'Bering Sea Gold' Season 9 Episode 7 Review: Ken Kerr has a close shave, but the Myrtle Irene's in deep sh*t
Spoilers for 'Bering Sea Gold' Season 9 Episode 7
What is the difference between calculated risk and sheer bravado? You will need to know the answer if you are a gold miner planning to wade your way into the treacherous Bering Sea, especially when there's a storm coming. Not that it stopped Ken Kerr of the Myrtle Irene who probably got the ambition of hitting his gold target cloud his judgment and that lands him in dire straits. In this case, read dire straits as the time when Kerr put himself and the lives of his crew in jeopardy.
While Vernon Adkison is not seen in the episode, the remaining skippers, Shawn Pomrekene, Emily Riedel and Kris Kelly make the move to mine for gold and eject from that location as soon as ominous signs of the storm begin. Emily and diver Daryl find a potential hotspot and the latter squeezes out as much as he can, while Shawn uses the time to dig up as much cobble as he can. The calculated risk bears fruit for the two skippers as they getaway in the nick of time.
The same can't be said to Kris Kelly though as a buoy at their Fort Davis location goes missing. Kelly dives and practically completes a full circle around his boat in an attempt to find the spot they marked. The hunt is futile and they call it a day. Ken Kerr may have been the new Mr Gold, but honestly, playing bold at a time and calling it "fortitude" and "attitude" is pretty silly, and honestly, reckless. The scenes that unfold leave a lump in the throat as the fierce winds and the swelling ocean slam the Irene.
And as much as the remaining skippers want to help despite being rivals, the storm prevents them from venturing in and they watch helplessly as the Irene gets buffeted and jolted by the storm. The skiff that keeps it stable is partially visible as it bobs up and down and finally a rescue mission gets underway before the Irene could crash into the rocks. Ken and his crew make it out safe and back on to the harbor, but the Myrtle Irene's fate is yet to be decided.
While Part II of the episode may give a look, this episode gave valuable insight into how the crew operates under extreme weather conditions. Just last week, 'Deadliest Catch' Season 16, another hit show on Discovery showcased the tragedy of the Scandies Rose, which is still fresh in the minds of the audience, the last thing they want is another capsizing in the Bering Sea.
'Bering Sea Gold' airs Fridays 8 pm ET on Discovery.