Chef Rachel Hargrove has been through a lot during her time on the Bravo series, but Below Deck season 10 will likely cement her as an all-time favorite in viewers’ eyes. Rachel first appeared in season 8 of the show. She was quite a polarizing character at first. She was confrontational, brutally honest, and criticized for her drinking habits.
Nevertheless, Rachel would stay on the show for another two seasons, during which time, fans' opinions of her changed drastically. In one fit of brutal honesty, Rachel admitted that she hated the show even before becoming part of the cast. This didn’t sit well with Bravo executives, and shortly after, Below Deck season 10's Rachel announced that she wouldn’t return for the next season. With her coming departure, it’s good to reflect on what ultimately made her so likable.
Why Rachel Had An Advantage Going Into Season 10
Even going into Below Deck season 10, there was great eagerness regarding Rachel’s return. In a Reddit thread from u/teanailpolish announcing the new season’s cast, commenters reacted positively to the chef’s presence among the cast. One user wrote, “I love Rachel, so I’m excited to have her back,” with another adding, “I’m so happy to see Rachel back…She might talk too much but she is a great chef that speaks truth so I love her chaotic energy.” Indeed, Rachel had a lot of fan support going into this new season, thanks in large part to her redemption arc in Below Deck season 9.
Why Rachel Hargrove Is A Below Deck Icon
Often, when a TV show seeks to redeem one character, the easiest way to do so is by bringing in new cast members who are even crazier. Rachel is no stranger to such circumstances. It helped that, besides Captain Lee Rosbach, Rachel was the only familiar face on season 9. There was an automatic connection there, even with her sordid history on the show. On top of that, Rachel is just good at what she does. She’s a great chef, one who’s up-front, sometimes to a fault. In one controversial, yet especially cathartic instance, she criticized a particularly demanding charter guests, causing Rachel to nearly quit in mid-season 8.
Rachel is perfect for reality TV for many reasons, chief among these reasons being how real she is. In a world where so much reality TV is orchestrated and stars are disingenuous, Rachel is a breath of fresh air, even if her honesty can be harsh. The season has been filled with drama between stewardesses Camille Lamb and Alissa Humber, but Rachel and chief stew Fraser's friendship is a clear highlight. Below Deck isn’t the only show that could use some more honesty among its stars, so maybe fans will see more of Rachel on another reality show in the future.
Source: u/teanailpolish/Reddit, Rachel Hargrove/Instagram