‘Below Deck Down Under’ Review: A Worthy Addition to This Sea-Faring Franchise

The latest addition to Bravo’s Below Deck franchise is Below Deck Down Under, which premieres on Peacock this Thursday, March 17, with the first three episodes of its inaugural season. The Peacock Original series will take viewers to the Whitsunday Islands region located off the Queensland coast. Comprised of 74 lush isles, this patch of paradise is next to the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, which will no doubt offer amazing views of ocean life and countless aquatic adventures. With a change in location and a (mostly) new crew, Below Deck Down Under provides fresh adventures amid the gorgeous surroundings and decadent luxury that audiences so enjoy.

Leading our intrepid crew of yachties on board the Thalassa is Captain Jason Chambers, an Aussie and a self-proclaimed “thrill seeker” who is as handsome as he is capable. Not afraid to get down and dirty, Captain Jason is a true team player who is as willing to wipe down a table with microfiber as he is to man the helm of the 43M super yacht. The youngest Captain in franchise history, Captain Jason wants his team to work hard and play hard, encouraging them in the first episode to get into the water when the guests are off the boat while adding that they should be wary of “shark feeding time.”

Joining Captain Jason is everyone’s favorite New Zealander Aesha (from Below Deck Med fame) who is trying her hand at being a Chief Stew for the first time in her yachting career. She’s the same Aesha audiences know and love: hard-working, vulgar, kind and more than a little quirky. As audiences have seen in the super teaser, she is headed for a clash with Chef Ryan, a head-strong Philadelphian native who brings an authoritative energy to the galley. The other department head is hunky Aussie police-officer-turned-bosun Jamie who, like Aesha, is new to his position this year. From the start, it’s clear Jamie will have to relax his rigid leadership tactics to get the best from his deckhands.

Aesha’s interior team consists of the South African Tumi, a proficient stew, who is looking for love when she’s not doing her job, and Polish model Magda who is new to yachting but eager to buckle down while having a good time. Let’s hope her boyfriend back home doesn’t get in the way. Jamie’s deck team consists of two Yanks—the playful and jacked Culver, and the fun-loving yogi Brittini—and another Aussie who goes by Benny. Still reeling from the recent deaths of his parents, Benny is looking for adventure and a good time, which will no doubt cause him to butt heads with Jamie later in season.

With her trademark bluntness, Aesha remarks in the premiere episode: “Such a good-looking crew. Honestly, no one’s ugly.” She’s not wrong! It’s clear from the beginning that these yachties are hot to trot and will certainly be flirting and partying up a storm as soon as the charter guests step off the boat. Even though it’s an all-new franchise, Below Deck Down Under still delivers the same great drama you know and love. In the first episode alone, we get glimpses of picky guests, interdepartmental turmoil, and yacht malfunctions that will threaten to spoil everyone’s good time. While it stays close to the proven format, Below Deck Down Under is a more than worthy addition to the Below Deck franchise. Anchors away!

Where to stream Below Deck Down Under