Below Deck Mediterranean season 8 featured some entertaining crew members who’d be a great fit for season 9. The Bravo show featuring Captain Sandy Yawn has been thoroughly entertaining since its premiere in 2016. However, season 8 was significantly different, featuring mostly a new cast and many unexpected adventures. Below Deck Med season 8 premiered in September 2023, with several returning cast members. The two crew members who returned were Kyle Viljoen and Natalya Scudder from Below Deck Med season 7.
Captain Sandy obviously made her return to the show again for her seventh season. However, these returning crew members weren’t the only familiar faces. Tumi Mhlongo and Luka Brunton were two other familiar faces. Below Deck fans will remember Tumi from Below Deck Down Under season 1, where she was the second stew. As for Luka, he was a late addition deckhand from Below Deck Down Under season 2.
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10 Brooke Boney
Brooke Featured In Two Episodes Of Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8
While a few cast members won’t return in Below Deck Med season 9, some should. One season 9 alum who should return is Brooke Boney, the former temp stew. Below Deck rarely features temporary crew members, but Brooke was needed after Kyle and Tumi were stuck in customs ahead of the first charter. She was a part-time stewardess on the show and stayed for only the first two episodes. Brooke had a lot of potential left unexplored due to her exit. Despite being temporary, she seemed like a great fit for the series due to her interesting family background. If Brooke returns in season 9, she could be a perfect addition.
9 Haleigh Gorman
Haleigh Has An Interesting Personality
Similar to Brooke, Haleigh Gorman didn’t get much screen time. She debuted on the series as a deckhand with over ten years of experience. Haleigh seemed like a great addition to Below Deck Mediterranean’s crew. However, she never got the opportunity to shine because she was rarely involved in the main storyline. Haleigh was humorous and quick-witted in season 8. She could add a lot to the series if Bravo casts her again for next season.
8 Lily Davison
Lily Joined Below Deck Mediterranean Season 8 Too Late
Lily Davison also faced the same fate as Haleigh on Below Deck Med season 8, although for very different reasons. Unlike others, the United Kingdom native debuted in the series in the last few episodes. Lily joined the Below Deck Med crew in episode 10 and quickly got used to her job. Lily deserves another chance to showcase her full personality. Bravo can cast her for season 9, as she may have a great story to tell and surprise viewers with her chemistry with other cast members.
7 Lara Du Preez
Lara Is Great At Her Job
Lara Du Preez is one cast member who definitely deserves to be on Below Deck Med season 9. Not only was she entertaining and funny, but she was also an excellent worker and good at her job. Lara was the breakout star in season 8, as she had the perfect attitude to be on Captain Sandy’s yacht. She also knew what she was doing on the deck, unlike other crew members who got promoted and had no idea how to handle the work. Lara’s great sense of humor and the fact that she comes from a dynamic background made her stand out.
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6 Max Salvador
Max’s Antics Could Make The Next Season More Entertaining
French people are known for their unique sense of cuisine, fashion, and romance. However, Max Salvador broke the stereotypes by showing he’s the opposite. Max seemed like a big red flag when he joined Below Deck Med. He revealed that he had lost many jobs over the years. Max was funny and offered comic relief throughout season 8. However, he was also a bit of a liar, as Captain Sandy caught him complaining about the food when there was enough for him. However, Max still deserves a chance, as he’s a perfect mix of good and bad, which makes for an entertaining Below Deck crew member.
5 Captain Sandy Yawn
Captain Sandy Is The Backbone Of Below Deck Mediterranean
Below Deck Med’s crew always changes, but Captain Sandy has remained the captain for the last seven seasons. It’s extremely hard to imagine Below Deck Med without Sandy, as she’s the heart and soul of the show, who has kept viewers hooked through so many years. In season 8, Captain Sandy had a major arm injury, which can be severe, but she emerged stronger and quickly recovered from her condition. In the last few years, Bravo has cast some new captains. However, Sandy is someone they should probably keep for as long as they can, as she’s irreplaceable.
4 Kyle Viljoen
Kyle Deserves A Chance To Redeem Himself
Fans have had a love-and-hate relationship with Kyle over the last two years. Initially, the South African native was liked because he was confident in his sexuality and was central to the drama. However, things changed when he began showing toxic behavior and pitting his friends against each other for his amusement. In Below Deck Med season 8, Kyle instigated many issues between Tumi and Natalya, so much so that the latter quit Below Deck Med. He got a formal warning from the captain but still didn’t fix his attitude. Kyle is the “drama queen” but still deserves a chance to redeem his image.
3 Natalya Scudder
Natalya’s Story Should End In A Better Way
Natalya also deserves a chance to return to Captain Sandy’s yacht again. While she left the show to focus on her mental health amid a toxic work environment, she may like being around a brand-new crew for Below Deck Med season 9. Natalya has a great personality and is always the center of drama. She’s bold, and viewers love her feuding with others and coming up with entertaining responses. Natalya didn’t get the ending she should’ve received on Below Deck Med season 8, so it would be great if she returned and concluded her journey on a better note.
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2 Luka Brunton
Luka Could Perform Much Better As A Bosun In Season 9
Luka Brunton has had a strange journey in the Below Deck franchise. Initially, the deckhand was well-liked on Below Deck Down Under season 2. Unfortunately, things weren’t the same for Luka in Below Deck Med season 8, as he looked lost and didn’t know how to handle his new job as a bosun. Luka also had trouble after Captain Sandy gave him the big promotion. He inadvertently caused Captain Sandy to injure her arm, used Jessika Asai, and drastically ruined his image. Nonetheless, Luka’s an interesting character who deserves another chance on season 9.
1 Tumi Mhlongo
Tumi Could Become A Better Co-Worker In Season 9
Tumi also needs to return to Below Deck Med. She had a rough start to season 8 because of her first argument with Natalya. She got off on the wrong foot with her co-worker and had to navigate the rivalry until Natalya eventually left the show. Since it was Tumi’s first time being the chief stew, she made many errors, but luckily, she learned from them. Tumi deserves another chance as chief stew because she was an excellent addition to Below Deck Med season 8.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Below Deck Mediterranean is a Bravo reality television series that follows a crew that works aboard a gigantic superyacht during the busy season. The show highlights the challenges of the crew as they serve their high-end clientele. Each season tackles new locations, such as Greece, Croatia, Italy, and France, with some repeating.
