I’m not really a big reality show person (except I did get really into the first 4 seasons of Selling Sunset) but I want your best pitch of Below Deck, or really any other reality show. Sell me on it.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING. I've never watched Selling Sunset! Should I? I'm more tuned into the Bravo-verse, and Below Deck was absolutely the gateway reality show that got me there.
I think reality shows fall into a few different categories: existing friend group drama, strangers thrown together drama, and workplace drama. Below Deck combines all three. You're not just watching the rich yacht guests be ridiculous, you're also watching the crew while they live together on the yacht and deal with the ridiculous rich guests. Real upstairs/downstairs vibes. When the franchise first started, a lot of the crew were actual yachties who respected the business and really lived that life, but as it's gone on, more and more of the crew members are just chasing reality tv fame and have no idea how to make a bed or throw lines or whatever, so their long-suffering coworkers have to pick up their slack (or get them fired). There are a few repeat crew members, especially among the chief stews and bosuns, but it's usually a mostly new cast every season. It's just the right amount of personality clashes and weird rivalries and messy hookups and intense bonding. It just works so well.
For anyone new to the franchise, I would recommend starting with either Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 or Below Deck Down Under. They're the easiest jumping on points.