For someone who had already faced adversity this season, this moment was the last straw, and required him to seek out help. Captain Jake’s explosion at the producer was his way of expressing his frustration, which led to a bona fide panic attack. Jake spoke with a doctor about his panic attacks and was advised to quit his job, but we knew that was never going to happen. Instead, he started down a path of change.
Captain Jake Is Beyond Cursed on ‘Deadliest Catch’
Captain Jake’s mission at the start of the season was to afford to purchase the Titan Explorer. Having lost F/V Saga, he’s been eager to start a new adventure as a boat owner once again, but his journey to get there has been marred with trouble. In the season premiere, viewers witnessed F/V Titan Explorer experience an ammonia leak that caused Jake and his crew to abandon ship. Though Captain Keith Colburn‘s F/V Wizard saved the day, it was a major setback for Jake’s drive to reach his quota and monetary goal of $3 million. When another disaster hit Titan Explorer, Jake understandably broke down.
Captain Jake may be the most cursed captain on the show, ever. First, it was the ammonia leak. Last season, he lost his boat and had to work his way up to this point, becoming the Captain of Titan Explorer after temporarily working under Captain Sig Hansen on F/V Northwestern when he was jobless. His mission of trying to purchase the boat is once again hanging in the balance. For a boat that continues to give him so many problems, why not cut his losses and find a new vessel? The answer is his determination and unwillingness to quit.
Captain Jake’s Tough ‘Deadliest Catch’ Journey Is Inspiring
Even though he was forced to head back to Dutch Harbor and lose all momentum in the process, the journey was ultimately worthwhile. While emotionally on the phone with his wife, Jenna Anderson, she slowly helped him find the ability to finally understand that quitting gets you nowhere. She was able to ease his mind as he vented and as he understood the value of getting help. Jake’s visit to the clinic to check his mind and body resulted in the doctor saying he should quit the intense job, but we know that decision neglects his true character. Rather than heed that advice, he used it to help himself. He learned that his panic attacks and past traumas were coming to a head, tracing back to when he lost his father, who went missing in the woods 15 years prior. (As viewers learned, his skeletal remains were found two years later, though his skull was never recovered.)
Trauma has been a major factor in Jake’s life. With loss being a key part of his journey on Deadliest Catch, this episode reminded viewers of the importance of prioritizing mental health. With figures like Captain Jake seeking therapy, his scenes destroy the stigma while exposing the importance of doing those health check-ins.
Between the loss of his father going missing, the death of Nick Mavar, and losing his boat last season, Jake’s ability to fight through adversity has been central to his character. He continues to be a beacon of hope and perseverance for the entire crew, which has been a part of him since his greenhorn days with Captain Sig. As he continues down the path of hoping to purchase Titan Explorer, our ability to see the nuances and his ability to willingly ask for help make us wish for that happy ending by season’s end.
Deadliest Catch airs Fridays at 8:00pm on Discovery Channel.
