Below Deck Down Under: Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph’s Villain Edit Could End In Her Getting Fired (Lara Rigby Is Setting Her Up To Fail)

Below Deck Down Under season 3 is navigating rough waters, not just in the Seychelles but within the confines of the superyacht Katina. Chef Tzarina Mace-Ralph, once celebrated for her quirky charm and culinary talent, is suddenly being painted as this season’s villain. But beneath the surface drama lies a deeper manipulation, one that seems to be spearheaded by Chief Stew Lara Rigby.

Viewers have watched as tensions between Tzarina and Lara have escalated, with each episode adding new layers of conflict. The edit Tzarina is receiving feels increasingly slanted, raising eyebrows among viewers. Could Lara be intentionally setting her up to fail, securing her standing while sacrificing her so-called friend?

Lara Is The Reason Tzarina Seems Like A Villain
Lara’s Passive-Aggressive Sabotage Is Rewriting The Narrative

Tzarina returned to Below Deck Down Under with optimism, excited to work alongside Lara, a familiar face from a past charter season. The two even chose to room together, suggesting a bond that could offer stability amid yacht life’s chaos. But that friendship quickly fractured when Lara started making snide remarks behind Tzarina’s back, including calling her “Weird Barbie” in confessionals—comments that shocked Tzarina, who admitted in her own confessional, “I was very taken back.”

Things took a sharper turn when Lara began to overstep professionally, especially in the galley. During one breakfast service, she ignored Tzarina’s planned menu and took custom orders from guests without consulting her. The move not only threw off the kitchen’s workflow but also signaled a lack of respect for Tzarina’s role as head chef, contributing to a growing narrative that she’s struggling when, in reality, she’s being undermined.

Tzarina Needs To Stand Up Against Lara Or She Could Get Fired

Tzarina’s Leadership Is On The Line—And Lara’s Making It Worse

The mounting pressure on Tzarina is starting to show, jeopardizing her job. In a recent episode, she vented her frustrations about Captain Jason Chambers to Lara, unaware the captain was within earshot. The fallout from that moment left her visibly emotional, and while understandable, it raised questions about her professionalism and stability under pressure.

Adding fuel to the fire, Tzarina struggled to maintain a working relationship with her sous-chefs. The constant friction in the galley ultimately led to Anthony Bird’s dismissal, which may have eased tensions at the moment but also highlighted instability in Tzarina’s leadership. With kitchen drama and interpersonal conflicts stacking up, Tzarina needs to set clear boundaries—especially with Lara—or risk being seen as incapable of running her department.

Lara Is The True Villain On The Show

Lara’s Manipulative Tactics Are Masking Her Own Incompetence

While Tzarina faces the brunt of the drama, Lara’s actions suggest a calculated effort to shift the blame and maintain her image as a competent leader. Her rigid management style has consistently rubbed the crew the wrong way, with micromanagement over trivial tasks like towel folding and unreasonable service protocols. This inflexibility has only added stress to the already high-pressure environment aboard the Katina.

Lara’s emotional instability also came to light during the first charter of this season of Below Deck Down Under, when she broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the yacht’s layout and guest demands. This moment of fragility raises serious questions about her ability to handle the Chief Stew position, which requires resilience and adaptability. Yet, despite these glaring weaknesses, Lara expertly deflects criticism, often turning the spotlight onto others, particularly Tzarina, solidifying her role as the true antagonist of the season.