Deadliest Catch's Josh Harris Gives His Two Cents On What Makes The Show So Appealing

The following article includes allegations of sexual assault.

Of all the captains who have appeared on Discovery's "Deadliest Catch," Josh Harris, captain of the F/V Cornelia Marie, is one of the most significant — even though his association with the series is now deeply tainted by sexual assault allegations that, in September 2022, led "Deadliest Catch" to sever ties with him.

Harris first joined the iconic docuseries back in Season 3, working as a crew member under the Cornelia Marie's then-captain: his father, Phil Harris. At the beginning of Season 11, Josh Harris became co-captain of the Cornelia Marie, and eventually garnered his own spin-off, titled "Deadliest Catch: Bloodlines." Indeed, before the scandal erupted, "Deadliest Catch" had made it a point to drive home the importance of the Harris family legacy, and as such, Josh's continuation of that legacy was a major focal point of the show itself. 

Even before these allegations became public, though, there were fans who couldn't stand the show's extremely dramatic emphasis on the Harris family, to the point where some fans say that "Deadliest Catch: Bloodlines" wasn't worth the watch. Indeed, when Josh Harris himself was asked about what makes "Deadliest Catch" so appealing, he gave a pretty surprising answer — one which did not specifically reference his family's extreme influence on the franchise.

During an April 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly (before Josh Harris was ousted from the show), he was asked why he thinks "Deadliest Catch" has had such a passionate following for so long. Harris answered that it is primarily because of the series' authenticity. "In my opinion, it's for real people with real problems," Harris explained. "It's not a scripted show. In my life, I can't tell you how many people still to this day come up to me and give me a hug and say they've lost somebody or gone through things you're going through."

Harris went on to address how the show primarily resonates with people because, at the end of the day, everybody is just trying to survive — and that is more true than normal in a high-stakes occupation like commercial fishing. In addition to the series' inherent relatability, Harris also spoke about how fans have watched his life evolve throughout the show, and how that experience has allowed them to form a deep connection with both him and the series as a whole. This interview makes it abundantly clear that Harris has a deep respect for the realistic nature of "Deadliest Catch," and values the way that the series manages to connect with people through their shared experiences.