Once again, Deadliest Catch is facing rumors and allegations of being staged. The Season 21 premiere was a high-stakes adrenaline rush that saw the fan-favorite fleet of fishing vessels heading west to Adak Island as Captain Jake Anderson’s Titan Explorer experienced a potentially deadly ammonia leak below deck. For years, a faction of fans have hurled accusations that the series is scripted, and while other fans are defending the show’s honor, the loudest voices once again come from the naysayers.
The Reddit thread that started this flurry is titled, “F this fake drama.” Launching into a tirade about the episode being “awful,” the user accuses the show of having “fake” arguments, meetings, and an “oddly performative prayer moment.” They go on to claim they are “done” with the show as producers have “ruined it.” With both positive and negative comments filling the post, other detractors mocked the real-life events not being portrayed accurately. With regard to the Titan Explorer ammonia nightmare, one poster wrote, “They forgot to cough despite the supposedly extreme ammonia leak.” One passionate user wrote:
“These guys are celebrities now. They haven’t been fishermen for at least 10 years. The show used to be about men making a living doing a deadly job out of necessity. None of these guys need to be on that boat now. None of them are there for the job that probably includes most of the deckhands. They’re there because they’re contracted by Discovery and fame.”
It was a strong allegation to make, and it continued as one Redditor took direct aim at Captain Sig Hansen, believing he has too much control: “In my opinion. Sig, being a technical director and associate producer, has allowed him to steer the show in his direction. It’s definitely run its course and we need something to replace it because as sad as it’s become, we’re going to miss it when it’s gone.” Many feel that the series has jumped the shark, and a major reason for this is the novelty of the situation. Leaving Dutch Harbor to explore the largely abandoned and long-undiscovered Adak Island is new, and some even think that the viral crab-catch video that inspired the season to head West might have been faked.
Devoted ‘Deadliest Catch’ Fans are Standing By the Long-Running Discovery Series
While accusations like this aren’t exactly new, Deadliest Catch fans raced to the show’s defense, much like Captain Keith Colburn and the other captains raced to assist Captain Jake during his ordeal. With 20 years on Discovery Channel, Deadliest Catch has been a comfort show for many. This kind of real-life connection is what makes the reality television genre unique. Some of us have had that similarly long relationship with shows like Survivor, and for others, it’s Deadliest Catch.
The reason why the show faces such scrutiny is the same reason why so many flock to the series: Deadliest Catch doesn’t minimize the harrowing adventures seen on screen. These men and women live a life at sea, putting their lives at risk no matter the conditions or danger. The action viewers see sometimes equates only to what you may see in a fictional film. Of course, there may be discourse about its authenticity. While the “scripted” element may revolve around specific storytelling, there’s no “lights, camera, action” to be found. There’s no sound stage; that’s the Bering Sea. Those aren’t squibs; that’s real blood gushing out. Deadliest Catch Season 21 is off to an unbelievable start, and sometimes when something’s so good, you just can’t believe it’s real.
