Fans Criticize Steve Riedel’s Return on ‘Bering Sea Gold’

Bering Sea Gold returned with its new season on August 16. However, with the show’s return, someone not all fans enjoy watching also made a comeback. Steve Riedel is back, and fans quickly voiced their disappointment with his return to the reality TV series.

In its new season, Bering Sea Gold split into two shows, each revealing a different fishing season. The summer dredging season airs in the spring as Bering Sea Gold, while the spring dredging season airs in the fall under the title Bering Sea Gold: Under The Ice. The current season marks the 18th overall and the 13th for the ICE version.

Despite his long-standing presence on the show since Season 1, many fans are not pleased to see Steve Riedel back again. His daughter, Emily, who has also made a name on the show, captains the Eroica. When Steve appeared in the new season premiere, some fans immediately expressed their displeasure.

One fan on Reddit questioned why Steve keeps returning every season, calling him “filler” and stating that they fast-forward through his scenes. Other Redditors quickly joined in with their own opinions:

• “I hope they have him on to do something weird or infuriating once a season. This show is a comedy more than a reality show. But the weirdos is why I watch”
• “I really miss Riedel and Meisterheim together. Watching Scott lose his sh*t over Steve’s antics was the real gold.”

However, not all fans share the same sentiment. Some viewers love seeing Steve on the show. While his character might be puzzling to some, other fans argue that he represents the essence of what the show aims to capture.

Some fans believe that while the show is about the dredging, it also documents life in Nome, Alaska, and Steve fits this narrative perfectly. Therefore, they consider him an ideal participant in the series:

• “Steve Riedel is quintessential to having the full Nome experience. I grew up in a similarly small town and these people are gold.”
• “Steve is the court jester and an OG. He gave the other court jesters, the Kellys, their start. I enjoy his bits.”
• “If Bering Sea Gold were a person, it would be Steve Riedel. Love that guy. He’s like a train wreck, as is the show. You can’t take your eyes off ’em.”

The new season of Bering Sea Gold premiered on August 16. As Discovery Channel’s longest-running show about Alaskan gold, it returned with more gold discovery and plenty of drama, which keeps it entertaining.

What do you think about Steve Riedel on Bering Sea Gold? Do you enjoy his presence, or do you fast-forward through his segments? Share your thoughts in the comments below.