Watch What Crappens – Episode #3088: "Below Deck Med S10E09 Part 2: Good Ol’ Unreliable Nathan"

Podcast Hosts: Ben Mandelker & Ronnie Karam
Original Air Date: November 25, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is the second part of a two-part recap focusing on Below Deck Mediterranean Season 10, Episode 9, humorously subtitled "Good Ol’ Unreliable Nathan." Ben and Ronnie dissect the drama and absurdities from the episode, especially the challenges faced by the deck crew, the quirky guest requests, and the ongoing interpersonal dramas among the crew. Their recap blends sharp Bravo-satire, musical theater bits, and signature affectionate mockery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preference Sheet Comedy & The Guest Lineup

• Theme: The co-primaries, Camille and Patricia-with-a-J (as the hosts joke, "Where’s the J?"), are celebrating their 20th anniversary and have a friend group that Ben declares sounds "like a murder mystery" (02:05).
• Itinerary Requests: The guests' elaborate requests include water toys “out within five minutes,” a “Cleopatra and Marc Anthony” themed party, and “intense seafoods from Barcelona”:
  • "[The guests want] a romantic party set in ancient times, like Cleopatra and Marc Anthony. Do you know what happened in that relationship?" – Ben (03:09)
  • Ronnie and Ben riff on “out-of-the-box” Spanish food themes and costume party ideas, with running gags about ayahuasca trips and naked rose petal portraits (04:13).

2. Deck Crew and Management Drama

• Nathan Under Pressure: The hosts revisit Nathan's struggles despite having a better deck crew, with Captain Sandy laying down “big expectations” and threatening comically dire consequences if windows aren’t spotless (05:15, 05:46).
• Quote:
  • “If I see a streak on this window, then you all will be sleeping for the next eight hours or so, as mandated by the employee handbook.” – Ronnie as Captain Sandy (05:46)

3. Troublesome Guests and “Servant” Shenanigans

• Imran, the standout “problematic” guest, immediately demands towels, laundry service, and repeatedly refers to the crew as “servants,” much to everyone’s annoyance (08:11–10:28).
• Kizzy reacts to washing Imran’s smelly laundry—“Which I loved for Imran, because he's gonna come on here and be a jerk, and everyone hates him, and he's smelly.” – Ben (09:48)
• The guest group otherwise seems normal; Imran’s behavior stands out as crossing boundaries of decency.

4. Boat Drama: Choppy Seas & Sideways Docking

• With dramatic weather, the boat can’t leave the marina, and docking must be done “sideways,” sending Nathan into a stressed spiral.
• Ben and Ronnie riff into a musical-theater style parody, weaving in lyrics from "Into the Woods," poking at the chaos:
  • “It’s the last midnight, last curse.” – Ben & Ronnie, singing (06:07–06:13)
  • "Normally. Normally. Why can't you be normal? Normally?" – Ben, in a wordplay spiral (14:12)
• V expresses her anxiety about docking in front of Joe, with the hosts lampooning the recurring deckhand romance drama (14:12–15:01).

5. Ancient Greece Theme Dinner & Crew Tensions

• The crew preps a “luxury Ancient Greece dinner.”
• Josh, the chef, reflects on cooking grape leaves and references his hometown of Bath, England, in a roundabout way.
• Kathy tries to shake Kizzy out of her funk, but Kizzy stews in her feelings of isolation and lack of male attention.

6. Kizzy’s Melancholy & Seeking Validation

• A significant segment focuses on Kizzy’s low morale and her feelings of being sidelined since Kathy got together with Max:
  • “You’d like to be the center of attention, and I’m not right now.” – Josh, psychoanalyzing Kizzy (31:24)
• The hosts reflect on how attention-seeking is a dead end for self-worth, leading to a tangent about aging, therapy, and personal growth.
• “She’s filling a cup that has a hole in it.” – Kerry, on Kizzy’s endless validation needs (32:12)

7. Crew Performance and Leadership Critiques

• The morning after, Sandy orders all toys out and berates the crew for minor mistakes (anchor, lines, etc.).
• Max is caught letting a guest drive the tender, prompting a furious response from Captain Sandy:
  • “Get Max back to the boat right now, you dumb fuck.” – Ben as Captain Sandy (37:48)
• Nathan continues to flounder, reinforcing the episode’s theme—his unreliability.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Where's the J? I'll let you figure that one out." – Ronnie riffing on the guest’s name, Patricia-with-a-J (02:05)
• "We're not a floating trailer park. Geez, this guy over here." – Captain Sandy (as voiced by Ronnie) admonishing Nathan’s fender habits (11:11)
• "No, it's not [OK to be grumpy]. I need full energy. Okay, Happy to shammy. Happy to shammy." – Kathy bantering with Kizzy (28:41)
• “He's not doing so great. So now’s water toy time…and Imran asks Max if he can drive the tender. And Max is like, ‘Yes, of course you can do it.’ You should do it. Enjoy.” – Ben (36:08)
• “I need a boson, not a bro-son.” – Captain Sandy wordplay (37:19)
• “You can't let the guest drive the tender! Why is he over there? Get your fucking shit together on deck. Nathan, you understand this isn't a free for all. I'm now pissed. Get Max back to the boat.” – Kerry as Captain Sandy (38:11)

Key Timestamps

• 01:09 – Recap transition; start of episode content
• 02:05 – Preference sheet meeting and co-primary guest rundown
• 05:15 – Captain Sandy sets expectations for Nathan and crew
• 08:11 – Guests arrive; Imran immediately demands service
• 14:12 – Wordplay breakdown about docking and “normal”
• 15:01–18:28 – Sideways docking drama and crew tension
• 24:19 – Prepping for Ancient Greece dinner
• 28:41 – Kathy tries to pep up a sulking Kizzy
• 31:24–32:44 – Reflection on Kizzy's self-esteem and validation issues
• 36:08–37:48 – Water toys, tender chaos, and Captain Sandy’s crackdown

Notable Running Gags & Creative Tangents

• Musical Parodies: Frequent “Into the Woods” lyrical references (e.g., “Last Midnight,” “It Takes Two”), used to mock or underscore crew drama.
• Naming Jokes: Extended banter on “Where’s the J?” and the faux-mystery guest list.
• Bravo Crossovers: Callbacks to other Bravo personalities, especially Ramona Singer’s “servant” reference and Erika Jayne’s quote.
• Therapy & Aging: Tangential but heartfelt discussion about seeking validation, personal growth, and how aging or therapy can help with self-worth.

Tone & Style

• Language: Irreverent, self-aware, and deeply sarcastic, yet occasionally earnest—reflective of Ben and Ronnie’s affectionate but biting approach to all things Bravo.
• Format: Fluid mix of recap, character voices, absurd joke tangents, and relatable commentary about reality TV psychology.

Final Thoughts

This episode contrasted the dysfunction and drama onboard with the podcasters’ trademark comedic dissection. “Unreliable Nathan” is both a literal episode theme and a springboard for musing on leadership, work dynamics, and the farcical behavior of both guests and crew. Ben and Ronnie’s banter, musical theater riffs, and moments of real-life reflection create a recap as entertaining as the show they're skewering.

For listeners, this summary delivers the drama, laughs, and empathy at the show's core, providing all the highlights and context—no need to have heard the original to savor the absurdity!