeating itself, with Captain Lee likely facing an early exit again due to new health problems. Rumors suggest that Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck: Mediterranean may be replacing Captain Lee this time around.
Below Deck is one of Bravo’s core series, but some wonder if the flagship has finally run its course. A lack of accountability for misbehaved crew members has been accepted in the past, but viewers are suggesting they are fed up with this trend. Another qualm shared by Below Deck viewers included poor casting choices by showrunners as of late, which has led to stagnant storylines and depressed crew members. Following a controversial season, Below Deck season 10 must prove to be more favorable with the fan base to ensure future renewal.
Below Deck season 10 premieres November 21 at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo.
Source: Below Deck/Instagram