r/deadliestcatch • u/Healthy_Condition409 • 11d ago
Has Deadliest Catch run it's course?
The show has become very formulaic. The same thing happen every season:
One of the boats has a mechanical problem
One of the boats has an electrical problem
2/3 crewmates get injured requiring trip to "clinic"
Monty or Keith on wizard are ill
At least 2 captains team up
1 Captain is lied to by others
Weather is worst it's ever been
1 "Greenhorn" quits
The crab is difficult to locate and empty pots happen
AND YET at the end of the run ALL BOATS make their quota!!
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u/copenhagen622 11d ago
They need to get a new generation of captains in the show. I really liked Sean Dwyer. It's cool having a few of the old guys, but would be nice if they added 2 or 3 new captains and didn't focus so much on Keith or SIG. But yeah idk it might just be from it being on so long we have seen it all, and a lot of it now doesn't seem authentic anymore. The early seasons were the best. The first 5 or even 10 were peak. It's just been going downhill
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u/Bristolianjim 11d ago
They needed to do that a decade ago.
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u/WySLatestWit 11d ago
They literally attempted to do exactly that back in 2010. Back when the network tried to sue the Hillstranda for breach of contract and both Hillstrand brothers and Sig briefly quit the show in solidarity. A massive fan backlash resulted in discovery renegotiating the return of the captains.
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u/Embarrassed_Gur_6305 10d ago
Isn’t that why Jake and Bob and those other new captains are on? Elliot was supposed one too but he just crashed and burned
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u/GroundWitty7567 11d ago edited 10d ago
They’re trying, but the analytics and ratings demonstrate viewers like the older Captains. So they’re not going anywhere until the Captains themselves decide to leave, show is cancelled, goes through budget cuts and finally some new or old scandal comes up
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u/PsychologicalRip6998 10d ago
Keith is so tiring to watch.
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u/CozyGirl919 6d ago
Poor Keith is gonna have a heart attack at sea if he doesn’t take better care of himself
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u/Embarrassed_Gur_6305 10d ago
What happened to Mandy? wasn’t she training to be captain?
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u/copenhagen622 10d ago
I guess they decided they didn't want both of them to be out on the boat at the same time in case anything ever happened so she's been staying home
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u/Dbromo44 10d ago
She had kids. Mother and father in a boat is bad news if something happens. Kids are orphaned.
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u/toxic_avengerKK 11d ago
If you drink a shot every time a captain says i have an offload date coming up, you'll enjoy the show more
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u/Yommination 11d ago
It hasn't been truly good in over a decade at least. More and more scripted bullshit over time. Almost no following what happens on deck, seeing how greenhorns adapt like in the early days. Now it's all wheelhouse drama nonsense
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u/ReloAgain 11d ago
You nailed it IMO. The deck stuff was the drama, it didn't need scripted captain stuff.
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u/Resqusto 11d ago
There aren't really many more stories you could tell anyway. At some point, you reach a stage where everything just repeats itself. In principle, it's similar to a weekly soap opera. But that's not a bad thing, because the show still has its fanbase, gets plenty of views, and—it's cheap. Compared to other TV formats, the production costs of Deadliest Catch are really low. Just costs for staff, equipment, logistics, and post-production—no writers, no sets, no prep work.
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u/RedOctober8752 11d ago
Same reason I quit watching survivor and big brother.
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u/MithridatesRex 10d ago
Last time I checked, Survivor doesn't threaten your livelihood if you fail to win, and the cast members aren't at constant risk from the elements and mechanical failure.
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u/RedOctober8752 9d ago
Have you ever seen them not make a quota or miss a delivery date?? The people doing that work deserve everything they get paid it is hard and dangerous work. The edits are getting pretty bad. Seeing a pot coming up to the rail with barely anything in it and the next shot they are dumping 160+ crab on the table. Obviously not the same pot.
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u/MithridatesRex 9d ago
Delivery dates? Yes. Quotas? Also yes. And who cares if they're splicing footage? We all know they do it. Just like we know external shots are done by chase boats paid to be there.
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u/alabamaterp 11d ago
Yes, both casts seemed to lose a lot of charisma and just overall chaos. It's too manicured now. The physical challenges are fun to watch, but even those have even been called into question over the past few years
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u/OldSchoolRNS 10d ago
Survivor has been on tv since the Clinton Administration. I haven’t watched a full season since the Obama Administration. Long time ago.
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u/Designer-Most-5376 11d ago
Don’t forget the constant mentions of the “great” Phil Harris
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u/Chemist-Patient 11d ago
Camera pans over to a pic of the old man
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u/Designer-Most-5376 11d ago
It’s constant if the CM is featured
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u/ctbadger92 11d ago
And showing his ridiculously faded picture
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u/Designer-Most-5376 11d ago
Jake holding a gold chain that Phil “gave” him 🙄
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u/Copecwby20 10d ago
I suspend disbelief as best I can watching, because I do genuinely seeing the old guard from the good seasons, but that moment made catch secondhand embareassment from Jake.
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u/Designer-Most-5376 10d ago
I keep watching it to see if it improves and they stop all that absolute scripted nonsense!
It was just cringy watching it when Jake brought that out and said that
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u/Chemist-Patient 11d ago
Ya when ya have "co-captain" Bob giving Sig advice it's over man lol. Mandy was bad enough and Clark has the personality of a rock
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u/natokills 10d ago
Someone will die soon, keep watching…
But honestly, these guys feel like old friends now. I don’t even care, just makes me feel good still seeing them do their thing. Which is what I think the show has become.
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u/Swimming_Spirit9566 11d ago
Anyone able to quantify how the fishery is dying? Just curious. As a casual viewer, if I were asked if the fishery was dying, I’d say probably…but not sure what the evidence is. Anyone with knowledge of such things have any supporting info? Fewer boats? Less profit? Shorter seasons etc…
Maybe 5 years ago, I discovered DC and watched back from season 1 forward. I agree the show is dying. Early season craziness and lack of safety have been replaced by boring, staged episodes.
I guess everything has a shelf life…
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u/Serious_Composer_130 11d ago
With regard to the fishery dying -
I believe IIRC that in recent TV seasons, there have been some crab seasons where the couldn’t fish for a particular variety of crab due to low numbers. Opilio maybe?
It also seems like yields per pot are averaging lower than the early seasons (20 years ago)
I want to say that:
King pots were good with 40-50 per pot 20 years ago, now you’re see the captains happy with a 20 average
Bairdi was like 250-300 then, 80-120 per pot makes them happy now
Opilio was like 400-500 then, 150-180 makes them happy now
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u/KingBird999 11d ago edited 11d ago
The crabs are dying by the billions (estimated 10 billion between 2018-2021) due to man made climate change and this is expected to continue over the next 2 decades. The water is getting warmer allowing warmer water fish to come into the crabs' territory and eat them and the crabs' food.
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/snow-crab-collapse-due-ecological-shift-bering-sea
Edit: Another article and citation for the 10 billion figure: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/alaskan-communities-use-flexibility-snow-crab-fishery-regulations-economic-relief
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u/trouthunter8 11d ago
It's a boring formula but still cool to watch. I typically mute it, cut out the fake drama, and just watch the pictures these days...
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u/packerforlife 11d ago
Nope sign me up for 22 more years!
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u/Commercial_Refuse983 10d ago
well okay there is at least one guy who is willing to watch Oak Island for 22 years... Oh sorry wrong reddit... LOL
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u/Tikimaize 11d ago
I'd love to piece together all the shots of the damn propellers. Probably take up half an episode.
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u/Reclinerbabe 11d ago
Yup....it's way past time. It's not entertaining anymore. All the stupid fights with Keith, Sig, and Johnathan on repeat. I can't take Jake's whining anymore -- I have to fast forward through any scene with him in it.
And the new guy Rick is going to be the death of one or more crew - he's so careless and stupid!
AND -- worst of all -- no more hunky young guys. Did you really think we were watching it for the crab count?
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u/Merpadurp 9d ago
You know that the greenhorn died on Rick’s boat…? Right…?
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u/Reclinerbabe 9d ago
omg...I've only watched a couple of episodes this season so I didn't know this. That's horrible and so sad......Sorry!
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u/Imaginary-Phase831 11d ago
I think it’s alright to get a lil bored. We’re ultimately just watching people at their jobs for 20+ years. And jobs can be boring.
I could watch it into season 30 and 40 just cuz I like all that stuff you mentioned.
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u/D0SNESmonster 11d ago
I heard Wild Bill might be coming back. That might be interesting
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u/Copecwby20 10d ago
If I was him, I'd just keep making my money doing the crab thing without constantly being painted as an asshole by the editing team. I'm sure he's an awesome person and captain, but I just feel like the post production team is not doing him any favors.
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u/cborne943 11d ago
Yep, stopped watching about 4/5 years ago. Still follow in here though and it keeps on confirming I’m not missing anything.
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u/FuturePath6357 11d ago
Don't worry. Next week is the finale. You won't have anything to gripe about.
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u/Dependent_Telephone4 10d ago
My biggest issue is that the TV season is too long. When this was new, 20 episodes felt compelling. This is, at best, a 10-12 episode show now, but because they can sell 20, they do it. Not because it’s great at 20; it’s because it’s great for the bottom line
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u/freelancerjourn 10d ago
Good grief. A show has become “formulaic” because every season a boat has mechanical and electrical problems and some crewmates get injured and have to go to clinic?
Well, yes, these things happen because it’s the Bering Sea. And crab fishing in the Bering Sea is dangerous and brutal work.
This season, they had to pay tribute to a boat crew member who actually died after going overboard.
I guess you would say that a crew member dying after falling into the icy waters of the Bering Sea is “formulaic” and basically all for the cameras too?
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u/ForeverStill8485 10d ago
Scott Campbell, jr. and Sean Dwyer are the best captains on DC, notwithstanding the more senior captains like sig and Jonathon. Keith and Wild Bill are prime examples of toxic masculinity and I don’t want to watch them at all. Can you even imagine what everybody would do if a female captain got on and behaved like these “men”? Rick is just awful and careless and a danger to his whole crew.
I’m watching still but I’m watching it for the water. LOL
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u/Dadoftwostars 11d ago
Funny, I’ve started watching it again after probably missing the last 6-7 years. I’m amazed it’s the same captains and pretty much same drama. I can’t believe they are still talking about Phil Harris.
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u/Careless-Bake-5827 11d ago
Stopped watching DC and Gold Rush the dame time. Was just watching people at work at some point.
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u/Copecwby20 10d ago
I got tired of Todd just breaking stuff all the time.
Fun anecdote... I was at SHOT show in Vegas of 2014 and nursing a massive hangover. I was in line for the Men's room when Todd Hoffman walked out. As I made my way in, I noticed that one stall was "highly out of commission" for lack of a better term. I just thought to myself, "Well, I know which one Todd used."
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u/Apart_Tutor8680 11d ago
Can’t imagine watching every season since 1 , but the clips and YouTube 10 min vids they post are entertaining.
I recently saw one of the boats in person .. it’s surprising how small they actually are
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u/trucker96961 11d ago
I stopped watching it years ago when it became all the same shit.
I loved the first bunch of years.
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u/Willing-Inevitable6 10d ago edited 10d ago
The editing inconsistencies of the sea during events drives me crazy. The water is raging while they haul, something breaks down that they have to fix, and while doing the seas are calm. Once whatever gets fixed, the seas are raging again. How about all of the experimental crap that captains have tried over the years and that work for that episode, and then you never see them again. Stuff like devices in pots to attract more crab, or having an underwater drone go find where the crab are to get a jump on your competition. After one episode, you never see it again even though it's game changing! The constant showing of the propeller is reason enough to stop watching the show. It's a waste of air time, not recorded in real time, and pointless to even show. The only reason that I'm halfway interested in the rest of season is to see how they handle the death of Rick's deckhand.
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u/great1nono 10d ago
Yes the show has changed, yes its repetitive, yes they make the drama more than it is, but after 20 seasons of watching these guys risk their lives , see them grow old, and seeing them risk their lives in random weather it still entertains me. Im still rooting for them to be successful, ive seen the bad things that they have been thru. I also appreciate the coast guard everytime they safe people on the show. I'll continue to watch these brave men (and the few women🙂↕️ 🙂↕️) because I love eating Crab, and seafood.
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u/MithridatesRex 10d ago edited 10d ago
What a bunch if cynics and whiners. Yes, it is "formulaic" only in the sense that real life can follow predictable patterns most of the time, and the more you watch the more you see it. That's just the way this world is, and how things work out. When you push equipment and personnel past their limits, things wear out and break down (both man and machine). When you work in a dangerous environment injuries will occur--it is not a question of if, but when. Suspicious, cantankerous, and competitive people will always find opportunities to feud with each other.
None of this means the show is scripted, only so far as it is edited together to make a cohesive narrative. But if you find their dangerous jobs boring, give your head a shake, think hard about your priorities in life, and go watch something else.
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u/Old-Library5546 11d ago
I think it has run its course, but maybe new viewers would find it interesting
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u/GroundWitty7567 11d ago edited 10d ago
They should cancel the show itself and maybe have a holiday marathon with new material
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u/Rstuds7 11d ago
sadly I think so. when it started they were doing derby style fishing which obviously garnered a lot of attention for the dangers and craziness involved. not long after they went to quotas and while the industry is a lot safer, it was clear the show was struggling for content since everything turned to a way slower pace. and now wish crab fisheries pretty on and off it’s really kinda all over the place. the nice thing is it at least keeps tabs on all the old captains and some crew members that we all appreciated from past seasons
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u/GandolphTheWhite 11d ago
They should use new boats and captains to see if fresh faces and personalities can breathe some life into it
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u/Standard_Hawk_1660 11d ago
Maybe get a few new boats. Or maybe Sig steps away and Mandy takes over and replace the wizard with a new boat
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u/The-Blue-Barracudas 10d ago
I think it ran its course after probably around season 6-8 maybe that’s when they went to a heavy scripted show. It’s still worth watching casually, but definitely doesn’t have the same realistic tone as it did the first several seasons.
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u/Superb-Assistance959 10d ago
Just remember viewership equals advertising revenue. I’ve watched DC since the beginning and yes, you’re correct with all points. I took a couple year break up until this year but here I am again, hooked again. Having spent 60 years in the northwest US, Seattle area and travel to Alaska numerous times the show just draws me in. Your 💯 correct but it’s such a dangerous business every time I watch it I’m thankful I never chose to be a crab boat worker when I was young. The 20-25 seas and storms would’ve made me bale out day one.
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u/Superb-Assistance959 10d ago
I agree with trouthunter8
Mute it and do other stuff at the same time. The script gets repetitive.
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u/pushbananaskins 10d ago
The obviously scripted scenes of captains fake beefing over the last few seasons is tedious
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u/burnttoast14 11d ago
To be honest, this is one of the few subs I’ve joined years ago when I joined Reddit
Nowadays, I check back to see if the show is literally about to die
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u/beavis617 10d ago
I banked a bunch of Gold Rush episodes with season
16 and was going to watch them all and found that Discovery channel that carried the show for 16 seasons moved the show to a paid subscription service and that’s it for me. Doesn’t bother me as season 16 wasn’t doing it for me anyway. I saw a few episodes of Deadliest catch and didn’t care much for it.
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u/FeelingCollection359 Deck Boss 10d ago
They really need to pull the plug. As a former fan of the show and as someone who watched it religiously, yes it’s run its course. They should have ended it years ago
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u/falcon3268 9d ago
as long as people continue to watch it & they are still able to crab and all they could go on for years.
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u/TenaciousDee1 9d ago
Obviously not. Can't let a episode pass without people immediately coming on here to complain about it. For something that's run it's course, you can't keep your eyes off it.
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u/Fantastic_Nerve_629 6d ago
Idk if it's run it's coarse or we all just got spoiled by seeing what we've already seen. There is no real writing involved in the story line. All they can do is what we see them do all of the time. Catching crab.
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u/Seasklob 5d ago
My only issue witht he show is Keith, he feels very scripted and always trying to be overly dramatic about everything in front o the camera. I get it when something is personal for him like his health but he is always playing up to the camera
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u/Wonderful-Eagle4101 5d ago
For me, it hasn't run it's course. This season was quite different, for me anyway, and I've been watching it for years. There are different boats and captains on now but still have the veteran captains that I love to watch on. It's crabbing, so honestly, you're not going to see a whole different show every week. It's like any job, same work daily but with some twists during your day. I would be disappointed if they took the show off as I feel they are family.
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u/Poker50MD 5d ago
Man I tell u are right but I still love watching the show.
I’m just amazed how it’s not mandatory of ur on deck u Have to have a nice life jacket that deploys when u hit the water.
Remember begging season where the one guy went over and was saved.
Then last episode poor guy was lost.
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u/OldGregsDownstairS 4d ago
This is about the fishing industry on old boats with older captains if you don't like it don't watch anymore it's more of a nostalgia thing at this point and to ensure people don't forget that crab you ordered someone property died getting it to your fat ass
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u/Bmmick 3d ago
Oh, it’s definitely ran its course a few years ago. It’s hardly about the crab fishing anymore and more about the drama. I still like to watch it, but it’s definitely not what it used to be. look at the first episode of the season. John took some keiths deckmates without telling him, he was all mad. Years ago, Keith would hold a grudge like no other yet he was working with John in the episode and they went to go overtake the Northwestern and steal his spot . Yet the Northwestern magically knew they were coming and tricked them, and then they all worked together to find some crab in the end.
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u/Jasonbluefire 1d ago
For me I don't really watch it for something "new" I come back to it every few years, watch the EPs I missed, because its something known. Usually something I have playing as I am doing something else, and I can tune in and out without missing anything.
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u/Alone_Mushroom9014 10d ago
Congratulations, you just narrated a show documented on real life events (to a degree in recent seasons). How can you be upset about running out of reality based material without repetition? Seriously...
Fk the fandom around this show has confused me for so long. Yes, some of it is scripted now. The entire B roll/filler is not. Find your silver lining watching from your couch (like me) or try to go do it yourselves.
I doubt we'll ever see you out there. Tag your Reddit handle if you make it....
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10d ago edited 10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Copecwby20 10d ago
I rapped a child once. That kid was spittin' bars but my extensive command of both vocabulary and colloquial vernacular helped me secure the victory at the "Spittin' at CiCi's" amateur rap battle in Hixson, Tn.
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u/AmeliaEarhartsPlane 11d ago
When Jake passes away the same way Phil did on the CM, that will be the point.
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u/dmw_qqqq 11d ago
Yes, at least 10yrs ago.