Summary

• Aesha Scott led Below Deck Down Under as Chief Stew, boosting the show's success.
• Aesha's presence improved over time, becoming a beloved Chief Stew in the franchise.
• Aesha's departure leaves Down Under questioning its future success without her.

Without Aesha Scott as Chief Stew, Captain Jason Chambers.

Aesha wasn’t a perfect Chief Stew during the spin-off's first season, but with time, she grew tremendously. She’s maintained her presence within the franchise as a beloved crew member while transforming into one of the her return to Below Deck Med has raised questions surrounding her status on Below Deck Down Under. Season 2 of the Australian-based yachting show was well received, enough to garner two Emmy nominations. Without Aesha leading the crew, will Below Deck Down Under be able to maintain its success?

Aesha Scott Was The Chief Stew Of Below Deck Down Under Season 1 & 2

Aesha Became A Beloved Chief Stew On Down Under

Aesha made her debut as a Chief Stew in the franchise during the first season of Below Deck Down Under. It was incredibly smart to cast her as the leading crew member in the spin-off because she was a fan-favorite yachtie after Below Deck Med seasons 4 and 5. Aesha built a presence within the franchise well ahead of her hiring as Chief Stew, which gave the audience a familiar face to watch in the new series.

Fans were automatically ecstatic that she was a part of the season 1 cast, which lessened uncertainty about the new show.

Once she settled into her new role, Luke Jones was fired for sexual misconduct after a night out.

The crew went out for drinks, and Aesha caught the Bosun’s interest in her stew, Margot Sisson. When they returned to the superyacht, Luke tried to have the stew go into the hot tub with her, but she didn’t want to and was intoxicated. Aesha made sure she safely got into her bunk before Luke drunkenly went into Margot’s cabin naked and attempted to climb into her bed. When production attempted to step in, he slammed the door in their faces, and the crew had to force him out of the room.

“We came home tonight, and I felt like Luke was kind of wanting to take advantage of Margot’s being drunk.”

Immediately after the incident, Aesha reported Luke’s actions to Captain Jason. She woke him from his sleep and explained what happened. Luke was fired that night, and Laura Bileskalne was fired the next day for making light of the situation. Aesha didn’t hesitate to prioritize the crew's safety in those moments. It was devastating to watch back on the show, but she, Captain Jason, and the Below Deck production team handled it as well as possible.

Captain Jason Chamber & Aesha Scott Were A Beloved Duo

Captain Jason & Aesha Had A Mutual Level Of Trust & Respect For Each Other

Captain Jason and Aesha became a beloved Below Deck duo during their time working together. Before season 1, the captain hadn't been introduced to the audience. He had to win over the trust of the fans, like seasoned franchise captains such as Captain Lee Rosbach or Captain Sandy Yawn, for the show to be successful. Luckily for Captain Jason, he had Aesha by his side as Chief Stew. The captain and Chief Stew must get along in any yachting environment, and luckily, they did just that.

They got along so well that there was speculation that Captain Jason and Aesha’s relationship was more than platonic. That’s not the case, though some fans wanted it to be true. In reality, the yachties happened to get along swimmingly. It would be hard not to get along with Aesha or Captain Jason, though others haven’t. When Aesha informed Captain Jason of Luke’s conduct, he didn’t hesitate to fire him because he trusted his Chief Stew. They worked together incredibly well because of the mutual sense of trust established among themselves.

Aesha Scott Returned To Below Deck Med Season 9, Hinting She’s Not Returning To Down Under Season 3

Aesha’s Return To Below Deck Med Came Out Of Nowhere

After leading two seasons of Below Deck Down Under, Aesha suddenly returned to Below Deck Med season 9. What many may not know is that Chief Stew has a close friendship with Captain Sandy before her return. After Below Deck Med season 8 was a letdown, the show’s production team made the intelligent decision to tap Aesha as the new Chief Stew. Without her casting in the season, it’s unclear if season 9 would be as prosperous. Nonetheless, her return to the show shocked some fans and led many to believe she was done with Below Deck Down Under.

Below Deck Down Under May Not Be As Popular Without Aesha Scott

Time Will Tell If Below Deck Down Under Will Sink Or Swim Without Aesha

There are plenty of rumors about the fate of Below Deck Down Under. There’s hope that Aesha would be able to pull double duty by starring in both shows, but it’s unlikely. Outside of her yachting career, she bought a new home with her partner, Scotty Dobson, and is busy planning their wedding. Aesha was a crucial part of Below Deck Down Under, and the show might have sunk without her.

Other crew have surely made a name for themselves on the show, but Aesha was the glue that held the crew together.

If she leaves the show, it will be tough to find a Chief Stew to take her spot. Sure, there are plenty of yachties qualified for the job, but they won’t bring the same level of energy and expertise to the role as Aesha. She’s proved to be a wonderful Chief Stew on Below Deck Med season 9 and will likely grow in the role with Captain Sandy. Aesha’s days on Below Deck Down Under might be over, jeopardizing the show's future. The production team will need to find an adequate replacement that meshes well with Captain Jason if they want to hold a candle to Aesha.

Below Deck Down Under will take a hit if Aesha doesn’t return as Chief Stew. Her return to Below Deck Med might confirm her exit from the Australian spin-off. Thankfully, Aesha is still immersed in the franchise, but Below Deck Down Under won’t be the same without her.

Below Deck Down Under seasons 1 & 2 are streaming on Peacock.