Below Deck Down Under Recap: Below Deck Elementary

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Despite her flaws, Tzarina’s psychology is incredibly captivating among the cast of Below Deck Down Under. Her actions can be traced back to her insecurities, although the path is often unpredictable and peppered with unexpected, frustrating turns. Until now, I found myself cheering for her. Her tumultuous nature made me think of a frustrating yet endearing friend, the kind you want to give a good shake. It was vexing that she seemed so eager for Wihan’s attention, but I empathized with what appears to be gnawing at her: the fear of being excluded. Last season, she was left behind by a deckhand for another stunning crew member. This season, Wihan also abandoned her when he chose Adair, and she feels overlooked by Lara as well.

I understand how she’s struggling – it’s never pleasant feeling like you might be left behind when there’s only room for three on a tight sidewalk. However, her actions this week are hard to justify. To put it simply, she seems to act in a way that she knows is irritating, which only makes her more frustrated with herself. This has been going on since Lara made her Brady Bunch remark, and the resentment has grown over the next two days, escalating a minor incident into something much bigger. It’s important to remember that Lara isn’t perfect either.

On the second day of the voyage, events progress smoothly. Nick ponders what might transpire if he hadn’t admitted his actions to Jason. Meanwhile, Alesia communicates her longing for Johnny via text message. Jason requests Lara to assign Marina to duties for the day’s trip to a rum distillery. Lara, being hesitant due to Marina not yet managing tasks independently, mid-season, finds it difficult to comply with this advice. However, Jason persuades Lara to have faith in Marina, and eventually she concedes. Perhaps feeling a hint of unease that things are starting to deviate, even slightly, from her control, Lara seems to intentionally or unintentionally stir up disorder within the overall organization of the excursion.

Tzarina wishes to delegate Alesia as her representative at dinner preparation in the kitchen, but Lara strongly suggests that a head of department should attend instead. Lara, for some reason, can’t go herself and doesn’t discuss this with Tzarina, though she could have spoken to Nate. Instead, Lara subtly hints that it would be beneficial for Alesia to interact more with the guests. Tzarina, already in a bad mood, interprets Lara’s advice as pressure and becomes even more irritable. This minor disagreement in the kitchen marks the start of their growing misunderstanding and eventual conflict. In essence, neither Tzarina nor Lara make an attempt to truly comprehend each other’s perspectives, leading them to believe the other is mistaken.

The attendees had an enjoyable outing, and Marina stepped up to the challenge, leaving Lara impressed by her service abilities. However, Tzarina was the only one who seemed displeased with the situation. To be fair, she drove for half an hour to reach the rum distillery only to spend mere minutes arranging the pre-cooked food on the table. Clearly irritated, she jokingly complained to Alesia, questioning whether Tzarina might manage unwrapping the dishes by herself next time. Unfortunately, her comment fell flat, and it was evident that she didn’t intend it to be taken seriously.

During this time, Nick chooses to be honest and admit to Jason that he had a tequila shot with the guests: “I guess I got a bit too excited and I wasn’t firm enough in my refusal, and I made a mistake by taking the shot.” Jason seems puzzled, perhaps equally by Nick’s choice of words as well as his actions; but since Nick came to him immediately, he decides to overlook it. Strangely, Nick then informs every other member of the deck team about his mistake. However, they all seem uninterested.

In a moment where Lara inquires about the excursion’s outcome from Tzarina, who is still fatigued, the chef responds bluntly: “I found it unproductive.” Upon Alesia’s return to the kitchen, Tzarina, experiencing a more intense version of misunderstanding that once affected her relationship with Anthony centuries ago, becomes distant. Alesia asks about the dinner plan and how she can assist, but all Tzarina manages to say is, “Everything is fine.” Things take a turn for the worse when Alesia expresses gratitude to Lara for advocating for her excursion participation. While I acknowledge that Lara tends to meddle more than necessary, I believe it’s excessive for Tzarina to perceive the interaction as Lara “preparing my sous-chef against me.

Harry, sensing Tzarina’s grumpy demeanor and always eager to fuel gossip, deliberately seeks Tzarina out to ask about her relationship with Lara. What was hidden beneath Tzarina’s moodiness came to light: She’s envious. She feels overshadowed by Lara’s friendship with Bri, which is unrelated to the events of the day. Time and again, Tzarina compares Lara to the popular, unkind girl on the playground who dictates friendships and activities; however, it appears that Tzarina herself is the one most engrossed in this childhood game of friendship, as if she relies on Lara to confirm their bond.

While getting ready for the “Luxurious Night in Dubai” themed dinner, Alesia attempts to lift Tzarina’s spirits, but she dismisses it, claiming exhaustion. Overwhelmed by a gloomy atmosphere, Alesia momentarily pauses during service. The dinner turns out well, and Marina relishes the opportunity to assist with serving. She also appreciates Nick’s growing interest, who shyly approaches her, stuttering his supposed “charm.” In a personal reflection, he acknowledges that approaching women has always been challenging for him, but he credits feminism for making it possible. Honestly, Nick, it’s only because of feminism that we can now speak to you without fear of oppression – and trust me, I’m not exactly thrilled about it! This fellow annoys me.

As the guests savor a meal unexpectedly lacking steak and lobster, Nate requests that Harry demonstrate the lines on the boat’s deck in anticipation of docking it tomorrow. I find Nate quite likable: He appears sincere and diligent, and it’s heartening to see him honestly express – and genuinely mean it – that he has no ego after our recent experiences with Wihan. Later, Harry will benefit from his trustworthiness and expertise: Nate appoints him as the deckhand, a role he has long aspired to since the initial episode of this season.

The day doesn’t begin smoothly for everyone in the team. Instead of brushing off the previous day as less than ideal, Tzarina maintains her negative mood during breakfast service. When she provides Alesia with puzzling instructions, Alesia, our star employee who is known for her direct yet considerate approach to conflict, can’t help but clarify why understanding the situation is crucial for her to perform her tasks effectively. In a clever and ingenious twist reminiscent of the game UNO, Tzarina, who initially instructed Alesia to simply “Yes, chef” and be quiet, ends up agreeing to communicate more openly by the end of their conversation.

The new dock team performs exceptionally well in mooring the boat, but at the team meeting, each member pockets $1,153 from a rather small $15,000 tip pool, which the captain emphasizes doesn’t represent their impressive performance over the weekend. Jason graciously presents the disco helmet to Nick, who accepts it gracefully. As the day begins to wrap up, the crew exchanges updates on recent events: Adair shares with Marina about Nick’s antics with the guests (their friendship is quite endearing; they make each other laugh), and Bri informs Lara that Alesia mentioned in their cabin that Tzarina’s unusual behavior was affecting her.

Lara decides to intervene and organizes a gathering at Bri’s cabin, inviting Lara herself, Bri, and Alesia. During this meeting, Alesia repeats her complaints that she had previously shared with Tzarina in the galley. As soon as Alesia finishes speaking, Tzarina enters, causing an immediate hush among the girls. It’s clear they had been discussing Tzarina, which isn’t helpful for her current state of mind, reinforcing her belief that she doesn’t fit in. Instead, it might be more beneficial for Tzarina to spend time with Marina and Adair, who are uninvolved in the boat’s social interactions.

Later in the evening, sharing a smoke, I find myself engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Alesia and Tzarina. It turns out to be a fruitful discussion indeed. Tzarina expresses her regret for unintentionally venting her frustrations towards Lara, the sous-chef. Her remorse is palpable, making it clear that Alesia, who I find myself admiring more and more within this group, accepts her apology sincerely.

When they step aside to chat in the bathroom, I overhear their conversation. Lara inquires about how their talk went, and if Alesia were inclined to stir up trouble, she could have divulged Tzarina’s frustrations with Lara. Instead, Alesia attributes it to the pressures of the industry, explaining that being a chef can be quite exhausting. This selfless act of hers speaks volumes about her character and compassion.

As I mentioned earlier, Lara isn’t perfect, and she dislikes being told she is, so she feels compelled to rectify any issue at hand. However, people generally don’t appreciate a self-proclaimed expert, especially not Tzarina, who matches Lara’s brashness in their dialogue. Lara criticizes Tzarina for her condescending tone, saying it makes her feel intellectually inferior. In response, Tzarina expresses similar feelings and recalls PlateGate, an instance where Lara interfered with Tzarina’s presentation of dishes despite it not being her area of responsibility. Lara persists in her stance, and it appears their dispute will continue well into the following week.

In more relaxed chitchat, Harry inquires about the newcomers’ romantic interests on the boat. Nate admits his affection towards Alesia, having shared a special moment with her in the hot tub earlier, although at present, Alesia is still texting sweet messages to Johnny like “I miss you” and “It’s not the same without you.” Nick expresses his feelings for Marina, making no secret of it when he dances with her and later kisses her, a rather charming gesture for someone rumored to lack charm. Come on, Nick! People find that hard to believe!

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2025-04-22 05:55