When the Below Deck series premiered, it was a novel concept. It wasn’t a reality show about the glamorous and privileged, but of the people behind the scenes. In this case, the staff and crew that create the experience for their guests. We follow them living and working in confined and stressful quarters. They fight, get along, hook up, and everything in between and we’ve been watching for eight seasons now.
Of course, the original series branched off to include Below Deck Mediterranean and Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Below Deck Mediterranean just aired its fifth season, while Sailing Yacht finished its premiere season. None of these shows disappointed, but there was a notable season that pulled in the highest amount of viewers ever.
Bravo PR tweeted the tally of viewers for the most recent Below Deck Mediterranean season. The tweet read, “season five of Below Deck Med finished as the highest-rated season in Below Deck franchise history among the total viewers, garnering nearly 2.6M viewers an episode.”
What was it about season five that scored such high viewership? Was it the demise of Hannah Ferrier? Was it the manner in which she was terminated? Certainly there was interest to see how the show would be without its original chief stew. Was it something else altogether, such as the entertaining meltdowns chef Tom Checketts had in the galley?
RELATED: Below Deck Mediterranean Alum Hannah Ferrier Is Engaged To Josh Roberts
The way Hannah’s firing went down still evokes negative responses from viewers. One questions whether Captain Sandy Yawn, after years of butting heads with Hannah, was just looking for an excuse to get rid of her. Malia White also played a treacherous part. She reported Hannah just after having a feud about bunk arrangements. The timing was and is still suspect. Perhaps viewers stuck with the show to see if any of these suspicions would come to light.
Captain Sandy shrugged off any criticisms since the time that episode aired. She tweeted out her gratitude for fans, perhaps oblivious to the negative sentiments towards her. “Thank YOU fans and friends of Below Deck Med,” Sandy tweeted.
RELATED: Braunwyn Windham Burke Thanks Captain Sandy Yawn For Helping Her With Sobriety
Now that the season ended, with no recompense for Hannah and Bugsy Drake installed as the new chief stew, the interesting question is whether viewership will be the same for season 6.
TELL US- WHY DO YOU THINK SEASON 5 HAD THE MOST VIEWERS?
[Photo Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo]