Chef Tzarina and Lara have been at the center of the drama all season on Below Deck Down Under season 3. Sous Chef Anthony Bird didn't like Chef Tzarina's relationship style and got a job on another yacht mid-season, leading to his impromptu firing by Captain Jason. After Chef Tzarina and Bosun Wihan Du Toit shared a drunken kiss, she got jealous when he pursued Stew Marina Marcondes de Barros and later wrote a love letter to Adair Werley. This temporarily bonded the Chef and Chief Stew. However, now that Wihan's gone, they're turning their anger towards each other.
Lara Rigby Has A Popular Girl Mentality
She's A Mean Girl
It's pretty obvious to me that Lara is being set up to be the villain, but it's undeniable that she has a mean girl mentality. While Lara came aboard with polished service skills and an eye for five-star experiences, it’s her stereotypical popular girl behavior that could be her comeuppance. Even Chef Tzarina knows that she's the weird one and Lara's the "cool" one in their tumultuous relationship.
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Lara’s attitude is most obvious when it comes to Chef Tzarina, however. Despite Lara’s attempts to smooth things over between Chef Tzarina and Alesia Harris, she orchestrated a meeting about Chef Tzarina’s behavior without inviting the Chef. She also tore through the galley earlier in the day talking about how Chef Tzarina was the weird Brady Bunch sister, a callback to her Weird Barbie comment.
Lara's bullying of Chef Tzarina is totally uncalled-for and unnecessary.
Earlier in the season, Lara purposefully blindsided Chef Tzarina by adding a surprise wine tasting for guests during a pre-planned Texas Barbecue. Rather than collaborating with the Chef, Lara forced a last-minute pivot that derailed service and stoked even more tension. Her habit of forging ahead without team input reflects her lack of respect for Chef Tzarina and insistence on juvenile social hierarchies.
Lara Needs To Control Everything
It Makes Her Come Across As Rude
I think Lara arrived onboard the Katina with the intention of running a tight ship, but her control issues make her a villain. As Chief Stew, Lara took charge of the interior with an iron grip, but instead of earning respect, she's alienating everyone from her Stews to Captain Jason and Chef Tzarina. What began as an attempt to enforce high standards turned into a power struggle, and she's coming out as the bad guy.
Below Deck Down Under
Lara Rigby
Astrological Sign
Virgo
Job
Chief Stew
Hometown
Cornwall, UK
That same controlling behavior extended to her team, especially Marina. Even after Captain Jason suggested giving Marina more guest-facing responsibilities to build her confidence, Lara doubled down on keeping her in a back-of-house housekeeping role. Captain Jason clearly wasn't impressed with her subordination and may have (rightfully) soured on her. However, Captain Jason probably isn't eager to fire another cast member after having to let Wihan and Johnny go in one fell swoop.
Lara Is Turning Alesia Against Tzarina
She's Caught In The Middle Of Their Feud
Lara is even involving other crew members in her feud with Chef Tzarina, going right for the jugular. Instead of allowing Chef Tzarina to delegate tasks to her sous-chef, Lara insisted that Chef Tzarina personally come along on the recent excursion. Alesia, who had been eager to prove herself, was left to feel like an afterthought. When Chef Tzarina later expressed frustration, Alesia took it personally, and Lara seized the moment.
Lara seems to need to position herself as the central figure on the boat, using her charm and control to sway other crew members to her point of view.
Will Lara Get Fired?
Captain Jason Is Unlikely To Let Her Go
Captain Jason has already fired three crew members this charter season, so he's unlikely to fire Lara, despite her mean-girl tendencies. He also probably won't fire Chef Tzarina, as her cuisine is truly unmatched in the industry. Therefore, the two are going to need to learn how to get along. Lara seems like someone who's used to getting her way, but Chef Tzarina isn't going to just roll over without a fight.
Captain Jason won't tolerate bad behavior aboard the Katina, but Lara and Chef Tzarina's feud isn't impacting guest service standards-- yet.
Below Deck Down Under airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo and streams the next day on Peacock.
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