Chef Rachel Calls ‘Below Deck’ Season 9 ‘Disappointing’

Below Deck Season 9 crew member Chef Rachel Hargrove admitted that Season 9 was a disappointment. She said that being on board the My Seanna was more “fun” than it came across on screen. As usual, there was high stakes drama and even higher tensions for much of the charter season. Most of the focus was on chief stew Heather Chase, who said the n-word at the beginning of the season.

The Season 9 reunion special is underway. It’s expected to focus on that incident. There are also burning questions as to how the crew members are doing today and whether they are still speaking to one another.

Below Deck Season 9 crew had more fun than it looked

The Below Deck star made an appearance on the Escape to Reality podcast. She said that the crew had more fun than it looked. When she looked back on the season, she realized that most of the fun times that she had with the crew didn’t make it on air. The producers focused on the drama instead.

She said that the crew actually had fun this season. Rachel addressed the reactions that viewers had to this season. Most of them were about Heather’s n-word scandal and her work ethic. However, Rachel claims that she had a good time working with Heather in the galley.

Heather said the n-word multiple times during a drunken night out. Unfortunately, deckhand Rayna Lindsey had to witness that moment. The main storyline was about how she worked through her emotions with what Heather said. She previously apologized, but Rayna found her apology fake. The Below Deck Season 9 reunion showed Heather on her knees begging for forgiveness from Rayna.

Rachel addressed the reaction to the controversy. But, she claims that so much more happened than what was shown. Maybe there was more to the story? However, Rachel claims there was a lot of fun happening on the yacht.

“That, unfortunately, is disappointing because we actually did have fun,” she said. “We had games. There was a lot of stuff going on. And it was a lot of things that were going on.”

Chef Rachel addressed the onboard tension

She also admitted there was much tension as there was fun. At the end of Below Deck Season 9, most of the crew members were tired and fed up with one another. Despite their feelings at the time, Rachel says some of their best moments weren’t shown. For example, she formed a bond with deckhand Wes O’Dell.

“But there was also a lot of camaraderie that went on too,” Rachel continued. “Wes is so funny. Like, absolutely hilarious, very intelligent guy.”

The returning crew member bonded with most of the Below Deck crew. Rachel became good friends with stew Fraser Olender. She called him “posh” and “very funny.” She feels this season was better than Season 5 of Below Deck.

“Everyone did a great job,” she explained. “And the season is quite short I think in comparison to Season 5? But I’d say it was happy. And maybe something that transpired because of certain situations that had developed while filming. You know, and trying to show sensitivity to certain things, which is understandable.”

Rachel also enjoyed working with Rayna in the galley. She exclaimed that she always wanted someone on her level like that. On the show, Rayna praised Rachel and said she loved working with her. It was one of the highlights of her charter season.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree that Below Deck Season 9 is better than Season 5? Or, do you think it’s the worst season yet? Sound off below in the comment section.

The Below Deck Season 9 reunion special airs Monday, February 7 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.