Below Deck Season 12 Finale Teases Jess And Bárbara's Messiest Romance Yet
Jess Theron and Bárbara Kulaif have kept Below Deck Season 12 on edge, and the finale is about to decide if their high-seas fling can survive past the dock.
We are one episode away from the Below Deck Season 12 finish line, and the big question is whether Jess Theron and Bárbara Kulaif are the real deal or just a classic charter-season fling. Episode 15 put that question front and center, and the vibes are... complicated.
Episode 15 check-in: still kissing, still uncertain
On Episode 15, fittingly titled 'All the Single Ladies,' Jess and Bárbara lean into their chemistry. While the rest of the crew is out, the two hang back, spend some time together, and share a kiss. So far, so cute. Then the team returns from dinner and plays the world’s messiest icebreaker: F, Marry, Kill. That’s when the energy shifts.
Jess jokes that she would marry Solène 'for the plot' and kill Bárbara.
Not exactly a Hallmark moment. And to make things even spicier, Solène chooses to kill Jess, which lands with a thud given those two have their own previous encounter hanging over the season.
The real problem: after the season ends, what happens?
Later, Jess starts thinking beyond the final tip meeting. She is planning to take some time off from yachting once the season wraps, which sounds like she is leaving the door open for real-life time together. Bárbara, meanwhile, is already booked to jump onto another boat right after the season ends. That split path is the real issue here, and fans of the pairing have reason to be a little nervous.
Jess calls a friend and floats a possible solution: travel around the U.S. for a bit. Since Bárbara lives in New York, that could make the timing work. Her friend gives the green light, basically telling her to go for it and hope Bárbara feels the same.
Where Bárbara stands
On her side, Bárbara is keeping expectations low. She tells crewmate Damo Yorg she is not counting on anything and will just see how it plays out. That is not doom, but it is not exactly a grand declaration either.
How it looks heading into the finale
So here is where we are:
- They are physically into each other and still connecting, even sneaking kisses when the crew is away.
- The F, Marry, Kill moment was awkward and a little sharp, especially with Solène tossing a kill back at Jess.
- Post-season logistics are the real obstacle: Jess wants a break; Bárbara is back to work on another boat.
- Jess is open to making it work in the States, with New York as a potential landing spot; her friend is all-in on that plan.
- Bárbara is cautious and not making promises.
Translation: there is something real here, but the finale will have to answer whether they are a boat romance or an off-boat commitment. Tune in for the last episode of Season 12 to see where Jess and Bárbara land.