Below Deck S12: A Fired Yachie Returns For "Redemption," But Will He Go Back To His Old Ways?

Below Deck Season 12 premiered on June 2nd, with Captain Kerry Titheradge returning to the helm of the St. David. Familiar faces return alongside Kerry this season, including chief stew Fraser Olender and deckhand Kyle Stillie, with the latter making waves with a major storyline involving a potential hookup with a married charter guest.

However, the very first episode spotlights Chef Lawrence Snowden having a difficult time adjusting to working on the yacht and with cameras in his face. By the end of the first charter, Lawrence is ready to quit and lets Kerry know that he had better call in for his replacement. Surprisingly, Kerry makes a phone call to the chef he fired last season: Chef Anthony Iracane.

Below Deck Season 12 Chef Lawrence Gets Replaced By Returning Chef Anthony Iracane

Working aboard the St. David proved to be too much for chef Lawrence Snowden. Before the first charter ended, Lawrence informed Captain Kerry that his time working as the chef this season was over after facing difficulties in a high-paced environment and having to work with a camera crew in his galley.

Although Lawrence was ready to throw in the towel, Kerry reassured him that he'd get used to the intense environment after the first charter concluded and encouraged him to put on his "big boy pants and get the job done." However, Lawrence was clear in his decision, and Kerry wasn't going to beg Lawrence to stay, telling chief stew Fraser, "If someone's willing to quit so quick, I can't have that. I need someone I can trust."

After he made his mind up, Lawrence shared with the cameras, "I'm not one to just pack things in, in the first day. It feels a bit like a failure. Problem is, when everything is going wrong around you, obviously… there's a limit. I definitely feel a lot more relaxed now."

Lawrence decided to stay until the first charter was over so that the new chef had time to get on board. Chef Lawrence cooked up dinner and breakfast the following morning for the guests, and it was actually very well-received. By the end of the episode, the new chef made his way to the St. David, and it was a returning face: Chef Anthony Iracane, who worked aboard the St. David last season but was ultimately fired by Kerry.

Lawrence saw his return as "redemption," adding, "I'm not a loser and I can be a winner. And I can make all my family proud. It's going to be showtime. It's going to be the Tony show."

Anthony shared that he would not let Kerry or his crew down this time around. "It feels really good to be home. … I’m ready. I feel fresh. I will do my best for sure," he said.

Chef Anthony And Chief Stew Fraser May Come To Blows This Season

This season promises to be a redemption arc for Chef Anthony, but his return isn't without complications. According to Anthony, there is unresolved tension between him and Fraser, which stems from last season.

In Episode 2, Anthony shared that he was "destroyed" when Kerry fired him last season. The episode then showed unseen footage of Anthony crying in the kitchen after learning his fate, with stew Barbie Pascual comforting him. He detailed that when he departed the St. David, he learned from Barbie that Fraser played a major role in his decision to get axed.

"She told me Fraser was a big part of me getting fired. That hurt me so bad. I still don't really know what happened, so I think I have all this anger. [At] the same time, I can't believe I get this kind of second chance," he shared.

He added, "Coming back to the boat, I have a lot of different [emotions] inside me. I love Fraser, but I was feeling like maybe Fraser betrayed me. I need to find the right moment to talk about my feelings with Fraser to put everything on the table."

Interestingly, Fraser may end up becoming blindsided if Anthony does confront him about his firing. The chief stew described his relationship with the chef as "like brothers" and said that Anthony's firing "was absolutely heart-wrenching." In fact, Fraser is the one to recommend Anthony to Captain Kerry.

Fraser was also seen giving Anthony an evil eye to hang above his bed to "keep the bad energy away." But, Anthony cryptically shares that he's the "bad energy now." Whether it’s a misunderstanding or Fraser’s subtle attempt at making amends for his role in Anthony’s firing last season, the tension between them will be hard to ignore.

Why Did Chef Anthony Get Fired Last Season?

Chef Anthony will need to prove to Captain Kerry that he's turned over a new leaf, both as a professional and as a team player, after his firing last season. In Episode 2 of Season 12, Fraser sheds light on the reasons behind Anthony’s firing, citing his lack of effort in delivering top-tier dining experiences to the guests and the disorganized state of his galley.

Chef Anthony was fired midseason when the yacht crew saw its lowest tip, which was mainly due to his food not being up to yacht standards. But, he was fired by Kerry, he was in shock. "So why are people telling me every day that I'm the most amazing chef in the world? So, either people [are] full of s***, or...," he shared.

Chef Anthony was replaced by Chef Nick Tatlock who finished off the season.

Fraser believed that Anthony deserved a second chance, telling Kerry that he continued to work on boats after his firing and really stepped up his game.

"I just think that he'd lost his way, and he spiraled. But he's got it in him. That boy is incredibly talented. And if I can help him where I need to and guide him, we've got something."

Captain Kerry trusted Fraser's judgement in bringing Anthony back on the St. David. Having worked with Anthony previously, he knew he was capable of making exceptional dishes but stressed that Anthony's performance began to decline, which was what led him to ultimately fire him.

"Chef Anthony knows the job. That's the pro," he said. "The con: I fired him before. I don't wanna repeat it."

When Anthony boarded the yacht, he put any feelings of Kerry firing him behind, knowing that this was a chance of a lifetime.

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Season 12 of Below Deck airs new episodes every Monday at 8 p.m. on Bravo.