Season 17 of Discovery’s reality series Gold Rush premiered Oct. 2, with gold hovering around $5,000 an ounce and more than $130 million worth of it waiting to be mined. But rather than centering only on the rivalry between two heavyweights, Parker and Tony, the storyline drawing the most attention belongs to Rick Ness.
Missing in action in the season opener
In the first episode, Rick all but vanishes from the screen just as the season begins. Crew members Jason and Heather Folster, who are at his site, grow worried after days without word from him. They join a Zoom call with other team members to figure out what is happening with their boss.
Elsewhere, Parker, Tony and newcomer Greg Gibson, who has bought up claims across Bonanza Creek, have all set big goals for the year. The contrast sharpens Rick’s predicament: while others chase tens of millions of dollars, he is not sure he can start his season at all.
Warning signs
According to an episode recap, Rick tells his close friend Brian “Zee” Zaremba, on the drive back to Dawson City, that he has not been feeling well. The symptoms he describes include sleepwalking, and on one occasion he fell and hit his head. Alarmed by what he heard, Zee urges him to see a doctor.
After the appointment, Rick continues on to Duncan Creek to meet his crew, but his fears about the future follow him the whole way.
Diagnosis not disclosed
According to Discovery’s official description, Rick receives a “life-altering” diagnosis and also faces a bombshell from his own crew that could derail the entire mining season. Episode 3, titled “Diagnosing Rick,” picks up the story as he receives the results.
Notably, the nature of the diagnosis has not been stated in the information released by the network. Speculation has spread on social media, but no reliable confirmation has emerged so far.
Fighting on two fronts
With gold at record prices, every week of downtime can cost a season. Last year Tony pulled a record 11,000 ounces worth $43 million, and Parker finished behind him despite his own best year. This season Parker has set a 13,000-ounce target and Tony is spending $20 million on new equipment, while Rick must manage his health and keep his crew and machinery running.
Some entertainment outlets also report that Tony made an offer to buy Rick’s operation at the end of last season. That remains an unconfirmed report, but if it is true, it could complicate Rick’s position even further.
A familiar comeback story
Longtime viewers have embraced Rick for his candor and his very public setbacks. He returned to the show in season 13 after a break to address his mental health, and his recovery since then has been closely followed.
That is why this crisis is more than a dramatic plot point. It touches the question fans care about most: can Rick come through this and keep mining, and will Season 17 prove to be a rebirth or a turning point in his career?
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