Below Deckseason 12 is full of electric personalities, but the unexpected star of the premiere episode was Chef Lawrence Snowden. Lawrence became a born-again Christian following past struggles with mental health and addiction. He joinedCaptain Kerry Titheradge’s crew with fifteen years of culinary experience under his belt, and his penchant for quoting bible verses seemed to steady him during times of stress. However, just moments into his first episode,Lawrence began bucklingunder the pressure of filming.
Lawrence broke the fourth wall early in the episode,asking the production crew to pause filmingwhile he worked his way around the cramped galley. He soon realized his mistake, but a disastrous first dinner service sent Lawrence spiraling. After a sleepless night, Lawrence unleashed his fury at the film crew. While an overwhelmed chef is nothing new toBelow Deck, Lawrence’s tirade was memorable because of the anger he directed at production mere hours into the first charter of the season. As brutal as the scene was, it felt unquestionably authentic, something I hope we see more of.
Below Deck Has Historically Been “Strict” About Not Breaking The Fourth Wall
The Film Crew Rarely Appears On-Camera
In its twelve years on the air across numerous spinoffs, theBelow Deckfranchise has only broken the fourth wall a handful of times. Most have been in situations where the crew’s safety was threatened, such as duringan attempted sexual assault onBelow Deck Down Under, or Ashton Pienaar’s near-fatal accident onBelow Deckseason 6. For the most part, the presence of cameras and the film crew are ignored.
Below Deck Sailing YachtChief Stew Daisy KellihertoldThe Mirrorthat Bravo has “super strict rules not to break the fourth wall.” She added that cast members are prevented from even learning the film crew’s names.
“Below Deck wants to be fully unscripted and they want the camera crew to remain anonymous and as if they’re not there. They want you to forget about the cameras.”
Daisy stressed that the show is entirely self-produced, with cameras merely capturing the chaos that naturally ensues aboard yachts.
Lawrence’s Rant Highlighted The Conditions Aboard The Yacht
Filming Adds Incredible Stress
While Lawrence’s rant seemed outlandish so early in the season, I can see how the situation escalated quickly.Lawrence has extensive experience as a chef, particularly on yachts, which tells me that the root of his frustration went beyond the small, malfunctioning kitchen space. The cameras made him feel like he was under a microscope, and I could practically feel his insecurity growing with each mistake.
Daisy admitted that the conditions on board exacerbate existing tensions, especially once cameras are factored in. She commented that “in the show, you’re never given space to have private arguments,” citing the requirement to participate in filming while “living in a bubble.” Because of this, alongside the long hours and heavy workload, emotions aboard the yachts are unusually high.
All these factors are what made Lawrence’s outburst feel like the most authentic part of theBelow Deckseason 12 premiere. It’s unrealistic to subject crew members to the added pressures of filming but not allow them to express how that impacts their experience.
Lawrence brought to light the frustration and lack of control he felt while filming, and I’m sure that’s something many otherBelow Deckyachties have experienced.
Will This Become A Common Trend In The Franchise?
I Hope To See More Genuine Interactions With The Film Crew
Below Deckseason 12 introduced several experimental techniques that suggest producers are ready to shake things up. The cast met for drinks prior to beginning the charter season, giving some context to their relationships and showing a more relaxed side to their personalities.Captain Kerry changed the format of the preference sheet meeting, allowing the department heads to sort through guest requests with their own teams. These changes give me hope that breaking the fourth wall is another new production tactic that will become a more regular occurrence.
I don’t expectBelow Deckto suddenly reverse its stance on breaking the fourth wall across the board, but I think it’s incredibly important in situations like this. Viewers know cameras and a film crew are present, soacknowledging them where applicable doesn’t detract from the viewing experience. When the emotions of a crew member are directly related to the presence of cameras, it’s essential to portray that experience honestly.
