Producer Plants & Casting Shakeups Threaten Below Deck Season 12’s Authenticity
Below Deck underwent a dramatic makeover in season 12, and I’m worried that the changes aren’t all positive. Below Deck season 12 sees Captain Kerry Titheradge returning to the St. David, this time traversing the waters off St. Maarten, Anguilla, and St. Barts. He’s joined by several familiar crew members, as well as a team of newcomers who are already making a splash in the franchise. Captain Kerry is met with the repeated obstacle of navigating the yacht through the narrow Simpson Bay Bridge, but that’s not the only challenge he’s facing this season.
While changes are inevitable more than a decade into Below Deck’s run, I’m not sure production is making the best moves. The cast is already showing signs of trouble in the first episodes of the season. Below Deck Chef Lawrence Snowden quit before completing his first charter, while the internal and external teams have already experienced various crises. On top of the shaky relations between the crew, the team is taking on challenging guests and lengthy charters. The drama on the high seas is reflected in the season’s new, experimental editing style, with a questionable end result.
Soléne Was Cast With Virtually No Experience
& A Clout Chasing Background
The drama within the interior team centers around Soléne Favreau, a French stew with extremely limited experience. Prior to Below Deck season 12, Soléne had worked on yachts for a total of 22 days, leading to her self-appointed title of “baby stew.” Soléne’s flightiness and lack of basic understanding of yachting procedures led her team to become quickly exasperated, particularly second stew Rainbeau de Roos.
While Below Deck Chief Stew Fraser Olender was preoccupied with keeping Captain Kerry and the guests happy, it fell on Rainbeau to ensure order within the interior. Soléne’s inexperience meant Rainbeau had to work overtime to compensate, with her frustration building into a frightening panic attack as she toiled alone into the early morning hours. Rainbeau insisted on keeping her frustration to herself and trudging forward until the job was done, a position she never should have been in. Soléne is bringing down the entire team, and I feel her casting wasn’t coincidental.
Soléne previously appeared on Love Island France season 2 in 2023, finishing in third place. Her reality TV career continued in 2024 with a spot on the French show The Cerveau, or The Brain. Soléne considers herself an influencer and has a strong following on Instagram. Her placement on Below Deck makes me concerned that she’s a producer plant whose sole purpose is to add drama while increasing her own fame.
There Are Too Many Returning Below Deck Cast Members
Four Season 11 Yachties Returned For Season 12
Production’s choice to bring back four cast members was an interesting one, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it’s nice to see so many familiar faces onscreen this early in the season. On the other hand, their overpowering presence makes it hard to get to know the rest of the season 12 crew. With a Below Deck veteran in each department, it’s a challenge to shake the experiences and biases of the previous season.
The returning crew members also have a loaded history that could potentially hijack season 12’s drama. Anthony holds resentment towards Fraser for his belief that Fraser played a role in his firing. Anthony also must work extra hard to prove himself after being given an extremely rare second chance. Fraser and Kyle, who shared a playful kiss last season, have their own banter that they’ve carried over into season 12. These existing dynamics make me worry that there won’t be as much room for new drama to unfold, and nobody wants to spend a season rehashing stale storylines.
Below Deck Season 12’s Editing Style Has Been Strange
Many Viewers Find It Disorienting
Below Deck season 12 has already broken the fourth wall, a rarity within the franchise. Chef Lawrence directly addressed the cameras moments into the first episode and continued throughout his time in the kitchen. He eventually went on an unhinged rant against the production crew after buckling under the stress of the camera’s watchful eye. Season 12 producers also leaned into the tactic of teasing future drama by skipping ahead to the looming conflict between Fraser and Anthony, then returning to the present moment to document how it unfolded.
The need for dizzying visual effects and a cast with built-in drama makes me wonder if there’s no longer enough organic content to keep viewers satisfied, and producers may be overcompensating.
On their own, the Below Deck season 12 editing choices would make for a refreshing change. But paired with controversial casting choices, I’m concerned Below Deck is dangerously close to being overproduced. The need for dizzying visual effects and a cast with built-in drama makes me wonder if there’s no longer enough organic content to keep viewers satisfied, and producers may be overcompensating.
There’s More Than One Suspected Producer Plant
Are Producers Creating Their Own Drama?
