Summary
Captain Sandy Yawnand Aesha Scott reunited on-screen forBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9 and led the crew to success despite poor performance allegations. Aesha joined the franchise in seasons 4 and 5 as one of Hannah Ferrier’s stews. After two seasons onBelow Deck Med, she transferred toBelow Deck Down Underto serve as Captain Jason Chamber’s Chief Stew. Before her run as the head of the Australian-based spin-off’s interior department,Aesha became a fan-favorite crew member, beloved for her bubbly personalityand infectious positivity.
Her inclusion in the cast ofBelow Deck Medseason 9was pivotal to the show’s success. Crew members such as Iain Maclean andChef Johnathan “Jono” Shillingford have been criticizedby viewers for allegedly faking their bad performances throughout the charter season. On the flipside, Bri Muller and Elena “Ellie” Dubaich’s season-long feud over Joe Bradley stimulated drama that is embedded into season 9’s storyline. At the forefront of the show is Captain Sandy and Aesha, whocemented themselves as a newfoundBelow Deckfranchise duodespite the muddled waters surrounding them.
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Captain Sandy & Aesha Worked Together Before Season 9
Their Friendship Goes Far Beyond The Show
Below Deck Medseason 9 was not Captain Sandy and Aesha’s first time working together. The now-Chief Stew debuted on the franchise during season 4. Aesha worked as a stew for Hannah, whom she formed a close bond with. When she was asked to return for season 5 after her first appearance, Aesha toldBravo TVshe nearly turned down the offer. “I wasn’t that pumped about it,” she admitted, adding thatshe felt rather “homesick” when they filmed.
If she hadn’t returned for the fifth season, Aesha could have become a one-and-done yachtie. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case.
She was an exceptional stew during her tenure working for Captain Sandy. Aesha was a part of the interior team whenHannah was infamously fired. She continued her work as a stew exceptionally well, considering the unfortunate circumstances. Outside their bonds on the show,the captain and Chief Stew have a friendship off-screen. At the beginning of the season, Aesha revealed she’d double-dated with her fiancé, Scotty Dobbo, and Captain Sandy and her now-wife, Laura Shafer. They not only had a great relationship on-camera but off-camera as well, which paired well with their working relationship in season 9.
Captain Sandy Fully Trusted Aesha As Her Chief Stew
Their Preexisting Relationship Served Them Well During Season 9
Throughout the charter season, it was clear Aesha was Captain Sandy’s right hand in command. Because of their preexisting personal and work relationships, they had a profound level of trust in themselves.Captain Sandy knew she could depend on Aesha’s judgment, and Aesha knew the captain had the crew’s best interest at heart. Because they didn’t have to take time to build a bond with each other, they got to work right away and successfully blended their working styles.
Most recently,Captain Kerry Titheradge and Fraser Olender met for the first time duringBelow Deckseason 11.Because they hadn’t worked together before the charter season, it took some time for them to understand how the captain ran his superyachts and how Fraser led his interior teams. Luckily, they ended up getting along well and have emerged as a brand newBelow Deckduo. However, compared to Captain Sandy and Aesha, they lacked that initial nexus and had to build to where they stand today.
They Navigated Conflict Among The Crew Together
Captain Sandy & Aesha Worked Together To Thrive
Below Deckis a TV show, but the crew does face the realities of the yachting industry. Captain Sandy and Aesha have built a wonderful friendship working with each other, but not without drama. During season 9, stews Bri and Ellie feuded over their mutual liking of deckhand Joe. Aesha tried her best to navigate the conflict by herself, but the captain had to step in at times. While the deckhand was busy leading the women on, the stews fought among themselves.Aesha told the captain she was unsure how to handle the situationand stepped in to help.
Captain Sandy told Bri and Ellie she’d have to fire both of them. If they couldn’t sort things out, they would each be fired. After they sat down, there was a noticeable improvement in both stew’s behavior. When asked by Andy Cohen what more Aesha could have done to solve their issues in a clip onBravo WWHL’s TikTok in June, Captain Sandy said, “Not one thing,” adding that “Aesha never stops working.”Instead of leaving the Chief Stew to struggle with Bri and Ellie, the captain offered her support,and they squashed the problem together.
Captain Sandy has Aesha to partly thank for her positive reception with theBelow Deckfanbase. Since she joined the show in its second season, the captain has been reprimanded for her leadership tactics. She’s been better received this year because of her patience, reluctance to fire anyone, and the positive yet tough reinforcement she offered the crew. Thecaptain didn’t have to stress as much thanks to her trust and comfortability in Aeshaleading as Chief Stew.Captain Sandy went from a villain to a heroin season 9, and the Chief Stew undoubtedly boosted her fan-favorite status.
They Have To Return For Season 10
It would be utterly shocking if Captain Sandy and Aesha were notbrought back forBelow Deck Medseason 10. They did a great job as a duo throughout the season, and the show would be silly to call in other yachties to lead the spin-off. While Aesha starred inBelow Deck Down Underfor two seasons, it’s rumored she won’t be a part of the season 3 cast, hinting at her permanent return toBelow Deck Med. It’s all but confirmed thatSandy will serve as captain of the next season, and she’d likely request Aesha as her Chief Stew.
Captain Sandy and Aesha have become a new beloved franchise duo after their run onBelow Deck Medseason 9. Despite having worked together in the past, the recent season was their first stint as leaders together, and they did a wonderful job. Captain Sandy and Aesha are fond of one another and deserve another chance to work together on the spin-off in season 10.
Below Deck Mediterraneanairs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo, then streams the following day on Peacock.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
