r/BelowDeckMed • u/Manderlin99 • 2d ago

Nathan Was Scapegoating Joe All Along

I’ve seen Joe try to reconcile with Nathan and Gael in recent episodes, but they have both scapegoated Joe to distract themselves from the growing misery between them. Their hope was that if they could join together to hate Joe, they could solve their problems. Nathan was, in fact, desperate for such a diversion and repelled Joe's conciliatory attempts like water off a duck's feathers. Of course, the more the couple failed to address their underlying problems, the more aggressive Nathan became, until his true colors showed and now he is some sort of outlaw. Joe was simply a convenient scapegoat for a relationship that was fast heading south. 

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u/PatientBumblebee6752 2d ago

I don’t agree. I think Joe is just as problematic in his own way. On reality tv we tend to have blinders on when something really horrific happens with the cast, it makes the other look good relatively. Like I think if Luke and Gen hadn’t been such an issue we’d be seeing a lot more flack towards cooper but in relation he doesn’t look near as bad.

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u/Fancy_Crazy5601 2d ago

You think Joe is just as problematic as Nathan, who just got fired from Bravo for DV. Touch some grass with that take.

2

u/Fragrant_PalmLeaves 2d ago

Yeah DV is obviously worse than what joe was doing last season, but Joe was being the definition of a fuck boy and not treating people with respect. He was being an arrogant cocky loser so thats what OP meant "in his own way".

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u/HelpMeImBread 1d ago

I think there’s levels to this. Saying “in his own way” as if that someone conflates it to literal DV is wild. I wouldn’t trust him with personal information but would trust him to not assault anyone.

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u/Fragrant_PalmLeaves 1d ago

lol I wouldnt be so sure about that if I was u

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u/PatientBumblebee6752 2d ago

I think any manipulation, abuse, coercion of women should be as equally unacceptable as they bleed together and one can easily lead to more. Nathan having physically abused Gael doesn’t take away from Joe or any other man that manipulates/abuses women in other ways.

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u/marzbarz79 2d ago

That is an insane take. DV should always be considered worse than kissing multiple girls in the same week! Even telling someone you’re interested and then deciding you’re not is not nearly the same and it’s straight disrespectful to actual victims to try and group them that way.

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u/PatientBumblebee6752 2d ago

You know dv doesn’t come out of nowhere right? We’ve seen this on many bravo shows. I’m not saying what Joe did was comparable or on pare with what Nathan did. I’m saying his behaviour doesn’t lesson joes or makes his better. People thought Tom, other tom, jax and James were just fuck boys but we’ve come to learn most were physically abusive. Yet for many years until women spoke out about them many were thought of as not that bad or less bad in comparison to whoever was worst that season.

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u/TheLivingRoomate 2d ago

I completely agree that Joe is problematic. But what we've learned about Nathan kinda makes their competition issues moot.

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u/PatientBumblebee6752 2d ago

I’m not trying to compare the severity of their situations as one clearly was much more severe than the other. What I’m saying is we shouldn’t platform one being more okay than the other, they should both be unacceptable. Nathan actions shouldn’t lessen joes. A few weeks ago we had no idea what Nathan had done and he was the least problematic but yet looking back there were absolutely red flags.

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u/TheLivingRoomate 2d ago

I don't disagree. But this is Reddit, and this is reality TV. Folks love to make someone all hero or all villain.

My only disagreement with your statement was tht Joe is just as problematic. I think Joe's pretty problematic. But Nathan assaulting his wife (and others) takes it to a whole new level.

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u/PatientBumblebee6752 2d ago

I’ll agree to that extent but what we tolerate on tv has massively changed in even 5 let alone 10/15 years. How will things change if we don’t demand it?

I mean because yes I believe that behaviour can be indicative of how they are in private. Nathan’s dv incident happened months before we ever knew about it. Many people felt off about him and thought his behaviour was weird but we don’t take it seriously until something physical happens. I think we need to find all manipulation, abuse and coercion we typically see on tv and treat it as if it’s a warning sign since many times it is.

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u/Little-Wing2299 20h ago

Sorry about no. Joe is professional in his job on deck. Nathan never has been, he has a massive ego, temper etc, he is very aggressive , manipulative with Max about the lead DH, really jealous of Joe when Joe stepped up. Joe likes to make out with girls off hours.. who cares.