Welcome back, Below Deck Mediterranean fans! Last week ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, showing Nathan poised for battle in a sprinter van, seemingly eager to take on Joe. Elsewhere, Kat finally snapped at Gen. Aesha did too, but by “snapped,” we mean both women handled things professionally, yet firmly. Cue Gen trying a new approach this week on Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 Episode 17.
What happened in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 11 Episode 17?
Massi finally shows his cards and tells Joy how he feels. Gen does as well. But her words arrive with an agenda, per usual. Meanwhile, matters between Nathan and Joe reach a point of no return following an entire season of insecurities and clapbacks, leaving everyone, Captain Sandy included, absolutely floored.
Gen launches a plan
The cameras never show Nathan’s response to Joe’s “are you gonna hit me” question from last week. Interesting, no? Instead, we see Gael owning her faults, and wanting Joe to own his, too.
Joe can’t get a word in, though, and he finds that “hilarious.” In his confessional, Nathan shuns Joe for not speaking his truth. As for Joe, he felt cornered.
Back onboard, my two favorite comedic stars of Season 11 enter the chat. Joy wonders why they can’t have peaceful things. Massi answers, “Because nice things are boring, darling.”
Gael and Nathan relieve Aesha of her babysitting duties. Nathan returns to the boat with Aesha. During the ride, Nathan wonders why Joe carries a grudge against Gael. “Because she broke up the bromance,” Aesha thinks.
When Joe was thirteen, his abusive dad said, “Yeah, you’re not my son.” That was the last time he ever heard from him. That experience sucked. But it also taught Joe that aggressive reactions suck more, he tells Kayley.
The next morning, the crew prepares for their final charter. Gen finds Joy and compliments her ad nauseam, leaving Joy wondering if Gen was “possessed by a zombie.” But no. Gen is just being “a fake b*tch, because if you can’t beat ‘em, join em.”
It’s time for the final preference sheet meeting! Billionaire Tristan, his fiancé Melvin, his five boyfriends, and his best friend, Corey, are all coming aboard. They like to stay up late and sleep in, so this might be a long but fun charter.
But first, Gen needs to compliment Kayley, leaving Kayley just as shocked as Joy was. They hug. Captain Sandy implores her crew (namely Nathan and Joe) to let things go, and then their guests finally come aboard.
Joe attempts to make peace with Nathan
Joy chews on a chunk of raw beef, looking dazed, and Aesha contemplates being a sugar baby in another life. Down below, Gen charms the guests, and Nathan asks Joe to do something. Joe stands and checks his heartbeat, which Captain Sandy clocks. She questions Joe while Nathan looks on, wide-eyed.
Thankfully, the guests love everything Joy makes. But for dinner, they want more protein. Joy Googles, “How many grams of protein a day [for] intensive gym guy?”
Tomorrow marks Captain Sandy’s 36th year of sobriety. We love this for her, but when she heads back outside, she hears something she doesn’t love: a whole lot of awkward silence between Joe and Nathan. She encourages Joe with something she learned in recovery: that he needs to talk to Nathan and get things off his chest. Joe agrees she might actually have a point.
But, speaking of awkward, Cooper and Kat remain on different pages in two totally different books. Kat wants more, but Cooper wants his freedom. This will end badly, probably.
The guests sit for dinner. Around the corner, Joe and Nathan finally sit down together to clear the air. Joe has not been turning people against Nathan, Joe says. Instead, he’s been telling people that things are different now, and he misses his friend.
Nathan is in a different space now as a dad, he says, which Joe understands. They clap hands, and Joe heads to bed. This all feels great, but in his talking head, Nathan responds totally differently. He calls Joe’s words “f*cking b*llsh*t,” and says Joe is just jealous of the life he built with Gael.
Two injuries and a glimpse into the drama that still lies ahead
Joy stretches what little chicken she has left into a tray of nighttime sandwiches before heading off to bed. This was a smart plan, because around 3 a.m., the guests are starving. They are also hungry to recruit Joe into their polygamous relationship, but Joe expertly laughs them off and scampers away with their dishes.
Turns out, this still wasn’t enough protein. And in the morning, they are still not happy. They want “gay rights and more protein” moving forward. Hopefully, provisions arrive shortly.
The guests ARE fully satisfied with the meat Cooper and Joe packed at their raft party, though. Wearing speedos supplied by their guests, Cooper and Joe do the most, fully loving every second, until Joe dives onto a rock and cracks his forehead. He deals with it, and everyone returns to the yacht.
Aesha gives Captain Sandy a necklace to honor her 36th year of sobriety. Growing emotional, Captain Sandy talks about her journey. Aesha also cries because she grew up with an alcoholic mother, who has thankfully been sober for ten years now. Phew, pass every tissue.
Outside, Vitor, one of the guests, hits his head while jumping onto the waterslide. Blood pours from his forehead. Captain Sandy calls for a medic, and the same hot doctor from last week responds. Gen hysterically breaks the fourth wall and gives the camera her best “yasss” face.
Her face will likely change soon. Luke is coming back to surprise Joy during the crew’s final night out next week. “Your secret is safe with me,” Joe promises.
Below Deck Mediterranean streams on Peacock.