Below Deck Mediterraneanhas endured a messy charter season so far, but Gael Cameron is the real villain of the season. Gael is a female deckhand amid a male-dominated deck crew, and she’s had chemistry with Nathan Gallagher since the first charter. However, Gael had a boyfriend when the season began, and their relationship gradually eroded as her connection with Nathan grew. While it’s natural for boatmances to occur,Gael has more villain vibesthan she may have initially let on inBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9.
Gael’s breakup with her boyfrienddefinitely changed her trajectory on the show. Almost immediately, she and Nathan began seeing each other. However, other dramatic moments have overshadowed Gael’s situation. Chef Jono Shillingford nearly killed a guest on a recent episode ofBelow Deck Mediterraneanwhen he served raw seafood, with Captain Sandy Yawn calling his mistake a “firable offense.” Additionally, Bri Muller still can’t seem to figure out how to do the laundry. However, here’s why Gael is the secretBelow Deck Mediterranean season 9 villain.
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She Should Have Kept Things Professional
Gael flirted with Nathanfrom the beginning of the charter season even though she had a boyfriend. While their attraction was clear,Gael had the opportunity to draw boundaries with Nathan. Instead, she chose to reciprocate his advances and fell for him. She claimed her boyfriend was bad at long-distance relationships, but she also chose not to put in the effort to keep him around. What makes her behavior more villainous is the apparent lack of remorse or consideration for the consequences of her actions. Instead of being upfront with Nathan about her situation or maintaining a professional relationship, she chose to engage in a flirtation that was bound to cause drama and hurt her now ex-boyfriend’s feelings. Her actions suggest a manipulative side, where she seeks validation or excitement, making her come across as selfish and insincere.
Gael should’ve broken up with her boyfriend before pursuing an onscreen relationship with Nathan, but she didn’t.
7Gael Always Talked Poorly Behind Iain’s Back
She Doesn’t Respect His Authority
Gael frequently expressed frustration with Bosun Iain Maclean behind his back onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9. In confessionals, Gael pointed out that Iain often struggled with taking accountability, frequently shifting blame rather than admitting his own mistakes. For example, Gael mentioned that Iain’s poor communication skills left the team to operate without much guidance, forcing them to be self-sufficient.
While this was true, she never approached him personally, choosing instead to talk behind his back. Additionally, Gael criticized Iain for not properly planning or managing tasks, forcing her and her fellow deckhands, Joe and Nathan, to scramble to save the day. Additionally, she almost let Nathan take the blame for one of her mistakes, eventually admitting fault to Captain Sandy. These incidents highlighted the ongoing tension and dissatisfaction among the deck crew regarding Iain’s leadership style, butGael’s treatment of Iain could be indicative of her villainous nature.
6Gael Seemingly Broke Up With Her Ex For Nathan
She Moved On Too Quickly
While love can be messy, Gael seemingly broke up with her ex to be with Nathan. Gael initially joined the crew in a long-distance relationship, but as she spent more time with Nathan, their chemistry was undeniable. Gael could have drawn boundaries, but she chose to get closer to Nathan, eventually eroding her relationship. Throughout the season, Gael and Nathan grew closer, with their flirtatious banter and physical attraction becoming undeniable. Gael’s relationship status became a point of discussion among the crew, with Chief Stew Aesha Scott even asking pointed questions. Eventually,Gael decided to end things with her boyfriend and immediately started hooking up with Nathan. Villainous Gael had her sights set on Nathan from the beginning, andGael’s breakup was influencedby their closeness on the yacht.
She Justified The Cheating
Despite obviously cheating on her boyfriend with Nathan, Gael consistently downplays her bad behavior. Throughout the season, Gael was constantly flirting with Nathan, and their relationship quickly escalated. Even though she was still dating her ex at the time, Gael pursued Nathan, leading to a drunken makeout session between the deckhands. When the situation came up in conversations,Gael often tried to justify her actionsby saying that her relationship with her ex was already on the rocks or that he was bad at communication. Her flippant attitude towards cheating portrayed her as someone unwilling to take responsibility for her actions. Instead of acknowledging the hurt she might have caused her ex-boyfriend, Gael focused on downplaying the significance of her relationship with Nathan. She treated the situation as something casual and inconsequential despite the downfall of her relationship.
Gael successfully downplayed her actions on the show, with the crew immediately accepting her relationship with Nathan.
4Gael Moved On From Her Ex Too Quickly
Nathan Could Be A Rebound
Gael’s boyfriend broke up with her through text, and she immediately jumped into a relationship with Nathan, with whom she had already been emotionally cheating on her ex-boyfriend. Rather than taking the time to process her emotions, she became a serial monogamist by engaging in a boatmance with Nathan. Nathan could be a rebound for Gael, but the deckhand has fallen headfirst for his coworker. Overall,Gael’s behavior is self-serving, as she seems more focused on filling the void left by her ex rather than genuinely building a connection with Nathan. On the other hand, Nathan is completely smitten with Gael, even saying he would lay across a puddle so she could cross. Her willingness to quickly move on without considering the emotional fallout for herself or Nathan could suggest villain vibes for the seemingly sweet deckhand.
Nathan deserves better than being Gael’s rebound and boatmance, and she could easily break his heart.
3Gael Never Really Hung Out With Ellie Or Bri, Just Aesha
Is She Not A “Girl’s Girl”?
Gael’s reticence at hanging out with the women onBelow Deck Mediterraneancould be an indication of mean girl vibes. She seems to get along fine with Aesha, but she still avoids the women and prefers to spend time with Nathan, Joe, and Iain. By choosing not to hang out with the girls, Gael could be suggesting that she sees herself as different or above the others, which is often a trait associated with “mean girls.”
Gael has also been critical ofBri and Elena “Ellie” Dubaich’s feudover Joe, blaming each of them for their behavior. She’s been a little softer on Joe, who remains at the center of the conflict. A key aspect of being a “girls' girl” is supporting and uplifting other women, but Gael doesn’t do that. By not forming relationships with Bri and Ellie, Gael isn’t participating in female solidarity, important in a male-dominated industry.
2Gael Is Flaunting Her New Relationship With Nathan On TV
The PDA Is Constant
Gael could’ve shown a shred of regret or discretion after breaking up with her boyfriend and essentially shacking up with Nathan on reality TV, but she’s actively flaunting the new relationship, further proof of her villainy. Gael’s open display of affection for Nathan is insensitive, especially given the nature of her breakup. Gael and Nathan are constantly caught on camera making out or eschewing their duties for a private moment together.
By openly flaunting her relationship,Gael is deliberately stirring up drama, a classical trope for reality TV villains. She’s been manipulative in how she’s handled her breakup and subsequent romance with Nathan, as Gael managed to center herself as the victim while also being the perpetrator. It will be difficult for Gael to explain herself and avoid blame for her entire cheating scandal unfolding weekly on Bravo. She and Nathan are sweet, but he’s likely a rebound.
1Gael Cheated On Her Boyfriend Before She Ended The Relationship
She Should’ve Broken Up With Him Sooner
WhileGaeltried to make her ex-boyfriend look like the bad guy, the truth is that Gael cheated on him to be with Nathan. Before joining the show, Gael was in a serious relationship with her now ex-boyfriend. The chemistry between Gael and Nathan was undeniable, and it didn’t take long for Gael to ditch her ex-boyfriend for Nathan. They first kissed while Gael was still technically involved with her boyfriend back home. Eventually, this led to a messy situation where Gael ended up splitting with her boyfriend.
Gael hasn’t been nearly as dramatic as other cast members onBelow Deck Mediterraneanseason 9, but she’s still the season’s real villain. She broke up with her boyfriend after cheating on him with Nathan, and while Nathan has fallen for Gael, he might be a rebound for her. She’s been the secret villain all along.
Below Deck Mediterraneanairs Mondays at 9 p.m. EDT on Bravo and airs the next day on Peacock.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Cast
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.
