Some Fans Believe Captain Phil's Tragic Death Was The Show's Turning Point

Phil Harris' final moments on "Deadliest Catch" were, without a doubt, a significant and memorable event that made an indelible impact on the show's history. Season 6, Episode 14 ("Redemption Day") garnered 8.5 million viewers, making it Discovery's third-highest-watched telecast at the time. Not only did this episode mark a turning point for "Deadliest Catch," but it also served as a groundbreaking milestone for reality television as a whole.

According to the New York Times, this was the first time a reality TV show incorporated the death of a lead cast member into the story in such a way. Audiences are taken right to Harris' bedside, where he spends his last hours sharing emotional words with his sons. If Discovery's coverage of Harris' demise exploited his pain for ratings, fans probably would've turned away from the show. However, filming was conducted in a tasteful manner (his actual death isn't shown), all at the request of Harris. Cameraman Todd Stanley said, "We always talked about having a beginning, a middle and an end. Without one of those three things, you don't have a story."

Following these heart-wrenching scenes, the personal lives of captains and crew members are featured more heavily on "Deadliest Catch," from Sig Hansen's heart attack to Jake Anderson's search for family history in Norway.