Below Deck Mediterranean is turning up the heat as it welcomes back its most notorious guest.
For those catching up, the 11th season of the Below Deck series is off to a fiery beginning. Last week’s episode, the third of the season titled “Guestzilla on Board,” kicked off the second charter featuring Johnny Damon, a former MLB star, and his wife, Michelle. This isn’t the Damons’ first rodeo on the show; they previously graced the yacht in Seasons 4 and 5.
However, this time around, the Damons introduced a new companion, which proved to be a significant misstep.
Enter Josef Rettman, the so-called friend who certainly made a splash. While we’ve already detailed Josef’s antics from the last episode, nothing beats seeing his boisterous, inebriated exploits for yourself. His behavior has placed the crew on edge, leaving even Captain Sandy Yawn apprehensive about his influence. This is reality TV at its finest!
The episode concluded with heightened tensions between Josef and Bosun Nathan Gallagher. As Nathan stood watch on the bridge, Josef stormed in, seemingly itching for confrontation. It was the perfect cliffhanger moment.
Dying to know what happened with Josef and Nathan? Did Nathan heed Captain Sandy’s sage advice? Did Josef get kicked off the boat? We’re here to break down everything that happened with Josef on this week’s episode of Below Deck Mediterranean.
So… did Nathan fight Josef?
Fortunately (or unfortunately), no. Nathan did a fantastic job keeping his cool as Josef went on a drunken rant, telling him:”I don’t like you, but I respect you.” Josef then proceeded to challenge Nathan to arm wrestle, which Nathan politely declined. Following that uncomfortable conversation, Josef ordered another margarita and started to trauma dump on Nathan.
There was no topic off limits for Josef. He discussed his past financial woes, shared his experience seeing U2 fly in on a helicopter, made more misogynistic comments (not surprising), and, finally, graphically recounted a weird sexual encounter, proudly stating, “I’ve had, like, six girls pee on me at once.” Too much information, Josef. Despite it all, Nathan handled the entire situation with grace, and he ends his shift unscathed.
When Cooper took over watch duty from Nathan at 2:59 a.m., Josef blurted out that his father passed when he was just 14 years old. What followed was an excruciating moment of silence as Cooper was too stunned to speak. Perhaps sensing the awkwardness, Josef finally excused himself to go to bed. However, that moment of vulnerability served as a reminder to viewers why Josef is so terrible: Hurt people hurt people.
In the morning, Josef couldn’t stop raving to Captain Sandy about how he and Nathan were able to have a heart-to-heart. We’re not sure if that’s how Nathan would describe their conversation, but it’s better than more unwanted arm wrestle requests! Now that Josef found a new appreciation for life after his conversation with Nathan, his spirits remained high for the rest of the charter. After hearing he and his fellow passengers would be visiting a nearby world-famous oyster farm, Josef states: “I’m recently-divorced. The world is my oyster.” It appeared that overnight, Josef had become an optimist.
After those first ten minutes, the episode shifted its focus away from Josef. If you’re here to hate-watch Josef, don’t worry—he had plenty of camera time throughout the remainder of the episode. Right before their departure, Josef asked the crew an awkward question. “Do you think there’s any chance that my girl is coming back?”
Josef, I can answer that for you. She’s not coming back.
In the end, Josef exclaimed, “I’m gonna add $15,000 to whatever the tip is” right before he and his “friends” depart. Before they go their separate ways, Josef made sure to snap a photo of Nathan. I guess it’s safe to say Josef never wants to forget this experience. Luckily, Josef can rewatch his drunk behavior on the yacht for the rest of time, thanks to Peacock.
In the end, the hefty $50,000 tip was the crew’s well-earned reward for dealing with a guest as difficult as Josef. As Captain Sandy said, “Yachting is a business. You’re always gonna have the Josefs. When they’re rude and obnoxious, you have to diffuse.”
Where to watch Below Deck Med:
You can watch Below Deck Mediterranean streaming on Peacock.
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