#and tina and ebra and nat and richie and fak and nat are right there doing the damn thing platonically - are they not???

[ficsinhistory]

I think the problem with S3 of The Bear was that ok the mess, the coldness and the distancing and the plots in general...if it seemed like it was intentional. If they had a long term plan and this was a bait to change course later like good stories do. But it wasn't, it was just poorly written (and a bit racist).

For example, we could see Sydcarmy being separated because of Carm's worsening mental health and him wanting to convince himself that Claire is better because he doesn't want to make mistakes with the kitchen family and Syd anymore, more as a legitimate plot point and less as Storer wanting to sink Sydcarmy at any cost (which was a stupid idea and I don't even need to say why) if it didn't completely sideline Syd and obliterate her and Carmy's character in the process. Because that man may be chaotic and stupid as he may be, but Carm always cared about Syd's well-being at the end of the day.

Even after doing something stupid, Carmy always had this worry about asking how she felt about it. And that's what made their relationship different and the heart of the show. He can be distant and cold, but ignoring Syd's wishes? Doesn't give her credit when he was the one who asked her to be her partner in the first place??? The same person who recognized in 3x01 that the credit for them getting through the family and friends' night was solely hers, because he knew he had screwed up everything and didn't deserve to be part of it? Not only that, him being an idiot to Natalie, yelling about money when she was pregnant? Even though she was his only living sister? And that he started going to therapy at her request even though he didn't want to after realizing that yes, she was right? And not going to see his niece because he was more worried about Claire?? The woman who, let's be honest, he didn't like. I mean, he a panic attack thinking on HER!!! And now she is his peace??? Using suspiciously the term that the Sydcarmy fandom baptized Syd, almost as an affront. (And let's remeber Claire was pretty happy talking how she almost kill a teenage. I was bawling my eyes if was me. Weirdo (derogatory))

And speaking of her, Sydney Adamu, my beloved and favorite character, what did they do to you? She was thrown into the corner so much that I couldn't believe it. She is a protagonist and ok, she and Carmy are on tense terms, but why not take advantage of the fact that they are more apart to delve deeper into her and her relationships, find out more about her. Her relationship with her mother and father? Any flashbacks, since there were so many, about Sheridan and how this still affects her? She and the rest of the members of The Bear, Nat, Richie. She should exist outside of Carmy in her own right, but they just threw her in there and gave screen time to Claire and the Faks and that sucks. Which leads to another point, why don't you talk more about the og members of The Bear. Okay, we had Napkins for Tina, fair enough. But what about Gary, Ebra, Many? Marcus, whose mother died barely had any weight? It left a bitter taste in the mouth. If they want to fix this, they're going to have a lot of work to do, because history has taken everything to an almost unsustainable level. It's okay to be a tragedy, but give us the rays of sunshine, so we can believe in the best. And we didn't have that. It was just going in circles and that could cost the entire story.

[chefkids]

Have you considered making a list of all the predictions/possibilities and then checking off which are right?

Some of these are serious and some of these are not so serious

Tina goes full Mom on Sydney

We see flashback of Tina being a mom and starting off at The Beef

Mikey trying to set shit on fire

Richie flashback to Tiff leaving him because he's spending so much time trying to take care of Mikey

Richie accepts that it's over with Tiff

The staff hates Carmy, loves Syd

Richie plans on quitting but is convinced not to

Sydney gets sick/burnout and is forced to take time off

Carmy is put on time out for being insane

Nat, Tina and Richie threaten Carmy about how he's acting and how Sydney will leave him

Carmy meets Emmanuel

Syd meets Donna

Carmy helps Syd move to her apartment

Sydney throws up on Carmy

Sydney avoids signing the partnership agreement

Syd gets him to write up a new partnership agreement in her terms at the end of the season

Sydney calls out the I'm sorry sign for being useless

Carmy draws something specifically for Sydney, not just using the menu planning as an excuse

Carmy makes an overtly romantic move on Sydney

Nat, Tina, and Richie makes comments about the nature of Syd and Carmy’s relationship

Nat asks Carmy why he’s actually doing all of this when he had said “Fuck stars” and why he’s doing all of this for Syd and he finally opens up about his feelings to her

Carmy cooks for Sydney

Syd and Carmy table scene part 2 things go bad and she turns Carmy down

Big sydcarmy fight happens about her leaving and he basically says "I can't do this without you" and she says "Well I can, I did do it without you"

Sydney is offered a job somewhere else, tells Carmy she’s going to take it, but doesn’t in the end

Carmy tries to shut down The Bear cause he doesn't want to do it without Syd

Sydney has a feelings realization moment like Carmy did with the panic attack

Carmy tells Syd "I love you" while apologizing

Sydcarmy kiss goddammit!!! It's time!!!

They receive bad reviews that send Syd and Carmy in a spiral

Marcus receives some sort of high praise or award

Carmy gets credited for Syd's dish, rivalry/jealousy conflicts for how he's getting recognition and she's not

Power outage at the restaurant again

Carmy/Syd starts a fire at The Bear, probably Carmy sleep cooking

Carmy hallucinations/sleepwalking nightmares while cooking

Carmy ingests hallucinogenic mushrooms, accidentally

Sydney stabs Carmy

Someone yells at Sydney and then something awful happens to them #sydkarma

Carmy has a dream about Syd

Carmy's old Chef actually comes to The Bear

The Bear Cookbook offer

Natalie is mad at Donna because she thinks she didn't show up to F&F night

Ebra's sandwich window is popping off

OG neighborhood locals hate on the restaurant and try to sabotage it

Marcus makes a new donut

Marcus handles grief pretty well actually, meanwhile Syd and Carmy respiral with their own mommy issues/death grief

Carmy becomes paranoid about every guy after he finds out Marcus ask Sydney out

Luca offers Marcus a job

Carmy avoids going into the walk in for a while

Richie/Fak try to secretly set Carmy and Claire up in a “chance encounter” so he’ll see her again

Claire tries to get back with Carmy because Fak tells her that he loves her

Carmy turns down Claire and tells her he was not in love with her

The extended Faks try to beat up Carmy

Claire connects the dots between Syd and Carmy

Fak realizes Carmy likes Syd and is completely shook

Pete tells them they have a very very small chance of meeting Jimmy's payment deadline

Donna apologizes to Nat and Carmy

Donna gives them the money to save The Bear. Sells her house?

Chris Storer is forced to respond to his crimes

[iriswestallenn]

This season was a mess

Season 1: My brother took his life and has left me his restaurant. Do I deserve this? Do I take this on? How do I navigate this grief?

Season 2: We found a shit ton of money plus uncle Jimmy is lending us more. We decide to tear down the beef and build The Bear. There is a deadline, we need to get it together, and we need to make this deadline.

Season 3: ...???? The restaurant is up and running. They are digging a bigger hole for themselves. Jimmy is broke now? Carmy is hung up on Claire. Everyone keeps bringing up Claire. Carmy and Syd have zero communication. They barely speak. Not even as friends- keep that. AS BUSINESS PARTNERS. Not once does Carmy ask why Syd hasn't signed the fucking contract that HE brought up to her. This season started off strong but wow wtf happened.

I wanna focus on two examples that I think illustrate how off this season was: I loved the standalone episodes. I cried during the Nat and Donna one. They were wonderful episodes that did not tie back into the plot because there was none. Season 2 we have a Marcus standalone right? Why did that one work whereas I feel these two didn't? (Again, I really enjoyed these episodes. This is about nothing flowing well) Because Marcus was sent to Copenhagen to become a better pastry chef. He was a cook in a sandwich place who did desserts on the side! He traveled to learn from Luca so The Bear could have a pastry chef. Woo! It all ties in.

Next, a flashback in S2 that worked. The Christmas episode. We meet their mom, Carmy brings up the restaurant idea to Mikey. We see Mikey's state of mind, we get background on Sugar's nickname/how she got it. We see how the family treats Carmy. We get a bunch of them asking Carmy if he's gonna ask Claire out. We get Richie and Tiff still together in contrast to present day Richie dealing with his ex getting a fiancé. Almost every single thing we got in this flashback related back to present day concerns. We touched so many corners. Mikey, Donna, Richie, Sugar. In ONE flashback.

Whereas, Tina's (bless her she's a doll) did nothing for the present day story. We see Tina struggle, we never get to hear the exact reason why. Does she hate this new environment? Does she wish she was just making sandwiches with Ebra? Is Carmy getting on her nerves? Sure, that could be a given but they never let her say it. We get her flashback that focuses on finding a new job, and the convo she has with Mikey. The convo is mostly about dreams, wants. I saw someone say that Tina's episode was an ode to everyone just trying to try. Not looking for a title, not competing, just trying. I agree and I love that. Why did it not relate to whatever she's going through in present day?

The rebuttal for my critiques could be, not everything has to tie in. Some things can be standalone. That's true but in my opinion... it shouldn't be done for a 40 min 10 episode show. Esp not one that tied in the flashbacks and standalone episodes in previous seasons. Why did we suddenly stop doing that this season?

This season felt aimless. Let's talk about Claire lmao when Tiff brought up Claire on that bench with Richie, I went huh??? TIFF is bringing up Claire now? WHY! I had to remind myself that she is literally a family friend they've all known for yeaaars. But me? We, the audience? We don't fucking know Claire! "She's his peace." His WHAT? When??? Stop trying to convince me of this and show me in season 1 and 2 that this woman is his peace.

If you decide to drag this Claire shit out for the entire season, oh bby, you're gonna need the audience to feel the same anguish Carmy is feeling. We should be thinking, fuck, Fak is right she is his peace because remember when she pulled him out of x y z? But at the same time they're not good for each other right now because of x y z. We have so little to go off of with these two and they made Carmy hung up on her the whole season lmaoo please.

I'll end with that, actually. You mean to tell me that the entire restaurant let Carmy act like that for months and NO ONE- not even broke ass Jimmy, told him, you need to stop. It took "Computer" coming in to get them just a little bit together? And even then? Still switching the menu, still not listening to Syd, still butting heads with Richie? You shitting me? And does Carmy know he's a fucking uncle now? DOES HE CARE? Oh fuck me this season was ass.

[bearsinpotatosacks]

Anyone but me interested in a Noir-esque The Bear AU

The Bear is a fancy bar ran by the mob, whom the Berzattos are part of or are associated with. The main story focuses on Sydney as she works there and realises that it's not just a job as a bar chef, but a cover for drug dealing and money laundering.

She observes everyone and gets the idea that most the staff, Tina, Ebra, Marcus, Gary etc, know it's a mob bar but don't know the details and don't want to, they just work the bar and cook the food. She knows that the Faks run security. Mikey's running the bar (trust me, it makes more sense if Mikey's alive but struggling in this plus, my AU, my rules) so she knows that he's aware and controlling what's going on. There's a gun under the counter, code words for the various drugs that people may want to order, and mysterious meetings that has his him shooting daggers. She gets the idea that this isn't what he wanted to do with his life, but he got stuck with it.

She's right. One of the Berzatto siblings had to inherit the Bear, and Mikey sure as shit wasn't going to let it be Carmy or Nat with how much potential they have.

The only person she can't place is Richie. She knows he works there but doesn't see him work the bar, he only takes the coats of certain people and spends most of his time smoozing customers. She guesses he must be a mob guy there to keep an eye on them, or some in house drug dealer.

She asks around and gets laughs. She's told using various euphemisms what his job is, he's a hustler, a gigolo, a rent boy, and when she doesn't get those, or doesn't want to believe them, Tina very blatantly says that he's a prostitute. He's told high profile clients are coming in, or picks up on various people in the bar, and works his charms, either disappearing to their car, their apartment, or if they don't have that kind of cash, to the inconspicuous room at the back that Sydney assumed was a storeroom.

When Gary's off sick, Mikey gets Syd to join him on the bar for a change. This is when she observes Richie more, sees the subtle exchange of money, how Richie turns on his charming attitude when he clocks a client, how someone's always touching him with no regard to consent or personal space or boundaries, like his body isn't actually his and is instead everyone's to do with as they wish.

She picks up on how he disappears almost without notice, how he always comes back looking as immaculate in his suit as he did beforehand. She also notes how Mikey watches him like a hawk, and how his eyes flick down to the gun and the light below the bar, she realises it's a kind of security measure.

It's only as the weeks turn to months that she finds out even more about how dark this place is. How Mikey's high most of the time, and how controlled he and Richie truly are, how much they go against what the mob want, and how desperately she needs to get out before it's too late.

[loveabledirtbag]

2.02 - pasta

there’s something about opening on a black screen with a catchy, familiar song that just makes me into what i’m watching. i don’t know what it is about that particular edit, i fully recognize it about myself, and i don’t even strongly like the song “she drives me crazy” by fine young cannibals. BUT black screen, song comes on, quick cut to an arial shot of chicago in winter and it’s just got me going, “hell ya. let’s go.”

i liked the quick cut of a printed sign on the bear’s wall as they’re making plans, crossing off things they’re accomplishing and working on renovating the space for their grand opening, but there’s just a little printed sign that says “bear part two”, which is funny. because this is the bear, season two. but it’s also the first iteration of the bear, which makes the “in world” meaning of “the bear part two” kinda odd.

i love the familiarity between carmy and syd. it’s only on this, my 90th rewatch that i realize this is really the first time we see them sort of acting like friends and partners, more than work colleagues, and especially boss and employee. all last season they had friendly moments, but there was always an edge of: carmy is the boss, and syd is the employee. and no matter how friendly they were, and they were pretty nice and friendly, the two did an excellent job of having an element of feeling like they worked together. like if one of them were to introduce the other to a friend or family they would say: “oh, we work together”. even in the first episode of season two, they’re still friendly, and the power dynamic has shifted nicely since season one because they’re partners now, but they still have this air of “work friends”. but right away in episode two carmy and syd are walking through the shop talking about how syd’s dad is sem-supportive but doesn’t understand syd, and i’m only just realizing that it’s the first time they’ve really talked about personal things with each other non-chalantly. this is the first time in the show we’ve ever seen them be “friend friends” not work-friends…and yet, it’s so natural and easy i didn’t even realize the shift had happened until just now.

in one second we received; the first mention of syd’s mom. that she and her dad are going to her mom’s birthday dinner. AND, the fridge guy is on the phone, but because marcus threw the phone without anyone ready, it shattered on the ground. carmy will call the fridge guy back….right….?

i hate that the moment nat comes into the scene casually eating food while walking, my brain (which is so accustomed to stereotypes in media) said “oh! she’s pregnant!” and not “oh! she’s working hard and doing most of the detail work for the restaurant, so she’s eating on the go!” but, media tropes being what they are, my mind went to: PREGNANT

“you feeling okay, nat? you look a little pale”, “yeah. it’s just that sometimes i look like february.”, “….sure…” 1) amazing line. truly fantastic. 2) come on. nat’s pregnant.

fak and natalie’s “mom & son” relationship is so weird and i love it. “yes, my honey?” who actually says thay to another adult in a non-actually being someone’s mom, or a “non-bdsm” capacity? apparently nat.

“you alright? you want a sprite? you look kinda green.” 1) this line that richie says to nat will come back to be important in a few episodes. 2) this is the second time in like a minute that someone’s commented on nat’s appearance and her not looking great. so, she’s definitely pregnant. like, they’re not even trying to hide it, as they hide it.

ebra’s hesitation about going to culinary school BREAKS MY HEART. ugh. i love ebra. sad ebra makes me sad. “i don’t want to wear a uniform” and tina’s immediate “it’s not that kind of uniform.” implying he was thinking of his time in the army in samalia….UGH, EBRA!

however, excited tina, giddy at the thought of culinary school, is such a vibe.

fridge guy debacle continues: carmy calling the fridge guy, but getting interrupted as richie, fak, and marcus are trying (and failing) to move the lockers out of the space right outside his door.

also, (because of stereotypes in media) when carmy gives his number to the fridge guy, my first thought was “…so that’s gonna come up later.” because it’s easy to have written this scene without the phone number. sometimes a scene requires a number to be given and that’s that. but in this scene, it easily could have been different. so when carmy gives it, i knew we’d hear his number again. especially with how easy the number is to remember. (the classic 5-5-5 in the number. that happens in tv shows so often. someone has 5-5-5 in their phone number)

ok….so….again, i’ve watched this season like 100 times, and i think, I THINK, i understand why they have to open mikey’s locker to move it out? because it’s always confused me. the guys are struggling to open the locker, and they realize they have to open mikey’s locker which has been locked since his death. it’s a nice scene, and shows everyone’s acceptance and growth in the time since mikey has died. especially as richie puts a hand on carmy’s shoulder as carmy takes a moment right before he opens the locker. the tenderness and love between these two since season one is just incredible. but my thought was the stuff in the locker was too heavy making it harder to move? but the only thing in the locker is a hat from an event they worked in 2010. so, i’ve always been confused. the hat couldn’t weigh enough to make them not able to handle the lockers. i thought it was a clumsy way to get us to the emotional moment of finding the hat. BUT now i’m realizing that i think fak needed the locker open so he could get a better grip on his side of the locker and maneuver it easier? is that right? does anyone else actually know?

so syd and carmy go to carmy’s apartment. and in repeated viewings i’ve realized that it IS the same apartment from season one. we’re just getting better shots of it. and now i realize that his apartment is A DREAM! i mean, his kitchen is great, but the rest of his apartment is really nice. i’m legitimately jealous. they did a really nice job in season one (whether intentionally or not) making it look kinda like a shitty apartment. but there’s enough things i recognize in shots of his apartment in season two, that it’s definitely the same apartment.

the way carmy and syd avoid saying “michelin” in conversation, so that the show doesn’t have to pay for the copyright, is just fun. but i also love the two sides of the michelin chef spectrum. carmy who has experienced the shit you have to deal with of having them, and syd who is fresh and wants the recognition that comes with having one. in the light of how many restaurants and chefs are abandoning the michelin system, or are returning their stars, i think it’s a fascinating subtle storyline woven in this season. i’d love to see if it carries on into season three. knowing that it costs so much money to have a michelin star and that only one star has to do with the food.

“i will grant you [mold] has gained some traction in recent media cycles. it’s a buzzword, yeah, for sure.” what an iconic line from richie. as someone who has always been scared of mold….how is mold a recent buzzword? richie is unhinged and i love it.

once again, fak and richie getting their faces closer as richie dares fak to call mom (nat), and fak says he will, and they go back and forth just getting closer…..it has a weird sexual energy with it. i didn’t start this show shipping fak and richie, but i think they’d be cute together…

the scenes of ebra struggling at culinary school honestly break my heart. and tina encouraging ebra in his skills and him shakily saying “yes chef”….😭😭😭

i think it’s interesting that there’s a season long arch where just about everything syd cooks and makes tastes terrible. i think watching the show all at once makes the problem seem bigger than it was meant to be (at least to me), because we’ve been told how good of a chef she is, but we see her cook HER OWN creations and they all suck. it made me wonder how good she really was. which is maybe some of the point, but i think it’s showing that syd is still a chef that’s up and coming and learning. like carmy said last season, she’s very green. carmy is a chef with no end of awards and recognition, but we see him struggle with details and management. syd is inventive and quick on her feet, but we see that when she’s coming up with a recipe she fails a lot first. i think it’s meant to humanize her, or it’s a season arch to show her growth as the season continues.

the weird….dynamic of carmy thinking syd’s mom is alive (because she said “it’s my moms birthday dinner” and has never said “she died” or anything, so it’s an earnest and easy mistake). but when carmy asks her about her mom she just kinda….lies…?

i love the detail of signing “sorry” when something happens to just say “hey, let’s move on. this isn’t a big deal, and i’m sorry” is amazing. i’ve had little codes like that in service industry in the past.

nat’s lil’ monologue while sitting next to the messed up toilet while she’s on the phone with the plumber is great. and i love that she reveals that she’s pregnant (which again, easy to guess), but mostly i love that we’re not fulllllly sure if the plumber is a family friend, or a complete stranger. there’s SOME familiarity here obviously, but we’re not told if it’s enough familiarity for nat’s emotional word vomit or not. and that’s beautiful to me.

the pure comedic GOLD of “these ceilings are practically styrofoam, were we to have mold they would collapse when i go like this-“ hits ceiling. ceiling immediately collapses and proceeds to dump a pound of dirt, dust, and mold onto richie’s face. and then a kickball. and then richie looks up and goes “that’s it?” and a firefighter hat falls and hits his head. ugh. i can’t help but burst out laughing.

the reveal that syd’s mom is dead is so well done. the happy story, the smiles, and then lighting a candle on cake and them blowing it out while holding hands. the realization that what we, the audience, assumed was going to be a tense, awkward meal between two parents who had divorced but still got together to celebrate the moms birthday (for some reason), or maybe even the amicable celebration of a couple that divorced because they realized they weren’t good for each other and are “friendly” with each other. but instead it’s two people very much in love with a woman who has clearly died. ugh. it’s beautiful, it’s funny, and it’s heartbreaking, and it’s SUCH a simple and quick scene.

AND THEN, we move onto this scene at the grocery store. ok. here’s the thing. claire gets a LOT OF SHIT from people. a lot. and some of its fair and some of its not. SO. i’m gonna put my thoughts in their entirety HERE about her, and then when those instances come up in later episodes i might talk about them more in depth.

so, firstly, for the people who loved that the bear was a “sexless” show in season one, or that carmy seemed to be ace, or are carmy and syd shippers, or even those who claimed he was queer coded, there’s not much i can say to make you feel better. other than to say that the balance of work life and personal life is a super important one, especially in a show about a guy who has no personal life so that excel at his work life and has become burnt out by that process. so a romance or a deep relationship of some kind was a good choice for the show, because it brought about a storyline that i think is needed on carmy’s mental, and emotional health journey.

BUT the show trying to deepen that relationship with claire does so by simply “saying” it, and not showing it. which is the eternal issue with writers, especially when you have time, money, budget, and length of movie/tv series to deal with. but in a ten episode season, and this is already the end of the first episode when you introduce her, so you really only get to know her in episode three. that really only gives 8 episodes to know claire. and she’s not in like…3 or 4 of the episodes moving forward. meaning you have to: set up their history, set up how important she is, AND deepen their relationship to a place where we, the audience, are emotionally invested in them, AND when it hurts when they ultimately break up. but with only 4 or 5 episodes to do that, we can’t SEE it happen, we have to be TOLD it happens.

so we are told that carmy had a crush on her, to the point that he would draw her in his notebooks and his whole family knew he liked her, because mikey, richie and…john mulaney…tease him for it in the flashback episode. we are told how much claire likes carmy. we’re mostly told how good their relationship is, instead of seeing how good it is (carmy shows up to the restaurant a few times and says “i was talking with claire when….). we’re also told how close claire was to the fak’s and to richie (claire calls fak to get carmy’s number. she calls richie cousin (the only other person to do that other than mikey and carmy). there’s a lot of their relationship we don’t get to see, and it makes some sense because those scenes would be slower, deeper, and take time. and you only have 30 minutes and 4 or 5 episodes to accomplish this.

which makes the sort of hypocrisies in their relationship just not believable. carmy was obsessed with claire growing up, but when they meet he gives her a fake number so she can’t call him, because he knows she’s looking to date him after they run into each other. and he’s a little slow to open up to her, but finally does and she helps him a lot in his mental health and panic attacks. and on claire’s side, she gets labeled a manic pixie dream girl, which isn’t necessarily unfair, but her less than realized character (her main defining character trait is: i like carmy) is only because we don’t get to see much of her, and she was brought in to be a love interest to carmy. so she’s not fully realized, and her only real trait is liking carmy. plus, carmy is so aloof, and closed off that from a writing standpoint we needed claire to have this manic pixie love and attraction in pursuing carmy, because that was the only way they were going to get together. carmy would never have pursued claire, because he sacrifices his own enjoyment and personal life for cooking. but it doesn’t make sense then, that claire has kind of an obsessive love for carmy from the moment she sees him at the grocery store, and she admits that she liked him in high school, but she never made a move and he didn’t even really know she knew who he was.

these sort of conflicting narratives: carmy is in love with claire, but gives her a fake number when they run into each other as adults (he even forgets her name when we’re introduced); claire is in love with carmy from the beginning of them running into each other as adults (which would hint that she was in love with him when they were young) but never paid him any attention when they were young, BUT was so close to them that she remembered the name of their planned restaurant all these years later…they all could have been made possible and been written in a way that was believable. but not with the time constraints the show had and the other storylines the show focused on. so we are simply told a lot of this, not shown a lot of this. it maybe could have worked if they built claire and carmy’s relationship up this season; a sort of will-they-won’t-they, and then once carmy is sold on the relationship, build that up in season three, for the big collapse at the end of season three. but that would have ruined the season long arch and left carmy without a deep, traumatic emotional arch and more of a rom-com, fluffy arch this season and that’s not really the show’s style.

so, i don’t hate claire. i think she, as a character, wasn’t given the time to breathe and grow and show the audience why we should care about her. i would love if they brought her back for season three, to see her grow and get fleshed out as her own character, especially as a character outside of her love for carmy. but since she broke up with carmy, i don’t see much of a road into the show moving on and it would also make a lot of sense if we never really see her again. even despite her “close” relationship to the fak’s and to richie.

as someone who has had to have the conversation with my parents about my weird working situations, like being paid for a month, but then not being paid for six months even though i’m going to work and working 12 or more hours because i’m starting something…uff, i feel syd’s frustration as she tries to explain it to her dad. and the fact that the budget is paying everyone in the shop except carm, nat, and syd (the bosses) is so fucking good. because that’s how it fucking should be. you pay the people who need it, because you need them to be there when you get back. it’s how you keep workers, especially good ones. bosses and leaders of businesses need to actually sacrifice for the shop and for their workers if they want it to work. plain and simple.

but, we see some of that writing magic i was talking about earlier when carmy gives her a fake number. he told the fridge guy his number earlier, and then he gives claire a different number. we know that he wouldn’t give fridge guy a fake number. so we realize he’s giving claire the fake. that’s why we saw him give the fridge guy his number.

AND that’s the episode! episode two down! it’s a great episode. and it sets up a LOT for the rest of season two. looking forward to episode three!

SEASON ONE: Episode One | Episode Two | Episode Three | Episode Four | Episode Five | Episode Six | Episode Seven | Episode Eight

SEASON TWO: Episode One | Episode Two | Episode Three | Episode Four | Episode Five | Episode Six | Episode Seven | Episode Eight | Episode Nine | Episode Ten

[thebearer]

Carmy feels like the type to yell at you for talking to much while you work like multiple times all at once because the man is a ball of stress and is always 2 seconds from popping his top and then realize what he did way later like days later when he notices he hasn’t heard you talking with Tina or ebra or Fak like normal because he is so used to hearing your voice and it weirdly makes him calmer in the kitchen

and Sydney has to just

“Dude you yelled at her to stop talking, she tried to apologize and you told her to keep it shut while in your kitchen.”

Fully makes it so it’s you and him closing so he can apologize. And like maybe it’s when you both discover how into each other you are, maybe it leads to a sweet make out turned slight hand stuff above the pants where you realize the feel of Cadmus hands on your throat is real nice. because if there is one thing we know, it’s Carmy is alway, and forever a Dom.

I picture in my little brain (bc I am not a cook at all lmaoo) that reader helps out with the bear sorta like nat, maybe running it's socials or just helping keep things in order on the side like ordering stuff and paying bills on time- things to help carmen out. so you're in the kitchen trying to get him to listen to you and make a decision on something you'd asked him to answer already.

"carmen, I need to know so I can place the order-"

"enough!" carmen yells, hands slapping on the counter in front of him silencing you, richie, sydney, and sugar. "everyone stop! stop fucking talking for five fucking seconds!"

the others realize he's at his breaking point, walking away to give him a second to cool off before they're screamed at. you, however, either don't care or don't think he will.

"carmen," you huff, hands on your hips, glaring at him pointedly. "I'm serious, i need to know so I can-"

"-step out." it's a low growl, breathy exhale that leaves tina's eyes cutting towards him.

"excuse me?" you snap, glaring at him.

"step out! right now, get out!" carmen roars, eyes bulging when they look at you.

you falter for a moment, a little startled, turning at the harshness of his voice and scampering to the office, door slamming behind you.

carmen knows he fucked up, and if he didn't know- richie certainly let him know lol.

he finds you in the office, glaring at him, arms crossed over your chest when he walks in. "baby, I'm sorry, alright? I shouldn't have... shouldn't've screamed at you like that."

you're pouty but not mad??? which is weird to carmen, until you're sprawled out on his desk, him between your legs while he makes it up to you. that's when dom!carmen is sorta born or at least when he realizes that you like when he's a little mean with you.

"but don't you ever scream at me in front of people like that again, do you understand me?"

"heard."

[noiregoth]

My thoughts on the bear s3

Spoilers below

THEY MADE ME DISLIKE CARMY. WHAT THE FUCK? WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. HE is the LOML. (I think I can fix him 🥺). He is a dick this season. He has had his dickhead moments past seasons BUT he has always had redeeming characteristics or he seemed like he cared. I get he is ALL in for getting the Michelin star for his bestie / platonic soulmate but he is so lost in his perfection he’s not listening. He’s not collaborating. He is not nurturing his staff. It’s him against his everyone. That’s why the vibes are fucking off this scene. He is changing the chemistry in the worst possible way. Like 3 staff quit on one night.

How do they go from finishing each other’s sentences / recipe ideas to carmy cutting off Sydney and screaming at Tina????? He was nice to Marcus and then never really spoke to him the rest of the season. I’m glad Cicero called him the fuck out because nobody else was. Yes I know Richie was but because of their conflict and history Carmy was never going to take constructive criticism from RICHIE.

DO NOT talk to me about Carmy and Richie. I thought after Carmy’s voicemail episode one things would have be squashed and they’d be repairing their relationship. THE ONLY FUCKING CRUMB OF RESOLUTION THEY COULD’VE GIVEN US WAS THIS AND THEY DID NOT. I feel like if carmy didn’t quit smoking this season they could’ve talked it out during a smoke break. That’s where they have all their deep chats.

Fuck the computer. Natalie handing him is ass when he suggests to fire Marcus? EAT HIM UP.

Carmy’s idea for a new menu every single fucking day? INSANITY. yeah no wonder they’re burning through money and killing Cicero. Also why don’t Sydney call Cicero “Cicero”? I get she can’t call him “unc” or “uncle” but mister whatever was way too formal. Yikes.

The only good development was Ebra doing the sandwich window and getting help AND AS CICERO SAID THATS THE ONLY PART OF BUSINESS MAKING ANY FUCKING MONEY.

I am glad we got a Tina episode and Ayo directed it? She’s cooking with gas. MMMM. It was good. The immediate connection between mikey and Tina. *chef’s kiss*

I wanted more Manny. More Angel. More Ebra. More sweeps / Gary. We get Marcus turning inward because he’s mourning but he’s barely in this season either. What did we get instead? More fucking faks. I love Neil. I do but HE WAS ENOUGH.

THEM and NOT Natalie’s actually fucking family going to the hospital to see the baby?! I’m not even a kids person irl or in fiction but this was egregious. They even set up the phone thing and I wanted a chaotic shut down of the bear mid service when they find out, with carmy fucking chain smoking as he runs to the car climbing over Richie to get in to see his fucking niece. Even all the bear staff blurry and out of focus (the shot of the faks and Donna was right in front of the window so I expected an allusion to everyone coming in) running into the hospital in a frenzy with balloons and shit. But the faks comes into the waiting room and sit with Donna and the episode just fucking ends? And then we don’t see Natalie for the rest of the season? Loved the Nat and Pete moment in the hospital room. They’re so cute and positive.

Carmy doesn’t see the baby after that either. Like SYDNEY brings food and NOT Carmy. Carmy’s love language is food so he could’ve made the fucking food and gone with Sydney and been on his bullshit in the car like “I can’t go in there after I missed the birth! I’m an ass.” and Sydney could’ve dragged his ass out saying “yeah you are and need to start being a better fucking person. To her and to me. Dickhead.” And again NOT RICHIE. Richie would’ve been so cute with the baby.

The faks and the cameos were distracting. UGH. The writing was not it this season. My heart broke when that other guy offered Sydney a better partnership. The first time she had to be reminded to sign the docusign. The doom set in for me.

Carmy had like a handful of scenes this season outside of the bear. And it seems so much more apparent this season. Like his work is his life. HIS ENTIRE BEING. From the start he’s been like this but s3 he is always in the kitchen. Season 1 he was in the front, he was smoking in the back, he was at his fucking apartment. He was at Sugar’s. He was running around the city. Like one scene of him at a meeting and him at his apartment and the finale. I get he’s regressed this whole season but it’s so sad after his growth in the first part of season 2. The more I think about it, this is a bad take but he is so 2D and insular this season.

The finale. UGH. Carmy confronting his dickhead boss and getting nothing and him shedding a tear? UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Speaking to Andrea outside. I wish it had just cut to him and Sydney talking and her telling him she’s leaving and that being how the season ends. And carmy is left devastated and raw and alone and then he gets the notification about the mixed review with the bear in the background roaring.

Lowkey lowkey LOWKEY I didn’t mind Claire as a concept. Because Claire made Carmy happy... And all I want is for Carmy to be happy and at peace. Can I defend her characterisation? No. Is she even a real character? Not really. But I get why he says she is his peace. She is the only part of his life that isn’t chaos. (Does the panic attack scene disprove this? Yes and this also muddies the water because it implies sydcarmy and now they’re like no sydcarmy EVER.) Yes ok Sydney is too but Sydney is connected to the bear. To restaurants. To his most recent trauma. And Claire is connected his past trauma. His childhood. So the panic attack scene was just ??? Anyway I want something or someone else to give Carmy meaning to his life. To push him to heal and get better. But tbh he should lean on his fucking family (blood relatives and the main bear staff) and not put it just on a love interest. Carmy is literally repeating history. 5 years ago he got successful to make Mikey proud. Didn’t end well. Now he’s trying to make Sydney proud by giving her a star instead of what she really wants. A successful restaurant with a team that respects / values each other, listens to one another and believes in place they are working in.

The season ending with Sydney’s panic attack and potentially Carmy finding her outside and comforting her (aka panic attack scene 2.0). IT COULDVE BEEN EVERYTHING BUT NO WE JUST GOT THE BULLSHIT “TO BE CONTINUED”.

At the end of the day I just want my sweaty blue eyed boi to be happy and healthy and cooking in a non destructive way. We didn’t get that at all. I don’t even know if I’ll rewatch this season. Maybe just episode one. Episode one was a breath of fresh air and fucking bait and switch because the rest of the season is ass.

MAJOR FUCKING DOWNGRADE THIS SEASON.

[ladespeinada]

having finished watching the bear in the early hours of the morning, i have some thoughts rattling around in my head that i need to jot down because they keep distracting me from work, lmao. spoilers under the cut 

→ i had fun! it was emotional! it was stressful! i was entertained and then i had to suppress the feelings of familial relatability brought up in ep. 6!  → MARCUS!!! TINA!!! NAT!!! EBRA!!! RICHIEEEEEEE!!!!! All going through their own shit, changing, emotional, relentless, scared, nervous. I especially loved Richie this season and he had a speech in ep. 1 that broke my heart ("I'm 45, I've been here a long time, you feel me? I mean, you know what the fuck you're doing, you know. You love all this shit. It's fun for you. I don't have that. I'm afraid imma wake up and you guys are all just gonna cut—just drop this ass.")

→ Sydney, light of my life. Her fierce ambition, so obvious and strong in S1, got tempered by doubt and distrust in her partner, by the gradual recognition that she is doing so much, too much, by herself. I don’t think it bodes well that the last shots we get of her, she’s ralphing after opening night service—after an intense kitchen set-up that tests her limits and shows who she can and cannot trust. (Giving Carmy in NY, throwing up before service vibes). And honestly? I wouldn't be mad if she really, really starts doubting her partnership with Carmy and just dips. 

→ Anyway, I came back to add that Sydney, despite her doubts and not-unfounded fears, is such a positive source for those around her. We saw it in S1, when she gave Marcus a confidence boost, when Tina sought her approval after initially being very hesitant about her. And that faith in others just increased in this season, and god, to be around someone like that, who lifts others up no matter what, is so rare. I love her so much. (And her carrying around that book the whole season! Just holding onto courage and confidence, letting it shape her leadership.) 

→ I'm so happy Natalie wasn’t relegated to glimpses this time around. She's present and focused and involved in dismantling her family’s trauma and history, and I love that for her. I also love her and Syd's relationship (them almost being synchronised in saying Carmy Problem) and her interactions with Fak, lmao. 

→ Tina at culinary school! Tina with reservations about her place but thriving and finding inspiration. There's a moment where some of the people in her class all go out, and they invite her, and when she meets them at the bar, they've all got a nasty judgemental face (it's def an age thing) but then she EATS THEM UP at karaoke with a beautiful song in English & Spanish, TINA TE ADORO. 

→ I immediately re-watched Marcus's episode and I want a spin-off series where he stages at different world-renowned bakeries and lives his best patissier life. 

→ That Variety piece that said Carmy was the least interesting character in this show was RIGHT ("It’s no coincidence that these weaker points tend to involve Carmy, a character perfectly rendered by White who’s still the least interesting part of his own show.") 

→ Speaking of: the romance between Carmy and Claire (which we all unfortunately saw happening after the trailer, and is fucking annoying, and yes part of it is because I love Syd & Carmy together, but also because the showrunners pledged no romance in the show which would have been fine, too) is BORING. So boring. I know Claire is going to get a lot of hate and honestly, it's barely fair because she's just not developed as a character at all. Beyond being someone Carmy knew in his past, and who is now stealing his time and energy away from the restaurant, there's not much to her. She's written with so little dimension, and exists purely to be Carmy's lil girlfriend and it's disappointing. She could have at least been fucking interesting. 

→ Carmy's so angry around the time of the opening, and he projects it onto everyone else, and it's really his own fault that he's not aware of what's happening in the restaurant.  → Okay so another thing—Sydney talks about how much she wants a Michelin star, how it’ll make The Bear a true destination spot. And rudely, Carmy goes, “you really want one of these bullshit stars?” to which Syd says yes, I really do, and this fucking dickhead tells her: “you’re gonna to have to care about everything, more than anything” AND HE STILL LET HER DOWN!!!!!!!! The more I think about it, the more upset I get. 

→ Also, Michael doesn't haunt the narrative the way he did last season—his presence is so faint. There's moments, of course, but it just feels like something is missing or off. I had expected some sort of sentiment to come to the surface towards the end of the season at least, some sense of acknowledgement that maybe he would have loved The Bear, or hated it, or something, from literally anyone—Carmy, Nat, Richie, someone—but nope, nothing besides the cannoli.

→ Episode 6, man. Episode fucking six. Natalie Berzatto, you deserve peace. 

→ Anyway, overall there’s a sort of bite missing in this season. The looming threat of Cicero has been softened a lot and yes, obviously internal workings at The Bear are the new obstacles but it doesn’t feel quite the same. Maybe it's a lack of tension, or a lack of anxiety? I don't know how else to explain it.

[blackjack-15]

ep 5, and syd is in full syd mode! trying everything, going full speed ahead, spreading herself too thin

thank heaven tina's there to balance it a bit. but carmy where are you.

oh it's 1:30. i'm hoping carmy's in bed

"do you think it's too many ingredients?" "it seems a little busy, ma" "it's fine" SYD BABY

"i'm seeing now it's a lot" yeah honey XD

how you doing, ebra? you and the world's longest cigar?

THE KNIFE carmy babe you're so generous. people love you regardless of what you can give them, you know that, right?

(he does not know that)

cicero once again bringing up the story of complete and utter failure...once is an incident, twice is a coincidence....

"stall him!" "hey tim, you wanna see some magic?" fak is not in the same show as everyone else and thank heaven, the bear is a comedy

nat pulling out the manipulation tactics, richie's cackling in glee, and carmy's reaction? "that was f//king gross, sugar" -- beautiful illustration of how different the two siblings are. carmy's ruthless and clever, but he's a grinder -- he became as good as he is because he worked himself to the nub and ground himself down. natalie's more cunning, looking for ways to jump hoops without effort. it's a good combo for business

TINA'S ON FIRE ebra please come back

carmy so obviously trying to help nat out b/c she's pregnant is really cute. he's also getting better at trying to express himself!

the disconnect is with syd right now, and, well...yeah it's gonna be, that's where our conflict is coming from

HE'S TWO-BIRDSING CLAIRE??? mwahahhhahaha

(two-birdsing is when you do the whole two-birds-one-stone thing, but he's doing it instead of hanging out with her later that's hilarious. truly the stuff romantic dreams are made of, combining work with a 'date' so you don't have to do them separately)

[thegirlwhowatchedeverything]

It's interesting Tina introduces Sydney to her son as "Jeff's friend" in episode seven (and that her son repeats her words literally saying "Hi Jeff's friend"). Had this been episode one when everyone at The Beef was just meeting Sydney that line would make sense. It'd fit with Ebra's "Carmen, there is a girl" and Richie's "Fuck is this?" and "sweetheart" and new fucking broad".

But by this point, Sydney has earned Tina's respect and affection. She even corrects herself calling Syd chef rather than Jeff. So, ways she could have introduce her that would make sense:

a) Chef/Jeff

b) Chef/Jeff Syd(ney)

c) Syd(ney)

So, not only is it an interesting way to introduce her but in my opinion no one else comes close to being categorized as a friend of Carmy's. Pete, Nat, and Cicero are his family, Richie is unofficial family, and everyone at The Beef are officially employees but more like found family. Most of them knew and worked for Michael for years (Marcus seems to be the only exception besides Syd?). And many of them already knew Carmy, knew of Carmy, or know his extended family. An example: Tina knows Carmy's mom from her Christmas party (and tbh probably from multiple Christmases) and knows Sugar from the times she used to come by The Beef (we know because she asks Carmy why she doesn't stop by anymore). A second example: it's confirmed Fak's known Carmy since at least Michael's 15 birthday because of the story Carmy tells about trying to break up a fight at said party. All of his family members (Sugar, Cicero, and Mikey) call him Bear at one point on the show, and Fak is the only non family member to call him by his childhood nickname. However, despite many at The Beef's direct and indirect connections to the Berzattos, I still don't think "friends" is the right description for anyone at The Beef.

I will die on the hill that is a Carmy/Syd romance, but even if you wanted to argue for their relationship being strictly platonic, it's significant that she really is his only friend on the show. And that title is significant because this man has no other life or hobbies outside of his career, his family, and now The Beef and all the people that come with it. Syd is the only person who comes into his life not connected to those things - his life in New York, his family, and his family restaurant. From the start, their relationship is separate from anything he's had or currently has, not mentor/mentee, boss/employee, not family - they're straight up equals, partners, friends. Ideally we get to lovers (whether they make it canon or not, we all know). I don't think either of them are aware of their growing feelings yet (Syd maybe, Carmy definitely not), but neither would object to the label of friends as of now. They're giving One night he wakes/Strange look on his face/Pauses, then says/You're my best friend/And you knew what it was/He is in love vibes to me.

So yeah, labeling Syd as "Jeff's friend" is interesting. To me, it's the writers explicitly communicating the nature of their relationship in a seemingly throwaway line.