DEADLIEST CATCH – BLOWN OFF COURSE

When we last left the Deadliest Catch fisherman, Jake Harris found by his ill father stealing his pain meds and admitted that he was an addict, Jake Anderson’s father was missing and all that was found was his truck.

The show opens with a recap of the admission of Jake’s addiction to pain killers. Moving forward, Jake and Phil have it out. The sick captain lays it down easily by telling him to go to treatment. It’s plain. it’s simple and there were no tears flying. If only it were that plain and simple in real life. The dry confrontation is the opposite of what you’d expect from the Cornelia Marie skipper. Phil even tells Jake that he will be going to meetings with him. The two exchange hugs and Harris admits that rehab might be Jake’s only chance. Cutting the trip short, the boat turns back to Dutch Harbor.

Meanwhile Jon on the Time Bandit is warring with taking a break. He announces he is done with this season and taking a 20 day break. This brings up who will take over the boat when they retire. Jon’s son, Scotty, is the natural heir. He has been fighting for two years “not to fall into the fate” of most fisherman. Currently his wife left him and he is fighting in court for his son. Scotty doesn’t appear to be the answer as beyond his personal resistance…he lacks not only the love, but the experience.

This hits me as next season could be very different. Phil and the Hillstrand brothers may retire and Edgar is walking on a line of love and hate for crab fishing.

On the Northwestern Jake Anderson is still not sharing his father’s situation, but Sig is aware of the news that has spread through Seattle that his father’s truck was found empty on a logging road in the middle of nowhere. The captain is extremely hesitant to tell him this as it doesn’t bode well. Instead he talks to Anderson’s uncle who got him a job on the boat.

The decision is made. Jake is called to the wheel house where he calls his mother. She manages to get the words out that “we found his truck” before they are cut off. He immediately calls back and she manages to let him know that his father is missing and they are searching she tells him not to give up hope. Again, they are cut off. This time he can’t get a phone call out.

Phil…it’s unbelievably sad to watch him slowly self destruct. His foot is practically vibrating is stress. A cigarette is clutched in his hand. His eyes slowly blink away tears.

Click HERE to see Photos of Phil Harris’ Memorial in New Orleans

The Hillstrand brothers dump their catch and Jon heads toward sunny skies and sand under his feet. They continue warring with who will take over the boat. Andy returns to the boat and announces that Mike Fourtner is their pick to takeover. This is the first time he is speechless and actually doesn’t look to enthusiastic.

Back to the Cornelia Marie. The boat has made it back to Dutch and Phil is looking through baby pictures as the boat is offloaded. Josh and Jake join him in the wheel house and they all go through the family photos together. After a trip down memory lane, they return to the deck. Phil goes to his room and shuts the door. To verify the crab count the skipper needs to sign off. One of the crewman calls his room and he doesn’t answer. He goes to investigate and all we hear is crewman Steve say: “Oh my God.”

He immediately calls for Jake and Josh. Josh calls 911 and an ambulance shows up as crewman are running everywhere. Steve found him face down in his room and unresponsive. They show everything. Josh immediately takes control. Paramedics are testing him and his entire left side of his body won’t move. Phil Harris has had a stroke that will eventually take his life.

Phil is able to answer simple questions, which is promising, but we know his fate. Jake is in the kitchen breaking down. Josh helps the paramedics get him out of the depths of the boat. His crewmen and son carry him out to the deck where he is lifted out. A crow is shown sitting on the boat while Josh gets in the ambulance with his father and Jake watches helplessly. Josh comforts Phill by reminding him that he isn’t alone.

AFTER THE CATCH

Back at the Blue Nile, Phil’s it still sits empty with a photo of a smiling Phil in watching over the table. Tonight the boat under the microscope is the Northwestern. Edgar joins the captain’s table. The brother rivalry is examined.

Out of curiosity, I checked Sig and Edgar’s ages. Despite my ballpark guess of 48 and 42 … Sig is 44 and Edgar is 33. The family factor stews in Edgar and his kids and wife pull at his heartstrings.

Jake Harris and Jake Anderson are brought in and the Jake swap details are brought out. We see a clip of the 2009 episode of After the Catch where the original Jake swap idea came into play. Phil and Sig hatched the plan. Both boys look pretty good despite going through an extremely difficult year.

Jake Anderson reveals that he is currently getting his license and going to school to make fishing his life. He is beaming with pride. Finally, a moment of happiness for Jake. A clip of Jake getting to run the Northwestern, pick up a pot and getting into the bowels of the ship and transferring fuel in the engine room. He also addressed his missing father issue. He explains that he didn’t say anything about the situation to the crew to keep everyone’s focus on the job and safety. Sig also mentions that he feels fatherly toward Jake as his father is still missing.

Keith Anderson, Jake’s missing father, is a 63 year old retired high school counselor. He disappeared on January 6th. Jake’s uncle, Chris, saw him that morning and shared a pot of coffee. It was a typical day as he ran errands and moved a washer and dryer for his daughter. He then reportedly went to “meet and acquaintance.” Chris and Jake stated that the “acquaintance” was supplying Keith with Oxycontin.

“Normally, he would go out and get the pills and be back about three or four hours later, but, that day, he never came back,” Chris said. “One of his acquaintances later said he last saw him in Sultan, which is about 120 miles from where he lives, and that was the last time anyone claims to have seen him.”

It became much worse. Jake’s mother found his father’s phone lying in a mud puddle by their house after he went missing. No activity has taken place on his bank account or credit cards. The last person to have probably seen Keith was his “acquaintance” who claimed he gave him the pain killers and dropped him off at a grocery store parking lot and never saw him again.

On January 22 his white 1999 Ford truck was found abandoned 11 miles up a remote logging road stuck between two logs. The truck was locked and they keys were inside and small traces of blood were found on them, but it wasn’t enough to determine whose blood it was. The official search for Keith ended on January 28th.

While it doesn’t look good…Jake isn’t giving up. He is still searching and holding hope while he has nabbed his First Mate’s license.