For the brave (borderline daredevil) fishers that find themselves on the boats featured on Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch,” there’s an additional level of pressure on top of catching enough crab and surviving the harsh conditions of the Bering Sea. That extra pressure doesn’t come from any typical element that’s inherent with your average crabbing vessel but instead festers on the other side of the camera crew’s lenses — one of the most dangerous gigs in the world is all displayed in front of millions of viewers.

For the average deckhand, solidifying a position on a crab boat usually requires at least the basic fishing experience, as well as the mental and physical toughness required to be an important part of a trained crew that catches a specific crab quota and makes it back to shore in one piece. On top of that, when being featured on “Deadliest Catch,” any member of the crew — from deckhand to captain — is scrutinized and portrayed in the public eye, vulnerable to comments, judgments, and even career-ending mistakes.

For Mandy Hansen, daughter of Captain Sig Hansen of the Northwestern, being one of the newer cast members of “Deadliest Catch and the possibility of being knocked overboard, hit by a 700-pound crab pot, or the countless other terrifying possible outcomes doesn’t terrify her any more than one specific aspect of the gig: being on TV.

Mandy Hansen has more to worry about than catching crab

For Mandy Hansen, ending up as an equal crew member on her father’s boat, the Northwestern, was more important than an average career path. However, despite all the dangers (which include ending up on the seafloor), she finds being in the public eye is more terrifying than the inherent dangers of being a crab fisherman.

For Hansen, the fact that she can do her job in one way and have it shown in a completely different light during the reality show adds additional stress to the already anxiety-filled gig. She revealed to Hollywood Soapbox, “It’s so scary. I don’t know what they’re actually going to show on TV. I wanted to go fishing. That was it. I didn’t realize it was going [to be] such a big deal, and I’d actually be in the public eye. That’s terrifying for me. But I’m starting to wrap my head around it.” Clearly, Hansen hasn’t been paying much attention to the show that made her father one of the most well-known captains in the fleet! Discovery has not held back much when it comes to personal stories and ongoing issues for just about everyone involved.

Whether she likes it or not, “Deadliest Catch” has portrayed her in a positive light as she continues to move forward — toward that captain’s chair. And the way Hansen sees it, even if that wasn’t the case, her occupational choice still trumps what could’ve been. “I want it to succeed,” Hansen said to Hollywood Soapbox. “I want to be a part of it … I want to be on deck with the guys … I don’t want to work at a random company and just have to try to make someone else’s business grow. It’s pride.”

SHOCK NEWS: ‘Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns’ Mandy Builds Her Empire – look forward to season 20

Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns shows the actual return of Captain Sig Hansen, who heads to Norway. The show has documented the dangerous career of crab fishing ever since its inception in 2005. For over 18 seasons, the show has received numerous awards and accolades.

Captain Sig wanted a change of pace and scenery. This led him to star in the spinoff series, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns. He travels the high waters with his daughter Mandy Hansen by his side. The show follows them to Norway, where their ancestors are located. The family hopes that they will create an even larger empire.

When does Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns premiere?

Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns is on the Fall 2022 lineup for the Discovery Channel. The new season will focus on Mandy, who has to find a way to balance her career with her ever-growing family. She wants to start an empire that she hopes will pass on to the new generation.

It’s important for Mady to keep the legacy going. She hopes that she will become the mom of future fishermen. In the new trailer for the Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns, Mandy says, “We didn’t come here to trade one location for another. We came here to build something bigger.”

The trailer shows the dramatic and tense moments that take place in the series. In the Discovery Channel series, Captain Sig admits that it’s “not about money,” it’s more “about family.” A few years ago, he talked about his daughter taking over as a Captain for Northwestern.
“Oh, she’s fine. She and her husband can take it and run. I don’t care. They are young, they got this, for me, I’m done,” Captain Sig said, per Outsider. “I got a foot out the door. My mentality is different from what it was 20 years ago. You only get so many chances. I’m hoping it makes sense.”

Mandy builds upon her family’s legacy

The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns star admits that he respects his daughter and her ability to take over the crab business as well as the ship. However, he struggles with the idea of handing it over to her. Sig still loves his job and he can’t imagine not doing it anymore.

“I can’t stop, that’s the problem. All of us are egomaniacs. You want to stop, but the ego portion won’t let me stop. There’s no way in hell,” Sig continued. “See what I mean. You are torn. You know that song ‘Torn Between Two Lovers?’ That’s kind of what is going on here. Really what we need is a shrink. If we could get a goddamn shrink in Dutch Harbor, we’d be better off.”

Sig faced a health setback that forced him to stop working. He suffered from a mild heart attack in his 50s. The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns cast member said he was hesitant about returning to work. What are your thoughts on the upcoming season? Sound off below in the comment section.
Check back with TV Shows Ace for more news on The Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.

Though Mandy Hansen was determined to work on a fishing boat, her father Sig Hansen was initially hesitant, telling PEOPLE, “I did not want her on the boat… You’re out there risking your life”

For as long as Mandy Hansen can remember, she dreamed of one day working on a fishing boat.

“I always wanted to be on the water,” Mandy, 27, exclusively tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I tried looking into different areas in the maritime industry, you know, the big boats, and container ships, that was what I was trying to go for but I just realized, that’s just an office job on the water.”

“There’s a lot more thrill in fishing,” she adds. “So, I went right back to it.”

It’s no surprise, given that her father is Captain Sig Hansen, who stars on Deadliest Catch, Discovery’s reality series that follows fishermen in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king-and snow-crab season.

The Hansen family comes from a long line of Norwegian fishermen, but Sig, 56, was hesitant to let his daughter join their ranks.

“I did not want her on the boat,” he says. “I’ve lost so many friends… you can’t even comprehend. You’re out there risking your life.”

Despite Sig’s reservations, Mandy persevered. At age 18, she became one of the youngest women to fish in the Bering Sea during the winter months.

“Fishing is part of my heritage and culture,” says Mandy. “I wasn’t going to let anyone stop me, including my dad.”

Now the father-daughter duo are returning to Norway with hopes of expanding their empire in their own spinoff, Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns.

“I’m just lucky that I get to spend the time with my dad and see him out there on the field. A lot of people don’t exactly get to do that. And I’m learning from one of the best,” she says.

While Mandy says the male-dominated industry can come with challenges, she doesn’t let it bother her.

“People doubting you. Or they’re going think that you are silver spoon fed or get off easy, but the fact is that I’m still out there. I’m not on land. I’m not at home,” she says, adding, “I just always try to be the hardest working person in the room and that’s the best I can do.”

Now a new mom — Mandy and her husband of five years, Clark Pederson welcomed daughter Sailor Marie last November — she is looking forward to the day she can show her own daughter the ropes.

“I can’t wait to bring her out there. I don’t know about the Bering Sea, but summertime we’re at Cordova, Valdez area, much calmer,” she says. “I would love to bring her out there with me.”

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Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Discovery.