Deadliest Catch’ Decides Capt. Phil’s Fate

Captain Phil Harris, who passed away in early February, will be shown very much alive through most of the 16-episode season. Harris, who captained the Cornelia Marie, died on February 9 after suffering a stroke two weeks earlier while unloading crab at Saint Paul Island, Alaska. His death won’t be dealt with until episodes 12 and 13, a source close to the show told Fancast.

There is a lot more of this story, all that I can say is episode 12 and 13 are going to break my heart :( Phil Harris Memorial Tribute Video

Well, tonights episode was depressing. First we have guys getting smacked in the head with huge chunks of ice and then they address the disappearance of Jake Anderson's dad. I didn't know that he hadn't told the crew what had happened I just assumed that they weren't going to talk about it on the show or something. I can't imagine keeping that in while you are around all these guys that are like family to you and you are doing crazy stuff like getting switched, dropped in the water and hurt. Poor Jake. Plus, Phil is getting sicker and sicker as it gets closer and closer to the episodes that will deal with his death. And now he has to deal with the revelation that his youngest son is a drug addict! How heartbreaking was it to watch that scene between father and son dealing with such a heavy topic and knowing that this is probably one of the last real conversations those two will have with each other before his final days. At least the guy that had the heart attack survived.

This was a very hard episode to watch. The Jake Anderson stuff was troubling and even though I had read about it before the season started, seeing unfold definitely added an in your face sense of doom. The way it ended with Phil and his son was heartbreaking. I didn't see it coming (although Jake has always seemed like a go getter on deck and clearly his slow and lackadaisical attitude running up to this confrontation was a clue that something was askew. And like you said, tatertots, the worst part about it is that we know what happens to Phil and it makes it that much worse. Yes, it is depressing - but it is also riveting television.

Bacchus;185711 wrote:
Yes, it is depressing - but it is also riveting television.

Oh definitely. You just get so attached to the guys that it's really hard to see them go through such painful stuff and to know that most of it doesn't have a happy ending.

I've been thinking about tonight's episode all day. I have a feeling it will be the landmark episode of the series.

Bacchus;185905 wrote:
I've been thinking about tonight's episode all day. I have a feeling it will be the landmark episode of the series.

Is tonight the night? I thought we had an episode or two left. Breaking out the tissues now.

tatertots;185906 wrote:
Is tonight the night? I thought we had an episode or two left. Breaking out the tissues now.

I don't know how far tonight's episode goes, but I think in the preview I saw Phil being lifted off the ship (and of course there is the continuation of the Jake storyline.)

Only 5 minutes in and already tearing up.

tatertots;185935 wrote:
Only 5 minutes in and already tearing up.

I'm getting a 15 minute buffer while I watch the Sox, but I am sure I'll feel the same way.

Saddest episode ever though I'm sure next week will be much worse. First talking about Jake's addiction then Jake Anderson calling home and finally Phil getting lifted off the boat. Totally heartbreaking. Freddie's reaction actually got to me the most. He's always so happy and smiling but he just looked broken and scared and sad. I'm a mess right now.

tatertots;185948 wrote:
Saddest episode ever though I'm sure next week will be much worse. First talking about Jake's addiction then Jake Anderson calling home and finally Phil getting lifted off the boat. Totally heartbreaking. Freddie's reaction actually got to me the most. He's always so happy and smiling but he just looked broken and scared and sad. I'm a mess right now.

That was really rough. Especially because we know there are no happy outcomes on any front. Phil, Jake or Jake. Next week is going to be really hard to watch.

I just saw the preview (on after the catch.) I think Phil would want the boat out fishing. Not sure what Josh does, but that is what I think his dad would want, not matter what was happening being the livelihood of the family is built upon that boat being at sea pulling in the quota.

I know it was very sad. Hard to watch knowing the outcome. I wonder if his sons are going to pull together and take over the boat?

sofrito;185979 wrote:
. I wonder if his sons are going to pull together and take over the boat?

From the preview it looks like that is what Josh is mulling over.

before Jake goes back he needs to get some help for his addiction. Does anyone else thinks that news has something to do with Phil's stroke? you know the extra stress of knowing that his youngest son has such a problem. That would be something weighing on my mind if I was jake.

I've been looking forward to tonight's episode all week. This is probably the show right now that I value the most in my current summer viewing lineup.

I made sure I had tissues near by 30 minutes ago so I was ready for this show. I also checked the schedule for the upcoming episodes and they seem to be staying close to the real time of Phil's stroke, coma and stay in the hospital. I don't know why but I just assumed they were going to devot an episode or two to Phil and cover the whole thing in one go. I may need to stock up on the tissues now...

Does anybody know if they ever located Jake Anderson's dad?

sofrito;185985 wrote:
....... Does anyone else thinks that news has something to do with Phil's stroke? you know the extra stress of knowing that his youngest son has such a problem. That would be something weighing on my mind if I was jake.

I have trouble believing the two are that closely related. Phil was in bad health and lived a rough life. From that episode, it seemed like this was not a shock for Phil so I assume that he already knew Jake had issues. This wasn't the first time he went ballistic.

SeanDaniel;188851 wrote:
Does anybody know if they ever located Jake Anderson's dad?

I don't think he has been found to date. :( Another great episode last night. Riveting, dramatic, heartfelt television. As I've said before, this season is a shoe in for Emmy. Some of the best reality television I have ever seen.

Bacchus;188861 wrote:
I don't think he has been found to date. :( Another great episode last night. Riveting, dramatic, heartfelt television. As I've said before, this season is a shoe in for Emmy. Some of the best reality television I have ever seen.

It is a good season. Of course next week is the week Phil dies. Maybe it is because we have had time to absorb it, but to me the most interesting scene this season was actually Sieg immediately after he found out about Phil's stroke.

Saw Josh Harris on Leno last night. He said Phil did not die from the stroke but was doing well and then threw another blood clot which was what killed him. Said Phil had gone from 9 1/2 packs of smokes a day to 1 1/2 packs after his first clot but the damage was already done and he is working on quitting smoking himself. Said Jake was doing well and is out of rehab.

strange they would be the ones to get a spinoff. They are my second least favorite crew. If they backed out of the voice over and dubbing then they were way into performance of their contract so they may very well be up the creek.

'Deadliest Catch' stars quit the show Ok, with Sig gone as well as the Hanson brothers and Phil's passing, I am done with the show. I don't tune in to see the Kodiak.

NOOOOOO! I don't like watching the Kodiak much either and "Wild Bill" is annoying also so now I'm left with Josh and Jake and Freddy being sad about their dad? Would Jake even be on the show this year after the whole rehab and DUI thing? I think I'm done with the show too. My 3 favorite boats, and really the only reasons I watched the show, have now left or won't be the same. I'm so sad because it's one of my favorite shows and I will miss seeing those guys every week. :(

Bacchus;210690 wrote:
'Deadliest Catch' stars quit the show Ok, with Sig gone as well as the Hanson brothers and Phil's passing, I am done with the show. I don't tune in to see the Kodiak.

NooooO! Boo, this show has just passed it's prime. It was good while it lasted. :(

I would like to see them get Jake Anderson onto one of the boats that stays on the show and add a few new boats. Keith and Wild Bill's crews annoy me . The HArris brothers won't be enough to keep me watching.

From the press release, it seems as though there is only going to be one boat this season...

F/V Cornelia Marie Sets Course for Discovery’s DEADLIEST CATCH Once Again – Boat skippered by late Captain Phil Harris returns w/ Josh and Jake Harris on board – October 4, 2010 (Silver Spring, Md.) Discovery Channel President and General Manager Clark Bunting announced F/V Cornelia Marie, the crab fishing vessel that late Captain Phil Harris called home, will return with deckhands Josh and Jake Harris to fish the icy Bering Sea as DEADLIEST CATCH begins filming its seventh season. “Our Dad made a tremendous connection with so many fans and it is such a fitting tribute to his life that we, his sons, can remain fishing on the boat that he skippered for so many years” said Josh and Jake Harris. Josh and Jake head to Dutch Harbor, Alaska for the beginning of king crab fishing series and the start of production on DEADLIEST CATCH in mid-October. Captain Derrick Ray, who stepped in as relief skipper last winter following Captain Phil’s stroke, returns as captain along with engineer Steve Ward, and deckhands Freddie Maughtai and Ryan Simpson. “We are excited to be once again working with Discovery Channel and Original Productions. I know Captain Phil would be happy to know the crew is back in business,” said F/V Cornelia Marie principal owner Cornelia Devlin.

Bacchus, where can I find the whole statement? Just wondering as I don't read this excerpt as saying there will be only 1 boat. I cannot imagine that working out well for the show. I am glad, however, to hear that the show is going on for another season.