Now that were into 2024, there are an awful lot of MTG sets to look forward to. Between Modern Horizons 3, Fallout, and Pioneer Masters, this year is absolutely stacked. Beyond all the supplemental releases, however, there are also plenty of premier sets to look forward to. One such set is Outlaws of Thunder Junction.

Releasing as the second Premier set of 2024, Outlaws of Thunder Junctions release is fast approaching. With just over a month until release day, Wizards has steadily begun releasing new information. This kicked off during MagicCon: Chicago, where players got their First Look at the set.

As the next premier set on the horizon, theres understandably a lot of interest in Outlaws of Thunder Junction. Since this set is practically three releases in one, it definitely has a lot going for it! While Bloomburrow may be stealing its thunder somewhat, theres still plenty of reason to be excited.

Whether youre looking to join the Wild-West hype train or just keep up to date, weve got you covered. Heres everything you need to know about Outlaws of Thunder Junction!

Thankfully, following The Preview Panel at MagicCon: Chicago, we can put to bed any speculation. All the important dates for Outlaws of Thunder Junction have been confirmed! With a plethora of preview and gameplay dates to look forward to, theres a lot on the calendar.

Here are all the dates you need to know for Outlaws of Thunder Junction:

MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction Key Dates

MTG Outlaws of Thunder Junction Gameplay Events

Due to being a long way from release, story chapters for Outlaws of Thunder Junction have not been released yet. Given past precedent, players can expect to see these before spoiler season starts in early March. While this is still a way away yet, theres still some information to pick apart.

According to Wizards of the Coast, Outlaws of Thunder Junction is the final set within the Omenpath arc. This means that players should be able to expect some big happenings and some potentially major reveals. That being said, however, the Omenpath Arc is only act one of the larger Metronome storyline which lasts until 2026.

Within the set, villains from across Magics multiverse have all flocked to Thunder Junction to duel it out. Traveling via Omenpath, its unclear exactly why MTGs villains are congregating here, however, theres sure to be a good reason. Whether its for a magical McGuffin or just for fun, this set is sure to be an absolute romp.

Curiously, Outlaws of Thunder Junction wasnt originally just one set. Instead, according to Wizards, it was originally planned to have an Aftermath-style follow-up Micro Set. Dubbed The Big Score, this set would continue the sets story and finish it with a flourish. Unfortunately, due to the reaction to March of the Machine: The Aftermath, this planned extra release was quickly scrapped.

Rather than abandoning all the work that had been done, Wizards has smushed the two sets together. This process gave The Big Score a new alternative name The Vault, which annoyingly can be used interchangeably. Thankfully, while the name may be an oddity, cards from The Big Score are easy to identify since they have their own set symbol.

In total, The Big Score contains 40 cards, each one of which is Standard legal. The cards themselves can be found where The List would usually appear within Play Boosters. For better or worse, this means that The List has been mostly replaced in Outlaws of Thunder Junction. To add one last confusing piece of the puzzle, Special Guests cards still exist for the set.

In terms of the cards themselves, weve only seen two from The Big Score right now. These cards are Sword of Wealth and Power

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Outlaws of Thunder Junction: Release Date, Spoilers, Commander Decks - MTG Rocks

Summary

Helldivers 2 fans are no strangers to innovating on the battlefield, but one player has made calling in support from Stratagems easier than ever before. After dropping down onto whatever besieged planet catches their attention, Helldivers are provided access to a range of Stratagems that involve plugging in a series of inputs for their orbiting Destroyer to send down equipment, supplies, and even deadly explosives. In the heat of battle, that process can be rather difficult, but fortunately, for some players, it just got much simpler.

Shown off in a TikTok video by user dankischillin, the industrious Helldivers 2 fan has mapped the various Stratagems to dedicated buttons on their Stream Deck, a peripheral that's usually used by streamers to control the components of their system without needing to delve into the various pieces of software at work.

Mapping the Stratagems to the various macro buttons on the Stream Deck means that entire bombing runs can be called with a single press of a button. Dankischillin even went one step further to include the icons for their Stratagems on the Deck, meaning they'll always know what each button does.

The TikToker provides an innovative solution to calling down extra support during a tense firefight, something Helldivers 2 players need to do as often as possible if they want to survive the hordes of enemies attacking Super Earth. Upon starting the game, Helldivers will have access to just a handle of Stratagems including a Precision Orbital Strike and a Machine Gun. As they complete missions and liberate planets, players will be able to unlock more powerful tools like an Eagle Airstrike, an Orbital Laser, and even a small "Guard Dog" sentry robot that fires at foes automatically.

While there are already dozens of unique Stratagems available in Helldivers 2, fans are looking to the future. Developer Arrowhead has confirmed that as a part of the game's live-service model, it will be adding more Helldivers 2 Stratagems in future content updates. Some players took this hint and ran, datamining files to reveal that mech suits will soon be added to the game as an item that can be called down from orbit, prompting a great deal of excitement from the community.

As Helldivers 2 continues to be one of 2024's most surprisingly successful games, the community is finding unique ways to celebrate its satirical take on sci-fi shooters. One dedicated supporter went so far as to create their own Super Earth broadcast, a TikTok channel that provides followers with updates on the fictional galactic war. With the invention of Stream Deck Stratagems, it seems like the war effort is stronger than ever.

Source: dankischillin/TikTok

Helldivers II is the follow-up to the 2015 multiplayer top-down single-player/co-op shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios. The sequel, which has shifted gears to a third-person shooter format, drops players into the boots of elite super-soldiers who fight to protect Super Earth from invading alien forces while taking the fight to those who threaten the "democracy of Super Earth."

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Helldivers 2 Player Shares Their Incredible Solution for Calling in Complicated Stratagems - Screen Rant

Je'Kayla Crawford

Published: 2024-03-02T21:23:04 Updated: 2024-03-02T21:23:19

Stewardess Cat Baugh hasnt made the best impression among Below Deck viewers, but anything can happen in the next few episodes.

One of the many newcomers making their debut in reality TV this season is Cat Baugh. She is making her mark as a Stewardess under the leadership of both Chief Steward Fraser Olender and Captain Kerry Titheradge.

Within the first few episodes of the season, Cat has opened up about her personal life on-screen. She revealed to the audience that both of her parents died, she ended up in foster care, and she was separated from her brother as a result of her foster family.

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We were [in the same state]. But they wouldnt even let me talk to him because he wasnt religious. It was that extreme of a religion that they wouldnt even let me speak to my own biological brother, she vented in Episode 3.

While viewers can appreciate her being vulnerable enough to share her life story, they arent sure that this show is the right idea for her or any show for that matter.

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On February 27, BD viewers took to Reddit to discuss their thoughts on Cat, and they didnt have the best take on her.

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One fan wrote, Shes already cried 3 times, its not my responsibility to tippy toe around your issues 24/7. She should be in an industry or job where she works alone.

Another fan chimed in and wrote, I feel bad for her but shes not right for this job.

Shes not the only Season 11 star with an emotional story. With Jared announcing that he has a daughter that hes never met, to Anthony revealing that his ex-wife left him for his uncle, this season is filled with deep moments.

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Below Deck fans convinced Cat Baugh is not cut out for reality TV - Dexerto

Highlights

It takes ingenuity to survive the wasteland. Magic: The Gathering is all about taking whatever you can find and turning it into something potent enough to let you survive, and with the coming of Fallout in the next Universes Beyond crossover, the planeswalkers of the multiverse will soon be able to call upon the survivors and technology of what used to be called America.

The Scrappy Survivors Commander deck showcases the adaptability of these survivors in taking junk and turning it into something useful. Nothing gets wasted in Scrappy Survivors, and you definitely shouldn't waste these ten incredible cards.

Never leave your Vault without a trusty Pip-Boy 3000. This handy piece of equipment is useful for so many things, whether that's to fill your graveyard with discarded cards, add +1/+1 counters, or to untap two of your lands to ramp out an enormous beast.

The best of the three options is probably to untap your land, but the flexibility of Pip-Boy 3000 just can't be overlooked. It fits everywhere, and it's an especially great card for the equipment-focused Scrappy Survivors deck.

Veronica is another great choice for those looking to fill their graveyard with useful stuff. She's got Menace, making her a little easier to attack with, and whenever she swings, you get to discard and draw a card.

The cool thing is when you discard a non-land card, you create a Junk token. This Junk token will then let you exile the top card of your library and play it that turn. This effectively gives you an extra draw, and it also pairs well with any cards that toy with playing cards from anywhere other than your hand (like Laelia, the Blade Reforged).

For two mana, Well Rested does a lot. Whenever the create untaps, it gets two +1/+1 counters, you gain two life, and you draw a card. Sure, it can only happen once per turn, but that's still a lot for two mana and a single card.

The obvious method of untapping is the turn after attacking, so haste is definitely a keyword to pair with Well Rested. Other than that, something that can tap a creature the turn it comes into play can help build your Well Rested counters the turn after it comes into play rather than two turns later.

Indestructible remains one of the more important keywords in Magic. Being unable to die has its perks, as does having ten toughness and nine power. Sure, it's not ten power, but Almost Perfect is still going to turn whatever you cast it on into a terrifying monster. And being able to do it for just six mana is a pretty sweet deal.

The only problem with Almost Perfect is the enchantment itself remains vulnerable even as the creature it enchants becomes indestructible. Luckily, there are more cards in Scrappy Survivor to keep Almost Perfect around even if it eats a Disenchant.

Just as he is in Fallout 4, Codsworth is an incredibly useful Robot to have around. He makes your commander harder to kill, provides two white mana for auras and equipment spells, and lets you re-attach auras and equipment whenever you want (provided it's on your turn).

Clearly, Codsworth is at his robotic best when assisting a deck focused on auras and equipment, which Scrappy Survivors most certainly is. That said, Codsworth is also great in aura-centered white and green decks, giving him a measure of versatility that you won't find in cards like Yenna, Redtooth Regent or Mazzy, Truesword Paladin.

Preston's color-fixing ability is nice, but if you've already cast this three-color Legend, then you've probably already got a decent mana base. What really makes Preston exciting is his ability to untap every enchanted permanent you own.

After a few turns, Preston will go from a mere 4/4 Human Soldier to someone who can help pump out truly awe-inspiring spells requiring a ton of mana. Or he can untap your army of enchanted critters to attack again with the help of another card in Scrappy Survivors, Grim Reaper's Sprint.

For years, Swiftfoot Boots have been the standard footwear for any commander. The Silver Shroud Costume might finally be about to change that. Yes, you lose haste and the more reliable hexproof keyword, but the Silver Shroud Costume can come into play at instant speed, foiling whatever dastardly attempt at removal your opponent has enacted.

On top of that, the Silver Shroud Costume also turns your creature into an unblockable menace. For all this added utility, expect commander decks to start offering scarves, trench coats, and a fedora.

One of the problems with auras and equipment is they lose all utility as soon as the creature they're attached to beefs it. What Cass offers is insurance. As soon as your equipped or enchanted creature dies, all those auras come back to another creature, and you get to re-equip all those artifacts for free.

Add in the fact Cass is a reasonably-priced Human Ranger with four power and vigilance, and you've got the perfect addition to any deck that cares about auras and equipment--exactly what you'll find in Scrappy Survivors.

For any deck that has a lot of auras and equipment, Inventory Management is about to become an essential card. Just as with Fallout's RPGs, managing your inventory can mean the difference between life and death. You always want to have the right cards available at the right time to do the most good.

Inventory Management lets you essentially re-assign all your auras and equipment, and your opponent can't respond to this play thanks to the split second keyword. Casting this spell pauses the game, allowing you to decide where things should be placed at a leisurely pace.

Dogmeat can become a real problem real fast. Not for the player--getting this good boy down as quickly as possible should be priority number one. It's your opponents that'll rue the day they crossed this junkyard dog.

As soon as Dogmeat hits the table, he mills five and fetches an aura or equipment from the graveyard. Then, after you've had a chance to attach said aura or equipment, he starts producing Junk tokens with every swing. And Junk tokens essentially provide extra chances to cast spells (or play lands) every turn. It's not quite as good as drawing cards, but it's very close, and it's something you can fit into artifact strategies too. This boy deserves extra treats for everything he does.

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Magic: The Gathering The 10 Best Cards In Fallout's Scrappy Survivors Commander Deck - TheGamer

Weve got some good title announcement news to start the week off today, along with a round-up of other release news odds and ends...

First up, Paramount and CBS have finally officially set Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Four for Blu-ray and DVD release on 4/16.

The 2-disc set contains all 10 episodes of the season, along with the following special features:

You can see the cover artwork at left and also below the break.

While were on the topic of Paramount, look for the studio to release Mark Waters original Mean Girls (2004) on 4K Ultra HD on 4/30. You can see that cover artwork below the break as well. [Read on here...]

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has announced that Charles Vidors Thunder in the East (1952) is coming soon to Blu-ray. Also on the way to 4K Ultra HD as a Kino Cult title is Walter Hills Johnny Handsome (1989), which stars Mickey Rourke, Ellen Barkin, Morgan Freeman, Lance Henriksen, and Forest Whitaker. Street dates for both titles are TBA.

Meanwhile, Shout! and Scream Factory will be releasing Robert Rodriguezs The Faculty (1998) on 4K Ultra HD on 4/16.

Decal and Neon are releasing Ava DuVernays Origin (2023) on Blu-ray on 4/9.

MPI Home Video has set Lee Sang-yongs South Korean crime actioner The Roundup: No Way Out (2023) for release on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on 4/9. The 4K will include a Blu-ray copy and come in Mediabook packaging. You can see that below.

RLJ Entertainment has set new 4K Steelbook editions of Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017), Prisoners of the Ghostland (2021), Children of the Corn (2020), and Mayhem (2017) for release on 4/3.

Icon Film Distribution will release Bernardo Bertoluccis The Dreamers (2003) in 4K Ultra HD in the UK on 4/22. Its listed on Amazon US as well (see below) with a street date of 5/3.

Second Sight has set wide-release 4K editions of Jeremy Saulniers Green Room (2015) and Brandon Cronenbergs Possessor (2020) to street on 3/19. You can see those below too.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment and DC Studios will release Doom Patrol: The Fourth and Final Season and Doom Patrol: The Complete Series on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/9.

And heres something thats been submitted by a few different Bits readers today: Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has been polling members of their A-List email newsletter for their interest in which catalog films people might like to see remastered for release in 4K Ultra HD. Among the titles polled are Blade II and III (2002-04), Caddyshack (1980), the Conjuring films (2012-2021), Dances with Wolves (1990), Dirty Harry (1971), Friday (1995), the Lethal Weapon films (1987-98), the Nightmare on Elm Street films (1984-2010), One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest (1975), and the Terminator films (1984-2009). Some of those are obvious releases on the format and some less so, but I think most of these titles would be welcomed by fans. Note that The Terminator (1984) is almost certain to be released in 4K Ultra HD before the year is out, given that the film celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. Thanks to all the readers who submitted this. Its good to know that Warner is still interested in releasing more catalog titles on the format.

Finally today, the Saturn Awards winners were announced last night and Star Trek: Picard Season Three scored big for Best Science Fiction Television Series. (Still needs a 4K Ultra HD release Paramount and CBS!) Meanwhile, John Wick: Chapter 4 somehow beat the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Directors Edition for Best 4K Home Media Release. (Congrats to our friends at Lionsgatewho are no doubt deservingbut color me surprised.) Anyway, you can see the full list of winners here today at Deadline.

Well leave you today with a look at the cover artwork for several of the titles mentioned above, all with Amazon.com pre-order links if available...

Stay tuned

(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)

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Star Trek: Lower Decks S4, Scream sets The Faculty for 4K, plus Origin, Dreamers, potential Warner Ultra HD catalog ... - The Digital Bits

Summary

Below Deck season 11 will premiere tonight, February 5, with a largely new crew and a new captain. The new season was confirmed late last year, along with the cast. Returning to Below Deck for another season is Chief Stew Fraser Olender, who has been on the show for the past three seasons. He first joined the Bravo series for season 9 as a regular stew but was bumped to chief stew last season. Besides Fraser, most of the crew is new, including the captain. Fans may remember the new Below Deck captain, Captain Kerry Titheradge, from Below Deck Adventure season 1. He will be replacing Captain Lee Rosbach.

Before Kerry, Lee was the original captain of Below Deck. He'd been on the series since season 1, up until his final year in season 10. Many saw Captain Lee's exit coming, as he was gone for most of Below Deck season 10 due to a medical issue. Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Mediterranean had to step in as his replacement, but Lee was able to make it back in time for the final few episodes. While Lee had a great run on Below Deck, he was ready to pass the torch onto Captain Kerry. He was well-liked in his original series, and judging by the Below Deck season 11 trailer, Kerry will receive the same reception.

Now that Below Deck Med season 8 has come to an end, Below Deck season 11 is underway, and the premiere date is February 5. Fraser will be returning to the show as chief stew, while a majority of the crew is new to the franchise. Also returning is Ben Willoughby as the lead deckhand.

The rest of the Below Deck season 11 cast includes Jared Woodin, Cat Baugh, Barbara "Barbie" Pascual, Chef Anthony Iracane, Sunny Marquis, Xandi Olivier, and Kyle Stillie. Captain Kerry from Below Deck Adventure will also be joining the show as the new captain following Lee's departure. The premiere will show the whole cast meeting for the first time and the introduction of Kerry at the helm.

Below Deck season 11 will air on Bravo on Monday, February 5, at 9 p.m. EST. The show usually runs for an hour; however, since it is the season premiere and a special one at that, Below Deck season 11, episode 1, will air for an hour and 15 minutes. After the premiere episode airs, it will be available for streaming on Peacock the next day (Tuesday). For fans who live outside of the U.S., they can watch on Hayu, another streaming service. Following the premiere, the Below Deck episodes will follow the same protocol, airing on Mondays and available to stream on Tuesdays.

Even though only the trailer has been released, there is a lot to expect from Below Deck season 11. Not only is this one of the biggest crew changes in Below Deck franchise history, but fans are losing Below Deck mainstay, Captain Lee and his hilarious one-liners. Other than the huge change in crew, there will be a lot of drama, as usual.

It looks like Fraser may hook up with a charter guest, while Ben is seemingly having trouble with someone on the deck team. The new crew members also seem to bring, as Xandi describes herself as a "witch and a vampire," while Barbie may have some drama with Fraser (via BravoTV). So far, Below Deck season 11 is looking like a must-watch.

Below Deck airs Mondays at 9 p.m. EST on Bravo.

Source: BravoTV

Below Deck is a popular reality TV franchise that focuses on a group of crew members as they work on luxurious yachts and cater to their client's needs. After the original series proved to be a success, Bravo developed a handful of spinoff shows including Below Deck Selling Yacht, Below Deck Adventure, Below Deck Down Under, and Below Deck Mediterranean.

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How To Watch Below Deck Season 11 & When It Premieres - Screen Rant

Erik Gruenwedel

February 5, 2024

Paramount Home Entertainment Feb. 5 announced digital retail access to adult animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 4, with the series available on Blu-ray Disc and DVD April 16.

Currently sitting at a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes social media platform, the series, which debuted in 2020, is about the support crew serving on one of Starfleets least important ships, the USS Cerritos, in the year 2380. The release includes all 10 episodes from the latest season, in addition to a featurette, and exclusive audio commentaries from cast and crew.

In season four, an unknown force is destroying starships and threatening galactic peace. Luckily, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos isnt worried. Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford and Provisional Ensign TLyn are keeping up with their Starfleet duties, avoiding malevolent computers and getting stuck in a couple caves all while encountering new and classic aliens along the way.

This two-disc collection includes all 10 episodes and features guest stars Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Andy Richter (Late Night with Conan OBrien), and Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), among others.

Season four will also be available on DVD manufactured on demand.

Extras include five episode commentaries, and the featurettes Lower Decktionary: Setting Up Season 4 and Old Friends.

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Paramount Bowing Animated 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 4 on Digital Feb. 5, Blu-ray and DVD April 16 - Media Play News

Enshrouded is new indie release making waves on Steam, and while it is still in early access, some folks have already logged hundreds of hours playing the survival crafting game. If you have to share a PC with someone, or you just want a chance to play the game while aout and about, you might be wondering whether or not you can play Enshrouded on the Steam Deck.

The short answer is yes. However, it isn't verified to do so, and you'll need to change a few settings to get the best performance out of your Deck. Here's how I got it up and running.

I won't sugar coat it: The Steam Deck is not the ideal way to play Enshrouded. While you certainly can get it working, things will still be a little iffy when it comes to performance.

However, after juggling some settings and experimenting with my options, I've found some helpful tweaks that should provide a fairly stable 30 fps experience throughout your time with the game. Again, performance can vary here, and I have seen the game drop below 30 fps more than a couple of times during my testing, but the screenshot above will give you a rough idea of what Enshrouded looks like running on my Steam Deck after my fiddling about: Not so bad.

Firstly, I highly recommend installing CryoUtilities on your Steam Deck before you attempt anything. The program helps most games perform better, especially intensive titles like Enshrouded, and even Palworld. If you don't have it installed, check out my guide on how to improve your Steam Deck's performance for more information.

Once the game is installed, you should change a few key settings right away. Launch it an navigate to Settings via the main menu. From there, adjust the following settings to these values:

Anti-Aliasing: FSR2

FSR2 Quality: Balance

Texture Resolution: Quality

Shadow Quality: Performance

Contact Shadows: Off

Indirect Lighting: Balance

Reflections: Balance

Fog Quality: Performance

Volumetric Shadow Quality: Performance

SSAO: Performance

Distant Objects: Off

Voxel Detail Models: Off

Small Foliage: Performance

Tessellation: Off

Point Light Shadows: Off

By all means, mess with these settings as you see fitbut this is where I landed after a significant amount of testing and experimentation. For example, both FSR2 Quality and Texture Resolution can be lowered to improve frames slightly, but I found that dropping them beyond the settings I've noted above resulted in gameplay that was full of jagged lines and ugly textures.

Enshrouded is never going to have the sleek, refined look of most modern AAA games, because that isn't the vibe the developers are going for. But dropping the resolution any lower does muddy the graphics a bit too much for my own preferences. Maybe you'll feel differently. And at the very least you'll be able to enjoy playing the game whenever and wherever you want to.

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How to Run 'Enshrouded' on Steam Deck - Lifehacker

For 11 years, four spin-offs, and more than twenty-five combined seasons, Below Deck has served up standard Bravo fare: glossy, easily digestible episodes of real-life soap opera, filled with characters living enviable lives and behaving in both comic and loathsome ways.

That is not unlike The Real Housewives franchise, though there is a key difference: Aboard the luxury boats that house Below Decks cast, they are actually working.

I dont mean working in a Yes, being a Real Housewives star really is a job! way, though theres that, too. I mean hard, unforgiving work: cleaning toilets, single-handedly prepping and cooking elaborate meals, wiping down the boats exterior, doing endless amounts of laundry, and doing all of this again and again.

The deckhands and stewards, the chiefs and the chef, are laboring day after day, week after week. The editing captures most of the mundane work in brief moments, turning it into a transitional montage, little boxes that just fly by.

The toll of that work gets to them. How many third stews have Below Decks boats gone through, once the third stews learn how much their jobs suck?

It is not unlike being a scullery maid in Manor House, the wonderful real-life Downton Abbey that PBS produced in the early 2000s. Everyday people lived in a house together, taking on roles from the early 1900s. They became upstairs and downstairs, wealthy and poor. The rich demanded, the poor catered to them.

Below Decks cast is also downstairs, where they face similar struggles while working long days to keep the boat running and tending to the needs of frequently demanding, occasionally obnoxious rich people.

The guests pay a discounted price, but act as though they are owed the world.

For one of dozens of examples, there was Timothy Sykes, whose website identifies him as a millionaire penny stock trader. He showed up to a yacht in a black shirt with his name on it, and said, Look, theres our crew to serve us. They are our slaves for the next three days.

This is grotesque entitlement, though Below Deck softens it. The bouncy music that underscores most scenes keeps things light, as do the crew members colorful reactions.

I would rather drag my dick through 10 miles of broken whiskey bottles than have these assholes on my boat again, Captain Lee said about other obnoxious passengers. Bring on more assholes who will prompt another vivid metaphor!

When one group of passengers demanded cigars and proceeded to smoke them backwards, the crew of that boat privately roasted them, finding pleasure in people who may have money, but havent a clue about how to use it.

The injection of humor into contemptible behavior is the common on prestige scripted television shows, such as The White Lotus and Succession, which satirize extreme wealth. The writing in those shows nods to the underclass but centers the rich, finding story arcs and comedy in their petty problems. Those shows arent impossible to watch, however, because they find threads of humanity even in people who treat other people like garbage.

Below Deck is more fearless than these shows, and more daring than its Bravo brethren: Here, the wealthy are mere props, as its well-rounded characters, its stars, are the working class.

Rich passengers may charter the yacht, get blind drunk, and demand the impossible, and their antics get camera time. Yet they are not the focus.

Below Deck is crafty, managing to shovel that drama onto the screen while keeping the focus on how their behavior affects the crew, who are just trying to do their jobs.

This is not a luxurious life, the show reminds us, such as through repeated glimpses into the cramped crew quarters, where two people share a narrow closet of a room with no privacy.

Despite the ever-changing drama from the ever-changing passengers, theres a monotony to the Below Deck crews days. Their hours of work pass in seconds for our benefit, but we still see the toll of exhaustion, with frequent shots of the crew collapsed in their beds. This reality TV show cast is not doing their work for the benefit of cameras.

Below Deck is technically not a formatted reality show, like Chopped or Survivor, but its episodes tend to follow the same beats: guests leave, change clothes, tip meeting, flip the boat, go out and get drunk, new guests, champagne, tour of the boat, cocktails, lunch, water toys, delayed meals, partying all night, breakfast.

This structure echoes the monotony of service industry work, the endlessness of the same tasks. The preference sheets change, but the processes do not. Problems arise, people are fired, and yet nothing changes. The work is the work. The rich always demand more.

Im not conflating these yachties with the working poor, or with, say, servers at restaurants or housekeepers at hotels. Below Decks cast are not only on TV, theyre receiving thousands of dollars in tips every few days.

Nor are their lives always miserable. Not all the guests are monsters; some are downright pleasant, kind, engaging with the crew as people worthy of connecting with. Captains/the producers give the cast time to eat and play. That is not immaterial, but the hard work doesnt abate.

For more than a decade, Below Deck has documentedconcealed inside Bravos airy packagingaspects of this particular service industry, but also of the nature of work itself.

Weve seen differences in leadership from different captains. The laissez-faire, no-nonsense, dont embarrass the boat and dont embarrass yourselves Captain Lee had to take medical leave in season 10, and was replaced by the hands-on, personal growth-focused Captain Sandy, who isnt so much a micromanager as a vigilant hawk. Both approaches have their charms and frustrations for their underlings.

During each season, conflicts must be sorted; the chef and the chief stew must negotiate every meal; the deck crew and stews must get used to hierarchy. Those who fail at their jobs are fired.

There are constant smaller stumbles, such as when higher-ranked crew struggle with how to manage people. Lauren tells her boss, Im being ostracized. Her boss, Hannah, says, Just try not to let it affect you mentally. Ah, problem solved!

The close quarters mean everyone is hooking up with everyone, and the lack of rules or discernment means managers are flirting or sleeping with their subordinates, and the fallout is right there on screen for us.

So is the endless misogyny from the men, both in their personal lives and work. In the industry, men are typically deckhands, women stews. Female deckhands often find themselves excluded or chided, even by those men they outrank. These men just cannot imagine a woman doing their work, thats how special they think they are.

Its hard to watch. Here is a Bravo show, highlighting system sexism in work and relationships, again and again, making sure its audience notices. The crew may be centered, but they are not let off the hook.

Over Below Decks life, there has been some change. Its always had queer representationseason one had a gay deckhand who also did gay pornwhile breakout star and former chief stew Kate Chastain dates men and women, and captain Sandy Yawn is a queer woman. But theres also been a shift over time, as more women work on deck and more men in the cabins.

These crew members are also, of course, stars. This is a whole separate layer, one that illuminates the work of being a reality TV cast member.

The nature of the work on Below Deck means they must have actual experience (Kateactually worked on yachts before the show called). But they have also been castthese are mostly young, mostly white people, all with hot, Instagram-ready bodieswho must deliver what audiences demand in order to be invited back next season.

Below Deck has one other way it centers and celebrates those who do the work, and that is the crew who are filming the boats crew.

Instead of editing around glimpses of the TV production, episodes break the fourth wall frequently enough to remind us that there are more working-class people on the boat: the non-union, freelance members of the production who are usually invisible to us but make our entertainment possible.

And they, too, are framed as both humans and heroic, whether thats when we see a camera operator get hit in the groin by an errant tennis ball or watch as Below Deck Down Under TV show crew members intervened to stop non-consensual contact.

The Below Deck franchise trawls the waters for drama, and finds enough to fill up bingeable episodes, never mind tabloids in need of stories and Andy Cohens cards.

But it always stays anchored in the realities of late-stage capitalism, how we can work day after day, year after year, and never get close to the obscene wealth of those who insist their needs come first.

Below Deck is itself feeding a giant corporation. But that doesnt stop it from making sure we know who the real monsters are.

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Below Deck is Bravo's most subversive show - reality blurred

Summary

The Below Deck season 9 cast was an interesting bunch with a mostly all-new crew, and it's time to find out what they have been up to in 2024. During Below Deck season 8, Eddie Lucas returned, who was the bosun from Below Deck seasons 1 to 3. He left the series after he hooked up with third stew Raquel "Rocky" Dakota while in a relationship. Eddie needed a break from reality TV but was excited to return when he heard Captain Lee Rosbach was eager to have him return to one of the best reality TV shows. It's hard to believe Below Deck season 11 is returning when season 9 seemed so recent.

Eddie and Lee returned for Below Deck season 9, along with Chef Rachel Hargrove from the previous season. While Eddie and Rachel seemed to butt heads during Below Deck season 8, the two tried to get along the next season for the sake of their charter guests and crewmates. Along with the three returning crew members, Below Deck season 9 introduced a cast that included a new batch of stews, deckhands, and a temporary captain.

Cast Member

Position

Lee Rosbach

Captain

Sean Meagher

Temporary Captain

Eddie Lucas

First Officer

Heather Chase

Chief Stew

Rachel Hargrove

Chef

Rayna Lindsay

Deckhand

Fraser Olender

Stew

Jake Foulger

Deckhand

Jessica Albert

Stewardess

Wes O'Dell

Deckhand

After more than two decades of working as a captain, Captain Lee returned to Below Deck season 9, excited to get back out in the Caribbean waters. Once again, he was joined by his old pal Eddie and Chef Rachel, who he has referred to as one of the best chefs he had onboard. Early in the season, Lee admitted to Eddie that he had a health condition and couldn't join him for the first charter. While Eddie was upset about not having Lee onboard, he welcomed a new captain while Captain Lee was absent.

Captain Lee is taking it easy due to health reasons and won't appear in the next season of Below Deck. Captain Sandy Yawn from Below Deck Med was asked to fill in Captain Lees position after his emergency exit last season. Lee did return for the last charter, but Lee was again replaced by Kerry Titheradge from Below Deck Adventure for Below Deck season 11. Despite not returning to the Bravo series, Captain Lee will be hosting a new true-crime series on Oxygen called Deadly Waters. The show will follow murders that take place in the open waters, according to Deadline. The show is currently in production.

Taking over for Captain Lee was Captain Sean Meagher. Sean is a hands-on charter manager who takes his career very seriously. In his eyes, the customer always comes first. According to BravoTV, he began his career in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, but his love of boating started when he was very young. Sean, the new captain of Below Deck season 9, has led many expeditions and was even awarded Boat International's Voyager Award. However, he only appeared for one season.

Captain Sean now hosts a series on YouTube called Dive In With Captain Sean. In some episodes, Captain Sean is joined by special guests such as James Malcolmson, formerly of Robb Report, to discuss topics such as dive watches. Captain Sean is currently a part of the team of Worth Avenue Yachts, where he works as a yacht broker, specializing in expedition vessels and vessels ranging from 50m to 100 m-plus, according to Seans LinkedIn profile.

Eddie was first introduced during Below Deck season 1. Even though he left two seasons later following a hookup gone wrong with Rocky, he decided to return for Below Deck season 8 as the bosun. Eddie has an intensive background in paddling, skiing, and scuba diving, making him a perfect fit for yachting. He worked as a first officer for Below Deck season 9, which gave Eddie a lot more responsibility on his shoulders. Eddie will be coming together with Below Deck Mediterraneans Malia White to host an in-person event called Battle of the Bosuns. Its scheduled for February 2024 in New York.

Heather Chase was the new chief stew onboard during Below Deck season 9. Heather has worked in the yachting industry for several years, which helped perfect her abilities as a chief stew. When it comes to serving guests, Heather expects only five-star service from her crew and isn't afraid to do hard work. Even though Fraser Olender replaced Heather on Below Deck season 10, former chief stew Kate Chastain still gave Heather her stamp of approval. Heather confirmed that she was retiring from yachting via an Instagram post in May 2023. Heather will be spilling the beans about what shes been up to in an upcoming podcast.

Rachel was first introduced during Below Deck season 8, where it was clear her extensive culinary skills allowed her to become a successful chef. Rachel got a lot of backlash from her crewmates when she left and then returned after seeing an outrageous preference sheet for upcoming charter guests. Even though she can be polarizing, Rachel knows how to stand her ground in the galley. Rachel wont be returning to the show as season 10 was her last. Rachel used X (formerly Twitter) to claim that shed hated the show even before she filmed season 8. She also bashed the producers and believes Bravo mistreats Below Deck cast.

Rayna Lindsey was a new deckhand during Below Deck season 9, calling the MySeanna her temporary home. Rayna was a yacht chef as well as a deckhand. She is an advanced scuba diver who profoundly loves the water. It seemed like Rayna would fit right in with the crew. Unfortunately, things did not go well during Rayna's time on Below Deck, and she has since exited the show. Rayna now works as a lash technician and has started a beauty bar company.

Fraser was one of the new stews onboard during Below Deck season 8, joining the cast as the second male stew in the show's history. Fraser worked alongside the other newbies, Heather and Jessica Albert, and continued with the crew after the season ended. Fraser wasn't new to reality TV when he started on Below Deck, as he was once featured on the British reality series Made In Chelsea. He returned to the series as the chief stew for Below Deck season 10.

Fraser is now returning to the role for Below Deck season 11 and broke his number one rule of not hooking up with a charter guest. Fraser is not ready to share his current status with the guest, but he told E! News that he is off the market in 2024 and is in a relationship at the moment. Fans will get to see Fraser again in the new Below Deck season.

Jake Foulger worked as a deckhand during Below Deck season 9. Not much was known about Jake before the show, but he was shown to be a thrill-seeker, even once jumping off the yacht completely naked. Though he did not return to the crew after Below Deck season 9, Jake loves to travel, appreciates tattoos, and spends a lot of time without his clothes. Jake went to London after the show to take care of himself because his then-fianc, Paris, broke off their engagement. Jake has been open about his mental health and is taking steps to improve it.

Jessica was another new stewardess on Below Deck season 9. Before the premiere, she stayed relatively mum about her involvement in the show and did not frequently post online. However, Jessica was well-liked throughout the season, and it was upsetting to see her leave the yacht early. Jessicas return to the franchise is unlikely because she seemingly angered both her cast mates and producers. Her Instagram profile is set to private, confirming she wants to keep her life to herself.

Wes O'Dell was featured as a deckhand and became a true fan favorite. He was dating Below Deck Sailing Yachts Gabriela Barragan in early 2022, but whether they are still together is unclear. According to TheTriton, Wes found the work on Below Deck to be tedious and boring. Most recently, Wes resurrected a 53-foot Gallant built in 1968 by Southern Ocean Shipyard, which he named Nightwind 2. He now runs his own charter company and charters shorter-day cruises. While Below Deck season 9 was the worst, the crew on board still brought guests and viewers a great charter season.

Below Deck season 11 premieres on February 5, 2024, at 9 p.m. on Bravo.

Sources: BravoTV, Deadline, Sean Meagher/LinkedIn, E! News, TheTriton, Rachel Hargrove/X, Rayna Lindsey/Instagram

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Below Deck Season 9 Cast: Where Are They Now? - Screen Rant