Fishing is the family business for the Hansen family. It’s been a generational career that has kept the family afloat. But being a family business, it can create a bit of a complication when things go wrong. Such was the case for Captain Sig Hansen. In the latest episode of Deadliest Catch‘s 21st season, Captain Sig finds himself at a difficult crossroads: does work or family come first?
When one of the Fishing Vessel Northwestern’s deckhands, Clark Pederson, gruesomely gashed his hand open while cleaning a fish, Captain Sig immediately went into rescue mode. The trouble is that this was Clark, Sig’s son-in-law. Knowing Clark was going to need medical assistance, Sig was instantly in turmoil as to how to treat the situation. As Sig bluntly put it, “That’s not just a crew member, that’s my son-in-law down there.” Was he tending to Clark like anyone else who suffered an injury, or was he treating the father of his grandchildren? No matter what he chose, there would be lingering consequences. Resentment from the crew or resentment from his daughter.
Captain Sig and Clark Pederson Face a Moral Dilemma
As Deadliest Catch‘s Adak Island adventures continue, F/V Northwestern found itself weighing a family versus work decision. As Sig said: “There’s a lot of pieces to this puzzle.” Despite her excellent early-season victory, Mandy Hansen left for the season to tend to her daughters. Nevertheless, it was going to be business as usual for her husband and her father. Setting off from Dutch Harbor, Sig said, “If you’re not careful what you’re doing, you can get pinched in a hurry.” Cut to Clark’s nightmare hand injury.
With the waves rolling, Clark’s accident should not have happened, and Sig knew so. Below deck, Sig used his expertise to help Clark, but what authoritative role was he serving at the moment? Clark was trying to clean his wound with paper towels, but Sig admonished his unsanitary decision. With fears that the wound could be infected, the goal was to get him to shore as quickly as possible. As much as Clark pushed back, not wanting to be the reason the boat had to go in, he, too, was at a crossroads. Is he talking to his superior or his wife’s father? “We have to worry about your hand! That’s it!” Sig yelled at Clark. Sig knew at that moment that he refused to make a phone call home to his daughter to alert her that something terrible had happened on his watch.
“I need Clark to get out of here, he’s my priority,” Captain Sig lamented. Even on the journey back, trying to set crab traps on the way, Clark attempted to help and pull his weight, only for Sig to say, “This doesn’t feel right. Get the hell off the deck. Please?” A question and not a command. Sig had exploded before, but his tone shifted because it was Clark. If the two came to blows, it would not lead to a joyous Thanksgiving dinner.
Captain Sig Is Signaling a Personal Shift on ‘Deadliest Catch’
Sig isn’t just fishing for himself. His success dictates the functionality and stability of his crew. He can’t just abandon ship for Clark when everyone else would suffer. Sig’s captain’s hat prompted him to radio Captain Johnathan Hillstrand about the crab situation, ensuring they wouldn’t miss out on their monetary mission. There was no right way to handle the situation. Sig might have had fewer worries if it were anyone else. It’s complicated. Things get increasingly more fluid when a disaster strikes a loved one who happens to be your employee. Watching Sig’s inner turmoil showcased true concern for the macro picture. Yet, his heart knew he had to protect his daughter’s husband at all costs.
In the end, at Dutch Harbor, Clark delivered the good news to his father-in-law and employer that he didn’t have to go home. In the wheelhouse, the two men had a simple chat that reflected the weight of their relationship. Clark was telling his boss that he was ready to get back in action. Sig acknowledged that his son-in-law was okay. The moral dilemma highlighted the challenges of the family business, particularly in determining when and how to navigate the gray area.
Sig treated Clark with kid gloves. His shift is further proof of how important family has become to him later in life. Knowing that his time at sea will be coming to an end soon, Sig is prioritizing his family. The Clark injury is a key factor in his ultimate wish, because when he retires, the boat will be Mandy and Clark’s. Being a leader and the patriarch of the Hansen family is coming to a head.
Deadliest Catch airs Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on the Discovery Channel. All episodes are available to stream on HBO Max.
