#Syd doesn’t trust the Faks and says so in S3 if they can’t buff floors they’re not getting in the kitchen

[freedelusionshere]

It’s kind of funny how in Violet Shapiro “bumps into” Syd on her daily route in S3 the same way Claire “bumps into” Carmy in S2? Clearly not an accident? A lot of what Shapiro says to her in this “accidental” conversation seems very rehearsed and teeing up the quickly approaching poach. And she corrects him when he tries to flatter her because Carmy changed all their dishes. Shapiro also invites her to Ever (foreshadowing).

I know someone has said this before (apologies, I don’t remember who), that Shapiro may get info from someone on the inside at The Bear, because he knows exactly what to say to Syd to push her buttons (this mirrors Claire telling Carmy she knows the name of his restaurant). Maybe he just heard the yelling of the kitchen when he visited The Bear, but I don’t actually believe he went there, he would’ve been recognized by Richie.

The show goes out of the way to make it clear Richie rarely misses anything that happens in the FOH. The fork he sees on the floor can be interpreted as a tip off about a reviewer (The Tribune), but it appears Richie says nothing. Richie also has done saboteur stuff in S1, and Richie is pissed at Carmy in S3, but that would be extremely obvious.

It makes me wonder if the “sleight of hand” is that it’s one of the Faks, who play the fools but they’re both manipulative and have agendas. Ted gets directly called out by Richie in Children that his motives are centered around getting laid, and we know Claire has been setting him up with her friends. Neil has stated previously he wants to work in the kitchen, and was shot down by Richie (Richie often blocks the Faks), but ends up being promoted to FOH where he sabotaged the mirepoix presentation.

Neil does this exact kind of manipulation to Carmy with Claire in S2 and in S3 he outright lies and misrepresents to Claire about how Carmy feels about her. The Faks also hold grudges for years as a family and it gets brought up with the whole haunting BS.

Prior to Syd meeting Shapiro for the first time, the Faks are shown lining up all the pictures of the critics with Neil bragging about how he’s pre-memorized all their faces and Ted saying he has a great memory (which is a great attribute for someone trading info). Neil also sucks up to Nat, Claire, and Donna. Later, we find out that The Bear is getting reviewed by The Tribune which causes Syd and Carmy anxiety, and also feels somewhat premature and designed to get them a chaotic review.

And similar to the way Claire is the opposite in personal character of Syd, Shapiro is this for Carmy. Shapiro pressures Syd constantly once he tells her about the job offer, he doesn’t take responsibility for his mistakes (the smudging), he is envious (we see him frustrated Carmy is faster than him in flashback), it’s set up that he’s saying he’s offering Syd everything she wants but ultimately, his goal would get Syd to leave The Bear. It would separate Syd and Carmy just as Claire is a wedge for their relationship.

Neil is always around in the background at the restaurant but he and Ted get way too much facetime in the narrative in S3 for it to not be about something. Sammy showing up in Children is a big sleight of hand distraction to the fact the Faks are basically sabotaging the photoshoot the entire time. Sammy is invited there by his brothers. Whether it’s intentional or not, that is the result, with Richie finally telling Neil to get out of the picture.

This is also fucking with Richie who controls the FOH. Neil doesn’t use the right tank size, Ted drills the photographer with questions, the smoking in the FOH, Sammy threatens the photographer.

I’m guessing it’s Neil, although Ted gets the benefit of access to Claire’s friends (gross). In Fishes we see them trying to run low-level money schemes. They’re basically trying to scam people they know, and it’s so stupid that people give them money but it never catches up with them, either.

Neil is trying to ingratiate himself to Carmy so he can work in the kitchen, and to do that he wants to get Syd out of the picture, because the kitchen is hers. Also his comment to Claire at the hospital casting her in the traditional role…not what Syd’s about at The Bear, is it?

Neil also offers to show the electrician in S2 a magic trick.