‘Below Deck’: Fans Think Season 8’s Izzy Resembles This ‘Below Deck Med’ Cast Member
Below Deck season 8 premiered on Nov. 2, and fans already have thoughts about this season’s crew. Familiar face Kate Chastain has left the show, and her replacement, Francesca Rubi, has received positive reviews from viewers so far.
Fans likened Rubi to Hannah Ferrier, but there’s another yachtie who is giving fans major Below Deck Med vibes: Izzy Wouters.
‘Below Deck’ season 8 promises just as much drama as any other
Though traveling isn’t much of an option amidst the pandemic, Bravo fans can fantasize about Caribbean waters through the newest season of Below Deck, which has headed back to the Caribbean island of Antigua. The show opened without fan-favorite Kate Chastain, who announced after the season 7 finale that she would not be returning to the show.
There wasn’t much drama in the show’s first episode, but the previews toward the end suggest things will heat up later in the season. The yacht’s chef, Rachel, appears to quit at one point, and Captain Lee threatens to fire at least one crew member, though it’s unclear who is on the chopping block. The show also touches on the coronavirus, and fans will learn how it impacts the crew’s charter season.
Fans are convinced Izzy is ‘the new Aesha’
Izzy joined the season 8 cast as a stew on the yacht, and it didn’t take long for her no-filter personality to remind fans of former Below Deck Med cast member Aesha. Fans took to Reddit to discuss the similarities between Izzy and Aesha, though fans made it clear that they already prefer Aesha to the new stew.
“Having Izzy is like when you ordered an Aesha from Amazon, but Izzy is what you end up with instead,” one user wrote. “Izzy is just not funny, there is and only ever will be one Aesha!” another person added. “Izzy is definitely the budget version of Aesha,” someone else wrote.
Others stood up for Izzy, though, reminding fans that the season is only one episode deep. “… You guys are just looking for anything to complain about. It’s episode 1 relax, surprise surprise Aesha is not the only one with that kind of personality,” one user wrote.
‘Below Deck’ season 8 only brought back one familiar face
Fans were shocked and upset to learn that Kate Chastain is no longer appearing on the show. The chief stew worked alongside Captain Lee for six years, but she announced earlier this year that season 7 would be her last. Eddie Lucas, Captain Lee’s Bosun, is actually the one familiar face fans recognize on the new season. Lucas worked under Captain Lee during season 3 of Below Deck, where he infamously cheated on his girlfriend with Rocky Dakota, the boat’s third stew.
Though Chastain will be missed on the show, mostly fresh faces on the boat might be just what this new season needs.
