#sydcarmy meta

[yannaryartside]

Not Hulu commenting on the sydcarmy TikToks

We are not crazy, they really be out here using this ship to trap the audience

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

That wedding was a "Sydcarmy can kick Clairmy´s ass ANYTIME, you, me, outside, right now!" moment

I´m never gonna STFU about the wedding being a Sydcarmy moment, regardless of the Under The Table fuckery and Carmy asking C to dance, because under the table, even when they were not sitting close and they were surrounded by other ppl, they showed closeness and intimacy anyway, by knowing each other´s fears and tapping right into them. They kept stealing glances at each other, the whole time. It was as if the rest of the ppl weren´t even there at times.

When Syd mentioned hers, Carmy nodded because he knew, he knew that fear of hers before anyone else under that fucking table, it was not news for him.

Syd was super insistent on knowing Carmy´s fear, his fear was the only fear she GAF about outta of all the others´ under that table.

When it was Carmy´s turn, he looked directly at Syd, and he made sure they had their moment

Plus THIS.

Summing up, the C person doesn´t stand a chance, she´s GONE even if that fucking green sweatshirt is the only thing that, for now, is still linking them to one another. And this shows how intimacy and closeness don´t necessarily have to be physical, and that often times we´re not as close or as intimate with those with whom we share any physicality with but precisely with those whom we don´t get to touch or dance with. Because closeness or intimacy are emotional components, not necessarily physical. Emotions run way deeper than skin deep.

Same with the "family-family" concept that the wedding tapped into as well.

Bonus track: Syd has already been accepted in all his circles.

We´re only missing that on her part, and not for lack of Carmy trying to make it happen.

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[endlesslyhyperfixating]

This Is What You Wanted, Right? – SydCarmy & Subtext

Every time Carmy says “This is what you wanted, right?” to Sydney, it feels like Storer and Calo are straight-up taunting us. Like, "Yeah, you wanted this dynamic? This push-and-pull? This agonizingly slow burn? Well, buckle up." They know exactly what they’re doing.

LET ME EXPLAIN

Season 1, Episode 3: "Brigade"

This is the first time Carmy drops the phrase, and it sets the tone for their entire relationship. He’s trying to implement the brigade system, but Sydney’s not on board with how rigid and intense it is. Their exchange goes:

Carmy: "You told me that's what you wanted."

Sydney:"No. I-I said I wanted more to do. I didn't say I wanna run a Russian gymnastics program."

Right away, it’s clear: Sydney asked for something, and Carmy, in typical Carmy fashion, took it and ran with it to an extreme. But the way he phrases it? It’s not just about the brigade system. It’s a challenge. You wanted to be here, didn’t you? You wanted to work with me? And that’s something we see again and again: Sydney choosing to be in Carmy’s orbit, even when it’s a lot.

This is a great starting point for their relationship because it shows that in order for them to be on the same page they have to jump through a few hurdles or misunderstanding and miscommunication first. They will have many obstacles to face before really hearing each other, and for things (between them) to work "the way I think we both want it to work."

Hello. So much subtext in almost every line between these two it makes me CRAZY.

Season 1, Episode 7: "Review"

Now, things get even more intense. The kitchen is a disaster, tensions are at an all-time high, and Carmy, who is spiraling under the weight of it all, snaps at Sydney:

Carmy: "This is what you wanted, right?"

It’s not a genuine question. It’s a LOADED one. There’s frustration, maybe even resentment, but beneath that? There’s an understanding. Sydney wanted something (more responsibility, more control, a partnership with Carmy) and now she’s feeling the full weight of it.

He told her that her dish wasn't ready (or he wasn't ready for her.) And because she put herself out there, and was enjoyed and appreciated by someone else it stings in a different way for him, hearing the review of her superb risotto dish. Hence his frustration towards the pre-order option being left open over night only being excelled due to this.

And this moment is key because it isn’t just about work and the frustrations there, but It’s about them. Their dynamic. Their push and pull.

Season 2, Episode 8: "Bolognese"

This one right here is such a quietly brutal moment. Sydney’s pissed because Carmy’s been running ideas by Claire—who, at this point, is basically in the periphery of everything going on with the restaurant—and it’s clear Sydney feels totally blindsided. So she says:

Sydney: "–So, I should I also send my revised COGS to your girlfriend?"

Carmy: "You don't need to send anything—she's not my girlfriend."

Sydney: "So she's not even your girlfriend."

Carmy: "Right."

Sydney: "And we're, like, arranging this menu—"

Carmy: "She's not arranging anything and she's not looking at the menu—this is what you wanted originally and that is what I'm giving you–"

That line? Oof. He says it AGAIN. And it hits different this time. There’s this weird bitterness to it, like he’s using her own ambition against her to justify why he’s messing things up. It’s defensive, but it’s also exposing, because if it really was “what she wanted,” why does he sound so wounded? Why is she so hurt? It’s not just about logistics. It's not even about Claire, really. It’s about the rift between them.

It's about Carmy choosing to confide in someone else. It’s about Sydney realizing that the “partnership” she thought they were building isn’t quite what she thought it was. And again, choice comes back, choosing each other, or not.

It's straight up saying all these people want is a bit(or all) of each other. Sydney doesn't want to share his focus, just as Carmen wants all of hers.

This, (as far as I know/remember) is the last time he directly says this exact phrase to her. From season one to two it was a challenge to her. A challenge for their relationship. "This is what you wanted?" Almost always checking in with her, too.

It's like saying, hey, yeah, we know the pressure's a lot, and often you feel like throwing a brick in my face, but it's what you chose. It's what you want.

Storer Knows Exactly What He's Doing

The writers love their little winks at the audience, and this phrase? It’s definitely one of them. Every time Carmy says "This is what you wanted” to Sydney, it’s like the show is turning to us, the SydCarmy truthers, and saying:

"This is what you wanted, right?"

A relationship that’s layered, complicated, built on mutual ambition and unspoken tension? A connection that’s frustratingly slow, where every tiny shift feels monumental? The show is teasing us, making us earn whatever payoff is coming. (And it is.)

And the proof that this is all intentional? Fast-forward to Season 3, Episode 1, when Sydney asks why Carmy is changing everything, and he responds with:

"So I can push you, and you can push me."

It’s all connected. From "You wanted to work here, right?” to “This is what you wanted, right?” to “So I can push you, and you can push me.” It’s all part of the same conversation. A question of choice. Of whether they’ll keep choosing each other, through the chaos, through the pressure, through everything. Despite the obstacles, despite the slow realization, they keep coming back to each other. They're gonna keep coming back to each other.

Because we know that everything in this show is purposeful. It's meaningful. And these significant repeating lines are powerful tools to hint and push us towards what they're working for. It's a question of how long can they keep this up.

And we already know the answer.

So yeah, it’s going to be slow. It’s going to be maddening. But this is what we wanted, right?

[thiscanbegood]

I'm so mad that this season's end is starting to make sense for me.

Like can we talk about the paralles between Carmy making mickey his whole life and purpose to the point that every decision is either about making him proud or saying "watch how I can do this", and when Mikey is gone and Syd comes in, every decision in his life is about showing her he can be good and doing anything he can to make her need him, plus the "you don't think I can do this" about the star. Syd is everything he has to pull from. And for some people that might be cute, but Carmy saw that doing this didn't help his brother or himself, it just built a wall between them.

And then there's Syd, whose father also lost someone important and then made his life all about her. The idea of making her life about one person is terrifying and familiar for her at the same time. It's a trap for her because she loves taking care of people. If Carmy suddenly decided to turn around and have her as his north and guide and everything, she would have it, and eventually he could feel better and be better but what about her? He's disarming the trap for her by going away. It would be easier to rely on her and only her like he tried to do with Claire, but he's doing the hard thing by going away and looking for it himself.

I hate how they made this so wrecking for her for impact purpose because duh it's a show (and also the blindsidind of it all hits personally to me) and would hate the whole white boy going into a countryside trip to discover himself kind of thing if they use it. It wouldn't even make sense if they did this.

Carmy already learned the importance of relying on other people this season by seeking people around him for help. Hopefully next season he will expand that while finding his purpose (which only exists outside of yourself, I believe, not in a martyr way but in a mutual relationship with the outside where you both feed and is fed).

And for Syd, learning to voice her needs to people around her is key, not feeling like a burden or a babysitter, letting people take care of her for once. And guess who's not gonna be in a position where she can excuse his behavior as his job anymore?

I'm seated to see how they're gonna make her come around, understand why he left and accept his help, see the trap of looking for validation in the industry... Syd has a long way to go, and carmy stepping back might make way for us to see her go through this too.

[gayofthefae]

Bitch! I always said the confirmation when I first watched that Sydcarmy was a romance was the song while they were cooking together that, in the one silence in their dialogue, goes "this is what love is for", right?

I didn't even hear it because I listened for it. The music SWELLS. It gets louder just for that line of the scene, to act as strong as a line of dialogue, why?

Because, of course, the part we already knew, Carmy is helping Sydney strain broth. They're cooking together, collaborating on something they love in the same way - their arc together - and helping each other. "This is what love is for".

All that still stands like it did that first time when I went "oop- I'm right" but I forget that the music SWELLED so you didn't have to even be someone who listens for it, it tells you straight up. It gives a second of instrumental getting louder first to signal you to listen to the music so you don't miss it, then it comes in with "this is what love is for".

[notyourdaisybuchanan]

sydcarmys are we gonna talk about how after Carmy points out the stains on her chef jacket in 2x09 Sydney proceeds to spend nearly the entire episode in a plain white t-shirt, which is nothing like her usual style, but does happen to be uhhh someone else's signature look

are we gonna talk about it

[outmakingmoonshine]

I still need to process the season and rewatch a bunch of scenes but I just want briefly share my thoughts on sydcarmy in S4

Spoilers below the cut

I was expecting the season to end this way for sydcarmy. It's almost identical to discussions @thoughtfulchaos773 and I have had about it, the only difference is we didn't see Carmy and Claire in Copenhagen so I guess we've got that to look forward to next season! Yay, more Claire!! (Tbf she wasn't as painfully annoying to watch for me this season but I also wasn't hoping to see much more of her.)

There were definitely some frustrating developments for sydcarmy this season but it just feels like they were deliberately trying to stamp on any notions of sydcarmy, notions that the show themselves planted mind you, so I really think this is just meant to throw us off the scent to build up anticipation for the final resolution to their story next season. Most romance stories have a period right before the happy ending where it seems like the couple will never be together, this is so the story can build up anticipation and general emotional involvement so the final "shock" of the happy ending has the most emotional impact possible on the viewer.

And tbh they made an impressive effort to throw us off the scent, I'll give them that, but I'm still not buying it. I'm not worried about sydcarmy, they went from "Hi, hello" to giving each other heart eyes, proposals and planning their futures together in 1 season. They can do that again in 1 season, especially with all this intimate history between them now.

Also as thoughtfulchaos reminded me awhile ago, the one and only comment Storer made on the nature of sydcarmy's relationship is: "It's a partnership, you'll see." Well it's definitely not an active partnership right now and the show has made a point to show it wasn't a functioning partnership before either so a real solid partnership between them IS coming. And when it does it HAS to be worth all it took to get there, otherwise there would be no point. So don't lose hope yet, I still strongly believe sydcarmy is coming. As much as it seems like they diverted away from sydcarmy completely this season...it just looks like that on the surface. And this show has been telling a different story on the surface than the one that's really going on underneath the whole way through. So start looking for the subtext and the real story will become clearer! Here's a link to a meta by @thoughtfulchaos773 to get you started.

[brokenwinebox]

Syd complaining about how Carmy self-sabotages and runs away when things are good and we get a scene of him running to Claire’s house earlier in the season.

[fairestbeard]

One of the best questions you could ever ask yourself while watching The Bear is

"Why this shot?"

[sonoranbumblebee]

They Never Touch

A pregnant Sugar snuggles with Syd in the sun when they're both worn out and when Sug's about to have a baby, a state that is almost as vulnerable as a woman can be. Sydney is the second (?) person she tries to call when she goes into labor and Pete is missing and she might need a family member to sit with her in her pain. She definitely wants Syd for that before she wants Carmy, who is way down the list.

Chef Sydney is Richie's wedding date and all-purpose ride or die. He casually embraces her and speaks Italian to congratulate her on the scallop, they share warm full body hugs, he invites her to dance and they dance together both at the Ever funeral after party and at Tiff's wedding.

Syd used to call Jimmy "Mr. Kalinowski" and now he is "Unc." He gives her fatherly encouragement and hugs. Practically Donna's first instinct on being alone with Sydney is to ask her for a hug.

But there's one person in Berzatto family who she almost never touches—and he almost never touches her. They sing to each other through food, they move easily into each others space like dancers, they can say most of everything they need to through their eyes, they say the same thing out loud at the same time over and over again, they finish each others' sentences, they get overwhelmed more easily when the other one is gone, and they trust each others' judgments of people and circumstances.

What they don't do is touch. Ever. No hands are held, no arms intertwine, no one leans on the other person, they don't nuzzle other shoulders or necks or cheeks, there are no surprise pecks on the cheek in a moment of exhilaration, they don't pick fluff off each other or fix the other person's hair, there are no reassuring back or shoulder rubs in stressful times. Syd has popped food directly into Neil Fak's mouth and yet not once have the chefs ever fed each other anything? Mmmmm...OK. They never touch, with the very very rare exception that he will help her move in or out of a space, which is also the same level of physical intimacy he has with Ebra.

There has been one exception to this obviously carefully curated and protected system since they opened the restaurant. Carmy invited her to the Ever funeral. When she arrived, suddenly...hug!

She comes through the threshold, he immediately is up to greet her, she comes close, and they reach for each other. They haven't done this since they passed the fire suppression test and they've been through a lot since then. It's a weird hug, maybe even a terrible hug, but it's a hug, and then he guides her to the table with his hand on the small of her back, seats her between himself and his most trusted Ever brother/colleague, and introduces her to important people as Chef Sydney. She's not Syd here because respect and her dignity are paramount and they are in public and there are at least two predators (that we know of) prowling in this lovely palace. He seats himself on the end, farthest from the other chefs, and in between her and anyone outside this trusted table who might approach them, ever so subtly and symbolically protecting her. They've never been out in public together with strangers before. There's a piece of this where all he can do is be there with her with that furious snarl on his face because that's what happens when his anxiety is transferred to a threat to her. He identifies David Fields as the most dangerous being in the room and so that's who he's with mentally, the rest of the night.

He's showing her off, and promoting her career, a little bit for his pride because he can't believe this woman comes to places with and for him, looking like Syd but more, but he's also showing her off because he wants her to be forever welcomed at his table of heavy hitters. He thinks she belongs there. He hugs her in front of everyone so they see that this is someone he fully embraces, someone he tacitly recommends and endorses as a part of their world of elite chefs. We have a window into his inner world, so we can see that his silence is in large part because he's preoccupied but it simultaneously also allows her the space to come out of her shell. He withdraws in part because in the Ever hierarchy he is important and she is no one. Through his broody silence, his persona and reputation are deemphasized, almost effaced, but as his date she has symbolic entitlement to engage and she does. She listens, learns, questions, teases, laughs, and integrates herself, all but replacing him in the dynamic of the group.

What else do we see in the Ever hug? The Ever hug shouts other things at us. It's very quick. No lingering. No pressing. They don't quite know who should go which direction. They get maybe 3/5 of a full embrace completed. The remaining 2/5 of the way to a full body embrace is waaaay too far past the usual rules of engagement they've been practicing six days out of seven for months and months. Syd looks kind of scared. They don't make lingering eye contact, checking in on each other, like they often do.

All of which is to say: in the daily intimacy of their restaurant, they cannot endure as "coworkers" unless they strip out every possible physical signifier of the intensity of their bond. They communicate through all of the flavors and all of the senses of the body, except touch. That's the one that could fuck up everything else if they miscalculate. They can't bear that mortal danger, so they simply never risk an embrace, a bump, a touch while brushing past, or a "you've got something on your face." No touching. Ever.

But at the home of his sophisticated and cool British kitchen mother, at a palace of sorts, he breaks the no-touching-rule to make sure she is seen and welcomed and trusted and safe, and at the same time he becomes deranged by the reality that the world is what it is.

[noangeleither]

yin and yang: carmy and sydney's creative processes + menu planning

what i love about analyzing carmy and sydney is the way they mirror each other. their similarities and differences, and how they have the potential to complement each other well. truly make each other better at this.

this is most evident with the way they approach creating a dish.

sydney's creative process

evidenced by sheridan (s01e05) and sundae (s02e03), sydney is very imaginative when it comes to creating a dish. the editing in these episodes gives us an intimate view of her creative process. recipes often come to her in dreams/daydreams.

sydney gets inspired by her passion for cooking, her family history and her city/world around her (architecture, nature, other restaurants in Chicago). this really fits into sydney's motivations as a chef.

Sydney uses food to make people happy. She likes to take care of people. someone on here explained the significance of sydney wanting exactly one michelin star, which would signify affordable high quality food that normal everyday people have access to. in braciole she mentions to marcus that her dad and her didn't really go out to eat so when they did, they made it count and it was special. she wants to create an experience like that with her own spot (the Bear).

so naturally that is reflected in her food. its not simply a great meal, but a fabric/archive of her culture, history, worldview and entire character.

while sydney has a very imaginative creative process, she often just jots down her ideas in her little notebook(s), for later reflection.

carmy's creative process

carmy has a more tense relationship with cooking. while sydney and carmy are both amazing chefs, carmy seems to be more jaded and detached from his work.

for carmy he grew up in a household where food was a big part of his family. his mom, mikey, and nat can all cook well. he is naturally very great at it. he uses food to be closer to the people he loves. thats why in the face of rejection from his brother, he goes off and becomes one of the best chefs in the country out of spite. why he uses the beef to try and fix his relationship with mikey. why he was so devasted when syd quit and why he started his dream restaurant with her after she came back.

because we dont get an intimate look into carmys psyche when creating a dish, its harder to say but based off his monolouge in braciole (s01e8) and the way he uses food to connect with people he loves rather than having passion for it independently i can surmise that carmy isn't imaginative as sydney. food is more like a math equation (ironic)/a science.

“he’s the best bc he didn’t have any of the bullshit”, emotional ties/relationships of any kind. his career esp at EMP were isolating, rigid and cold. he was the best bc he was calculating, precise and competitive. which breeds excellence in his field while straying him further away from love and true passion.

i imagine carmy to be more pragmatic with creating a dish.

but carmy is a creative person at his core and while creating a dish might not be as colorful as when sydney does it. we do know that carmy can draw and visualize his ideas onto paper. "Sistine Chapel" level drawings according to syd.

sydney + carmy - potential true partnership

on my 3rd rewatch, i couldn't help but feel so dissatisfied with their partnership. granted this is on purpose since the show is only 2 seasons in and they are trying to do a slow burn in all aspects, not just romantic.

it really hit me that carmy and sydney have never - at least on screen - created a meal together. in s1, we never see the risotto come to fruition, we just get carmys input but never the finished product. in s2 finally, carmy and Sydney work together now that their dynamic has changed from boss and employee to partners. we get like what? 4 scenes of them creating the menu, and having this amazing professional chemistry but ultimately leads to two failed dishes, which would be ok if they worked together after that. but they dont...

instead for the rest of the season, we see them (mainly Syd) working on the menu separately. the menu is....alright. mainly has carmy written all over it (he has a the seven fishes + cannolis, weird homage to one of the worst nights of his life).

*putting on another pair of shipper goggles to say this makes the whole "you make me better at this" confession, even more mind-boggling bc better at what? you guys haven't even worked together all season. this = life , i rest my case*

in s3 and beyond, im excited for them to truly start working together as partners and actually see them create a dish together.

i want to see how their approaches to creating a dish can help the other.

how sydneys creative process can help carmy

besides the obvious romantic implications of the palette cleanser outing, the potential for them to understand each other on a deeper level in regards to food is something i mourn everyday.

after sydney goes on her trip solo, we see her ride the ferry and just take a look at her surroundings. shes thinking about the food she ate, shes looking at buildings, windows, looking at the snow. all inspiration for a dish.

imagine if carmy was there with her. he would be curious about what she's thinking about, get insight on how she creates and maybe want to learn to see food in a less practical way.

i mean he hadn't drawn in years it seems until he was inspired by sydney and the chaos menu to draw again....now imagine if he didn't ruin the moment by bringing up claire (LMFAO). the point is, sydney naturally sparks creativity and passion in him, even when they aren't together.

i know many people are theorizing that carmy will leave the culinary industry (and i agree most of the time) but i also think sydney is slowly but surely helping him discover/re-discover a passion for cooking. i think that carmy likes that sydney likes to take care of people because subconsciously he knows he does the same thing or has the potential for it (i.e making tiff sprite from scratch when she was experiencing morning sickness). evidenced by fishes (s02e6), care often feels like an obligation (he takes care of drunk donna when shes going through an episode) but it doesnt have to be this way. and now carmy wants to get a star for her....their interests are slowly aligning.

how carmys creative process can help sydney

this isn't as concrete as the one above but i found it interesting thinking about how carmys more pragmatic approach and sydneys idealistic approach can work in tandem.

first scene in pop (s02e5) shows sydney and tina late at night working on the tasting menu. later in the episode we find out that carmy has been pushing back menu planning leaving sydney on her own. she trying an elements concept which is extremly creative and impressive but even tina says, which sydney later agrees, that its a lot for a tasting menu.

im stretching maybe....but based on carmys comment on her risotto from the season before (needs acid) + his practical approach, it seems like he acts like a buffer when sydneys ideas get "a lot".

*in chemistry buffers are solutions added to resist pH changes when acidic and basic components are added*

so if carmy needs to be more creative and sometimes sydneys ambitions gets ahead of her....

sydney is the heart, while carmy is the brain (???)

one cannot work without the other. when they truly come together to create the menu, they both need to learn from one another to elevate the restaurant. not to mention with carmy's italian american roots and syd's Nigerian-Caribbean/southern roots, they have the potential for amazing fusion dishes and real partnership. i and others want the menu to physically reflect both of them.

conclusion

i literally dont know where im going with this. sorta kinda meta but its more like hopes and dreams for next season and me wanting to type my ideas down.

they complement each other well ok? and have potential for a great partnership once they communicate better. i like this part of the definition of yin and yang:  Their interaction is thought to maintain the harmony of the universe and to influence everything within it.

carmy and Sydney are the leaders of the bear, their relationship is foundational to the success of their restauarnt and team, once they work together truly, play to their strengths and weaknesses, then will come true harmony in their universe.

bonus

more sydcarm parallels/similaries/differences/yin yang moments:

carmys gold chain, syds silver earrings

carmys white t-shirts, syds white button ups

carmy is bad at math, syds great with numbers

carmy wasn't really great at school, this is sorta fanon but i can imagine syd excelled in school

both wear birkenstocks (more a chef thing but i still think its cute)

sunshine x grumpy trope but like better...usually the sunshine (syd) is more emotionally vulnerable making a space for grumpy (Carm), but they switch positions. carmy allows sydney to be more emotionally vulnerable often initiating deep conversations, while syd is more closed up/guarded

overall tho i think its cute that they are both shy/emotionally stunted but i do think purely aesthetic wise, sydney has a softer exterior ( doe eyes, colourful scarves, awkward) while carmy is more intimidating (tats, smokes, looks angry all the time)

both fight dirty - i.e their individual fights with richie (review, the bear)

carmy tho is more prone to outbrusts of anger/violence while sydney lets that shit shimmer until she explodes on you

both their passcode being 11111

carmy having dark mode on his phone, syd having light mode in s2

their matching clothes moments earlier in the second season and in bolognese

if theres more, pls comment/reblog, bc i always think of this shit and need more to cry about

fin!

credits: gif 1&2 , gif 3 and gif 4

[yannaryartside]

ngl I adore the fact that Carmy's nightmares are about burning alive and Sydney's are about drowning

But we know fire is the place he goes when he doesn't want to "think about it," his most common self-harming method. In other words, fire is something he is constantly drawn to when he is at his worst. But he is also afraid of it, of course, he knows that is walking the same path as Michael. Fire is a symbol of self-hate, fear, and sadness.

Rain comes on Sydney as a symbol of a force of nature; it's the stress, the fear, the pressure. But both of them start the dream trying to smile through it. Because neither of them was conditioned or encouraged to feel safe in safe spaces to exteriorize their struggles.

And that's kinda the soulmatism of it all, someone that gets you without even trying.

gifs by @livelovecaliforniadreams 

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

He´s doing exactly what Syd told him to do, as usual

It´s all in the symbolic subtext side notes.

He´s retiring to get more of this:

And when he´s THAT Carmy, he will say what he really meant to say here:

This Carmy that she won´t even indulge with a sorry sign, is the one he´s retiring because she told him to be "less miserable first", happy first.

The only 2 huge holes in his argument are lack of transparency bc he unilaterally made that decision, and that he thinks he will be happy away from her somehow, forget cooking, Syd is the key to his happiness, any chance of surviving, and his real peace that feels like chaos because

"It´s fucking hard and that´s what makes it special, right? It´s fucking hard, and it´s gnarly and it´s brutal and it´s specific and not everybody can do it."

But:

He can do it.

Side note: when Carmy is telling the truth or saying something we should BELIEVE, the camera focuses on his eyes, close up, frontal, light. That´s Storer telling us "THIS!!!". Let´s call those, for the sake of this meta, "Moments of truth".

More examples of these MOT are:

Not only Syd, but Marcus as well, brings out that MOT Carmy in him:

Another side note: So canonically/symbolically since the 04x02 "apology" happened, every time Carmy refers to FIRE 🔥🔥🔥 from now on, we´re supposed to understand his relationship with C and all the anxiety-driven fire he felt and "loved" during it and how he also called her his "peace" at some point before, because that fire was what he thought was his ticket out of the hell he was in. But as usual, he got that wrong, because what it means is that his REAL PEACE is what he will find AFTER HE PUTS OUT THE FIRE, in the smoke (which is a culinary technique that since 02x02 we should know Syd prefers and he likes too) not in the fire itself, but we´re gonna forgive him bc he´s a himbo. The fire is part of the problem; what comes after PUTTING IT OUT is what real peace is for him.

So, it has been established throughout the series that Carmy is an asshole, or POS, as Sydney calls him, for going about it like this, but he loves the restaurant Syd because:

Their restaurant, anyway...

Bonus track: JAW´s iconic characterization of Carmy gave his character tics. This one in particular is meant to show Carmy´s anxiety, which usually shows up when he´s nervous,

OR about to do something he knows is wrong or not what he REALLY REALLY wants to do because he´s in denial, in other words: sublimating/transferring because his mind can play those tricks on him, but his body language and tics are not fully influenced by his denial mechanisms, only partially:

This also sometimes is seen as him rubbing his lips or chin, but that´s more like covering an impulse than a truth, like sublimating arousal not just not telling the truth, and I´m not referring to that right now, but I am referring to his body language being always very telling, even when he´s not being totally transparent. He´s not a great liar when he talks it out, but he´s awesome at lying by omission, by keeping secrets.

He also rubs his nose when he´s downright lying:

So, my theory is that this whole retirement tantrum he threw to keep Syd at the restaurant and away from poachers, as I mentioned in the UTT Community is just that and what he said in the back alley is not gonna happen or last, meaning this is his Braciole era. And we all know how Braciole ends:

So, we´re fine whether he leaves or not, chefs.

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[endlesslyhyperfixating]

okay SO.. while there isn’t a *direct* quote of chris storer saying “i’m writing seven seasons of the bear,” there’s been talk that APPARENTLY there's enough material to go seven seasons if it keeps getting renewed. and like... based on how it’s paced? the way the relationships ('SPECIALLY SYDCARMY) are slow-burning and layered as hell? yeah. they’re in this for the long haul.

and i keep thinking about what @outmakingmoonshine pointed out: in season one, in the VERRYY FIRST EPISODE, carmy makes spaghetti and says “it took seven hours to prep.” SEVEN. HOURS. i have not known peace since connecting the two.

again it may be hearsay but the number 7 is too prominent for me to NOT be reaching a lil bit regarding it. Call me crazy...

but what if that’s the writers playing a long game? what if it’s not just about food prep, but a breadcrumb—like maybe it’s going to take seven seasons to fully develop syd and carmy’s relationship. to build it right. no shortcuts. just pressure, tension, growth, and then a real, earned resolution. Seven seasons to address all of Carmens traumas and hurt and healing. a seven-course meal of emotional payoff.

i’m not saying it’s CANON...

but i’m also not not saying it.

...

I might compile a list or appendix of all the '7' motifs cus I'm just that extra bit o' crazy

[thoughtfulchaos773]

I'll never stop talking about the table scene.

But Carmy and Sydney were fully aware of how intimate the conversation was getting. Specfically, when Carmy says, "I wouldn't even want to do without you"

Sydney stopped 'fixing' the table, and she shyly looked up at him as Carmy stared at the floor.

Oh, and Carmy's own reaction to what he said to Sydney.

Then he hit her with, "You know you... you make me better at this, " and it was so honest and soft, and his brows furrowed as if he's slowly realizing what he's feeling.

Gif @fruityzari

Oh, and Sydney the way she looked down and shrugged the hidden glances. She knew it, too. Because she says it back, and he gives a small nod of understanding, a "So, you feel it too?" Moment between them.

Gif by @fruityzari

I love this little exchange because of their body language. I think this is the moment their dynamic, chemistry, whatever was happening between them was coming to the surface, and they were going deeper than they've ever gone before.

I'll also say that Carmy went there first.

[gayofthefae]

Just caught that Carmy makes homemade pasta for Claire after having an episode called Pasta in which he made homemade pasta with Sydney...