#sydcarmy evidence is needed

[goddessxdivine]

the scene in Brigade where Carmy brings Syd the family meal, which she doesn’t even take a bite of, and stays outside with her clearly wanting to be alone:

“what’s goin on with you”

“nothing”

“Sydney…”

for me it’s specifically the way he said her name and her folding immediately. by then they’d only know each other for maybe a month and they were so familiar in that moment. and rest of their conversation feels like they know each other so well … that and the Syd fancam to calm down a panic attack scene

[thoughtfulchaos773]

Jimmy. Needs to be the one.

To catch Carmy and Syd. I posted about this before- Just this scene alone tells me Jimmy loves drama, it's why he kept going in the kitchen on Christmas, it's why he lied for Richie. It's why he's so interested in Syd and Carmy's dynamic, just like the viewers.

Carmy might as well tell Unc.

[tvgremlin]

Logged on this morning to see two drastically different pieces of The Bear news and I need to connect them for you all.

Okay- so, Carmy is flirting in the teaser. That’s fucking INSANE for so many reasons. This is the most intense “there really isn’t any other way to read this” moment since the under the table scene… and the fact that it’s in a TEASER (and they are wearing the outfits they are wearing in a lot of the other teaser scenes we already have, including more of him low key flirting with her) says so much.

He sounds like fanfic Carmy here and I’m not okay about it. This and other moments from articles and teasers (“quiet moment together” and Carmy running) point to Sydcarmy canon more than ever.

Now- for the second, worse news.

Claire is back with a larger role. To say this isn’t what we were hoping for would be a massive understatement. BUT- with all the evidence above, all I can think of is how in order for Sydcarmy to happen- Carmy has to have an actual, satisfying ending with Claire. We need a real breakup, one where he is clear about his feelings to show his growth as a character. Once that is over, he can run to the restaurant and get his girl.

This isn’t the end guys, just a bump in the road.

[ambeauty]

Random Thoughts about Sydney and Carmen

The more I thought about it, the more Sydney and Carmen represent Yin Yang to me. In almost every sense, they are complete opposites that have to work together in order to find harmony. Here are some quotes on what yinyang is and how Sydney and Carmen fit into that dynamic:

This drawing illustrates the exact binary of their characters. Male|Female, Black|White, Quiet|Loud, no Mother|No Father. Secondary Education| Self Taught. I can keep going with the ways their characters are designed as polar opposites. The success of The Bear depends upon finding out how to balance their polarities and use them as advantages. The restaurant and themselves need each other to mature and survive. They are attracted to each other’s differences but what they are striving for requires them to resolve their struggle for dominance.

“…yinyang as a process of harmonization ensuring a constant, dynamic balance of all things. As the Zhuangzi (Chuang-tzu) claims, “Yin in its highest form is freezing while yang in its highest form is boiling. The chilliness comes from heaven while the warmness comes from the earth. The interaction of these two establishes he (harmony), so it gives birth to things. Perhaps this is the law of everything yet there is no form being seen”

Carmy is literally frozen. Although he represents a lot of elements of heat in s1, they have almost swapped at the point in time we are in now. She will metaphorically burn it all down by leaving. Carmy has the power to cleanse all of them by finding closure on his path and allowing himself to see a different future. His anger boils over like hot water, while her simmers beneath the surface like lava. Her quiet inability to speak up for herself will lead to destruction. But if they work together, communicate, they will find harmony and continue to give life (birth) beautiful things. As evidence by the education they have already passed on to their staff. As focused on by Chris in 307: Legacy.

“The philosophical principle of Yin and Yang evolved into the idea that all things in the universe exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites. Or pairs of equal opposites that attract and complement each other. Less like “opposing forces”, and more “complimentary forces”.

Think ‘balance’, not conflict.

In short, the yin-yang has come to symbolically represent the constant path of uniting opposites and the pursuit of seeking balance in life.”

I firmly believe that they need each other to find perfect harmony. Now that they are in each other’s lives nothing they do on their own will ever feel complete. They have to find the balance within their mirrored paths to create the harmony they are looking for creatively, professionally, and emotionally within each other.

Happy SydCarmy Week! Day 3: Vibrant Collaboration

Thank you to my pookie for listening to me rant about this @sydneys-adamu 😘

The gifs do not belong to me

[earthlined]

a rant about sydney, carmy, and claire

i want to do this in parts so it’s easier to digest.

part 1 - claire is your classic textbook male gaze, manic pixie dream girl. she’s quirky and funny. she’s ’nerdy girl takes off her glasses and lets down her hair’ beautiful. she’s mysterious but not too much. she’s not like other girls because she isn’t afraid of a little broken arm (or man). she’s fearless. she calls around to ask for carmy’s real number to confront him about giving her a fake one. she’s bold. she seemingly understands him immediately. she remembers him because, he’s the bear and she remembers him. she already knows his entire family so she fits right in. she takes him to house parties to show him life can be fun. she gets him to open up because he’s safe with her. she’s the dream. she’s perfect…but that also makes her boring. and while people who look like her may be able to see themselves within her, it also makes her less relatable and therefore less likable.

part 2 - carmy needs sydney and by extension so does claire. now wether you have hopes for sydcarmy in a romantic sense or not is your business (i personally don’t want syd touching carmy with a ten-foot pole atp. at least not in that way). what’s evident to me though is that people would not be rooting for claire if it wasn’t for sydney. take sydney out of the picture. make it the claire and carmy show. a tale of childhood friends getting a second chance at love. she’s perfect, he’s fucked up but it’s okay because they love each other…tell me you wouldn’t be screaming at claire through your screen to get away from that man. to run for the fucking hills. you need characters like sydney and even richie (who actually make people like carmy deal with their shit) to be the “bitch”/“asshole”. you need to dislike them because they help drown carmy out. they make you believe that carmy may be bad but he isn’t the worst/only one.

part 3 - the relationship between sydney and carmy seems more organic and real than the relationship between claire and carmy because neither syd nor carmy are perfect. they are two imperfect, complex individuals who share a passion, slowly learning more about each other on a personal level. whereas with claire we as an audience are force fed this supposed connection through other characters. constantly reminded of how good she is for him. she is already perfect and knows everything about carmy, which by extension means he’s fucked but fixable. it is also funny because we’ve learned nothing about him through her, like girl please tell us all that you supposedly know and understand about this man lol.

bonus + sorta spoiler - “she’s peace”. i’m sorry…like was that on purpose or am i missing something? is she who you think of to calm yourself down when you’re having a panic attack? does she literally calm you down and ground you when you’re having a panic attack? is the sound of her voice, a simple “hey”, strong enough to cut through all the noise? this is why i want syd to take that opportunity because although she quite clearly is the backbone to that place and i love seeing her, i am dying to see how he’ll fare without her.

[yannaryartside]

Spoiler alert for a Sydcarmy moment in s3: Kasama

Like I said this is something that looked like a filming but the s3 trailer confirmed. Read if you need hope/sydcarmy evidence for the future.

Kasama was closed for the bear filming in season 3. Photos were taken inside Kasama with Ayo and Jeremy that were published later. Ayo was wearing a brown leather jacket, and Jeremy was wearing a dark suit similar to the one he wore in the trailer. They were having dinner, other people with elegant suits. Sitting close, candles nearby.

We didn't know the context of the photo, and most people assumed it was Jeremy and Ayo actually hanging out like they do. I can't find the post, I commented on it because they both look fine as hell.

So if I am right, in this gif, Carmy is now walking home from, or in direction to, a “professional” date with Syd, maybe to talk her about what their partnership means to him.

Guys, I am so seated.

[devisrina]

Season 3 predictions for sydcarmy

I feel like we could get a kiss. This is more out of assumption rather than any real evidence. I think the table scene was intimate enough to plant a seed for something romantic to happen between them in season 3.

After getting cut off the fridge, Sydney is still hesitant towards trusting Carmy. I feel like she'll try to keep everything professional though, putting aside how it might have hurt her personally. Because Carmy isn't normal when it comes to Syd, he needs to know what is up.

They'll have a big argument. This will help them move forward with working together onward.

Sydney will get jealous again. But since Carmy isn't doing anything to intrude with the restaurant milestones, she starts to realise that her annoyance towards his relationship with Claire was also because she likes him more than a business partner.

I think I'm more on the side that they get the star. But if they don't, I think they'll get enough exposure that more people will visit the restaurant.

Connor will continue to flirt with Sydney. While this is not reciprocated, Carmy continues to get jealous of this.

They will become closer as friends. She might even be involved in his family life more.

@currymanganese was talking about a funeral episode with Marcus's mom. I feel like Sydney builds towards emotionally being here for Carmy (as well as helping Marcus) after seeing the effects that it has towards him.

We get a reveal that Sydney never went to the beef with her dad before. I think we might find this out through Carmy talking to her dad one on one. Maybe this could be when she is finishing up service and she's looking around for Carmy and she sees them talking outside. Deciding to cut in, feeling flustered since she knows what's going to come up.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Why are these inconsistencies our friends?

My theory is that S4 is being re-shot to better accommodate the public's demands that flooded the internet post-S3 debacle because S3 was, so far, the weakest season of the show.

When ANY show underperforms, the network requires an RCA (root cause analysis) and this entails focus groups, surveys, script scrutiny, etc.

The RCA of The Bear S3 returned results that pointed to a lack of Sydney airtime, a lack of backstory for OG characters, an excess of Faks airtime, no or very little Sydcarmy subtext, the producers' insistence on trying to make the C-person character happen, and no real progress on the plot overall, resulting in mixed reviews, less viewership, less engagement, and a unanimous consensus in calling S3 the weakest link.

AND, here's the meat:

Back in July rumor had it that only 2 S4 eps were yet to be shot, which at that point was not yet considered the series finale because S4 had not yet been confirmed as the final season. I posted about it:

This aligns with what Ebon said:

BUT

Also last month, Mr. Landgraf, the head of FX, said that 4 out of S4's 10 eps were yet to be shot, I also posted about it.

So, here's where the "inconsistencies" begin and that's actually great news for us, truthers.

Because we know S4's series finale is still in the WR as we speak and the series finale will be shot next year between February and March.

And if a few months ago they said they only had 2 eps to go and now the head of FX is saying that they actually are yet to shoot 4 eps of S4 to wrap production, then that clearly reads as "reshoot"/"rewriting". They are wiping 2 eps they had previously shot and re-shooting, IMO in a clear case of FANSERVICE, probably encouraged by the network itself as damage control, to make sure S4 doesn't behave the same way as S3 did in terms of numbers and public's perception.

I have been blowing this whistle for a while now, but evidence keeps piling up, so I like to keep track of it and share it.

Notice a cast name missing here? I do :)

Source: Cosmo

That could easily mean that S4 may not be ready for a June release because of all that re-writing of scripts and re-shooting of scenes to comply with the audience's demands that the RCA made clear and that the network is pushing for, require S4's premiere to be postṕoned a few weeks. I deem it unlikely but not implausible.

If I'd have to guess, S4 will be released in June 2025, as per usual, because 4 to 5 weeks of re-shoots are enough to shoot 4 eps, but the point here is that we are talking about 4 eps, NOT 2 anymore. That means they changed the ending, they wiped some characters, they went in a different direction, and they need to re-shoot and re-write eps. AND I'M SOOOO HERE FOR IT.

I am under the impression Storer was going to pull a Lalaland ending where Carmy and the C person got back together explicitly and Sydcarmy endgame was gonna be implied, like in Lalaland but with a better closure, where Carmy and Syd did end up together in the 11th hour but that was never gonna be fully shown unless there was a S5.

But after the RCA and the less-than-desirable repercussions the real-life relationship between JAW and MG had amongst the fans, the network decided to take control of Storer's final delivery and "advised" him to re-write and re-shoot the series finale, according to fans' expectations. And we all know which portion of the fandom I'm talking about, the only one that really matter$ for the network:

This includes an explicit Sydcarmy endgame, more Calo presence in the WR, less unpopular characters given more airtime than Sydcarmy, etc.

In other words: WE WON, otherwise, they would still have only 2 more eps to go and the scripts would have been wrapped by now.

FUCK YOU, STORER!

[sydcarmyfan]

Carmy needs Syd like King George needs Queen Charlotte.

I can’t stop thinking about SydCarmy and I know Carmy has feelings for Sydney, but after this post, it is so evident that Carmy NEEDS Syd.

In Bridgeton, King George says, ‘’ I can not breath when you are not near… my heart calls your name.’’ This is so similar to Carmy; Carmy seems like he can’t function without Sydney.

Remember when Queen Charlotte was about to go over the wall but she didn’t, Sydney could have left The Beef and not come back, but after ‘’family style? Two tops? Booths?’’, Sydney decided not to go over that wall.

Similar to George, Carmy is different things: ‘Chef Carmy’, ‘grieving Carmy’, ‘psycho Carmy’, but to Sydney Adamu, Carmy is ‘just Carmy’ and now I’m teary!!!

Also, notice that Queen Charlotte and King George are under the bed while Carmy and Syd are under the table in the above GIFs. The Bear writers and creators may as well change the name from ‘The Bear’ to ‘Queen Sydney: A Chicago Story’.

[daydreamgoddess14]

Everything More Than Anything pt. 2

Sydney Adamu x Carmy Berzatto - R rated 🔥

Full Masterlist

Sydcarmy Masterlist

Chapter 1

~~~~~

Syd's brain is in overdrive, she needs some help with the mental load...

Chapter 2

With Carmy finally on board, Syd threw herself into work more than ever before. The crew rose to the challenge they'd set them, and were improving day by day. Some days though, chaos reigned no matter how hard she tried. The turnover time on a handful of tables was too short, they had diners arriving for tables which were still in use - a nightmare for an already too busy Saturday night. Richie had handed over expo to Carmy so he could deal with the front of house noise, leaving Syd and Tina both covering his station. 

"I need to fire the dessert right now for table 4 and 8 please, Marcus."

"Yes, Chef."

"Are those the two tables waiting to turnover?" Syd called over, 

"Richie's waxing, don't worry. They'll be sitting in 20. Yes Marcus?" Carmy confirmed, pushing Marcus for the desserts.

"Heard, Chef. Plating now."

"Excellent, thank you. Can I have hands ready to go please. 4 and 8, let's go." Syd watched Carmy direct the expo with ease, unperturbed by the additional stress of the first cover's late arrival and the second's early arrival.

"Hate it when people are late."

"Early is just as bad."

"Early gets a drink at the bar. Late pisses everyone off." She reasoned. 

"It's done. Let's move on, I've got 3 halibut and 5 salmon all day?'

"3 halibut, 5 salmon all day, Chef." She confirmed,

"Behind, Jeff," Tina called out at the same time, brushing just a hair too close to Syd and catching her wrist with the hot pan. 

"Shit," Syd gasped, the pain taking her breath away, 

"Baby, I'm so sorry! Fuck, let's get you under some water, honey -"

"It's OK, you carry on. Marcus, can you plate these please?" Syd stepped away from her fish as Marcus moved into her space. Carmy was already running the faucet so she plunged her hand straight under the water flow. Her eyes screwed up, she grimaced in pain as Carmy took her hand and turned it over to check the burn. 

"Looks nasty. Keep it under there," he instructed. "Let's get 2 of those halibut and 1 salmon ready to pick up, Marcus. Followed by 3 salmon."

"Yes, Chef. You good, Syd?"

"Fine Marcus, thanks. The first salmon is SOS, please."

"You got it, Chef."

"You good?" He asked quietly by her side, 

"Sure." She breathed out through pursed lips, pain still evident on her face. She went to move her hand from the water, but his firm grip still holding it kept her from doing so.

"Not yet. Still hurts?" She nodded, "so keep it there." He said firmly. 

"That's new 4 and 8 seated. Order coming on now." Richie moved through the kitchen, 

"Thanks, cousin, are they happy?"

"Nothing a couple of free margaritas won't cure."

"Fucking heard, Chef." Syd agreed, teeth still gritted against the pain. 

"Ouch, burn baby burn? I'll save you a marg, Syd. Tequila will take all your pain away, honey." Richie bounced her shoulder sympathetically as he passed. She stood with her hand under the water for 10 long minutes with Carmy checking in periodically, mostly to make sure she hadn't moved. 

"My fingers are numb, can I move now?" She asked, he nodded as his pen flew across the table information and crossed off the latest table completed.

"Yeah, c’mere," he turned to draw her in and pulled the first aid kit from under the table. He took out the burn ointment and smeared some across his index finger before lightly applying it to the angry red burn on the side of her hand. Her free hand pulled her jacket collar away from where it crowded her neck, his eyes flicked up to watch her. She could feel the goosebumps on her arm as he gripped it gently to apply the cream. She was fascinated by the diligence and tenderness he touched her with as the rest of the busy kitchen disappeared around her. "Plating tables 10 and 16, Marcus?" He called out, his focus split equally between the crew and the tickets lined up on the expo, and her. She felt her heart rate pick up as she watched him multitask. She'd tried for a long time to ignore the ache between her legs whenever he exuded total control like this. Seeing his confidence and skill in full flight was really something. "That ok?" He asked quietly, bringing her back down to earth.

"Yep. Yes, Chef. Thank you."

"Good. You've got 2 halibut and 4 salmon all day."

"2 halibut, 4 salmon all day." She repeated back, tearing herself from his side and back to her station. Tina was wrapping her in a hug instantly,

“I’m so sorry, baby. Are you ok? Lemme see,” She turned Syd’s hand over in her own, 

“It’s ok T, I’m fine. It’s not a bad one.” She reassured the older woman, “let’s get back on it,” she listened carefully so she could get caught up and the rest of the service went without issue. As promised, Richie delivered an ice cold margarita to her station just as they wound down and started the clean up. 

“Coulda been worse sweetheart, I once put my whole palm down on a stovetop. It was one of those electric hotplate ones an’ I forgot it was on. Burned my whole hand. Fuckin’ grim, and holy shit the pain was insane.” He held up his palm, examining it for signs of evidence.

“Thanks Richie, god that’s gorgeous." She took a long drink from the cold cocktail. "Front of house get cleaned up under your watch?”

“Sure it did, smooth as a baby’s ass. No one had a clue.” She grinned at his enthusiasm.

“Ok. Same again tomorrow?”

“You know it, Chef. Someone wants stars after all,” he rolled his eyes affectionately.

“Oh c’mon Richie, you know you want it too. Don’t pretend you weren’t impressed at Ever.” She teased.

“We’re gonna be better kiddo.” He slung an arm around her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head before dancing away from her, “ When you wish upon a star, Your dreams will take you very far, yeah, ” he sang, “ You're a shining star, no matter who you are, shining bright to see, what you could truly be… ”

“Beautiful, thanks for that. Really showing your age there with the 70s disco.” He laughed,

“Everyone loves a classic. What’s your dad listen to?”

“Yeah, it’s the classics for sure. Disco, Soul, Motown, a little 70s rock, he really likes to get down. Got some great pictures of orange corduroy flares and silk shirts.” She grinned, “I literally caught him this morning busting a move while he made coffee. He made me go to dance classes with him when I was a kid.”

“For real?”

“Yeah, cos y’know… my mom. He wanted to meet people, make some friends, but it’s not easy I guess with a kid hanging around, so he just took me with him.”

“Cute, So you’re gonna go on Dancing with the Stars once you’re a top fuckin’ famous chef, yeah?” Across the room, she caught Carmy laughing.

“No, hell no. It was 20 years ago, I have conveniently forgotten everything I ever learned.”

“Bullshit! Yo Tina, did you know Syd’s got moves?”

“Course she does honey,” Tina scoffed, “we’re always dancin’ around here when you ain’t watchin’! So, we done here, Chefs?” She looked around to assess how everyone else was getting on.

“Yes, Chef. Let’s go home. I could fall asleep on my feet.” Syd sighed, a yawn creeping up on her.

“Syd, fall menu tomorrow?” Carmy asked as they all milled around grabbing coats and changing shoes.

“Yeah sure, I was going to swing by the market at Logan Square in the morning first?” Syd could feel Tina watching them,

“Sounds good, mind if I get in on that?”

“No, that’s… that’s totally fine.” She frowned as she spotted Tina turning to hide a smile. “Night everyone,” she took Tina’s arm and the two women left together out into the warm evening.

“Something goin’ on there?” Tina asked as soon as they were away from the building.

“No! Tina, god no. That is a ridiculous suggestion. It would be a terrible idea, for one. And secondly, I don’t even like Carmy y’know, like that .”

“Sure honey, it’s not like you idiots are spending all day looking at each other or anything like that, right? You must think I’m blind, babe.” She laughed.

“Shut up, Tina.” Syd grumbled as her Sous pulled her along to the train station.

 

~~~~~

 

“Yo, what’s that?” Carmy asked, weeks later. Sundays in Logan Square followed by brainstorming/ cooking/ menu planning at Carmy's had become the new normal. 

“What’s what?” She said, a teaspoon held between her teeth. 

“That face?”

“It’s just my face?”

“No, there was a look - is it the consommé?” He took the spoon from her mouth, and dipped it into the amber liquid to try.

“Don’t double dip.”

“It’s only us eating it, doesn’t count.” 

“The consommé is fine.”

“Yeah, so what’s up?”

“I just have a thing… I’ve done something to my shoulder,” she winced as she rotated it.

“May I?” He asked, raising his hands. She nodded and he stepped behind her, “where?”

“Like, below my shoulder blade, kinda here -” she stretched her hand behind her back and roughly pointed to the area where her bra’s shoulder strap met the horizontal band with a sharp intake of breath, “hurts like a motherfuc -” His thumb pressed into the soft flesh of her back,

“Here?”

“Little lower,” she squeaked, “and to the lef -, ohh fuck,” she trailed off with a sigh as he found the problem area.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, and the warmth of his hands - one kneading the space somewhere between her shoulder blade and the top of her ribs, and the other on the opposite side of her waist to hold her still. She could feel how rigidly she stood.

“Relax, s’probably not helping.”

“Easy for you to say.” She muttered, desperately gritting her teeth to hide the moan on the tip of her tongue.

“Yeah, right.” His thumb found a particularly tender spot,

“Ohh god, fuck,” she let out a broken whine, her hand flying up to cover her mouth in embarrassment. She jerked away from him but his hand on her waist held tighter,

“Just -, I’ve nearly got it, Syd.” He said hoarsely. “Better?” He asked, clearing his throat. She let out the breath she’d been holding, it felt like she couldn’t hear her own thoughts - only white noise.

“Yep, great. Thanks.” She turned to face him, fiddling with the collar of her t-shirt. “I gotta… I gotta split, my dad’s been on me for not hanging out with him anymore.”

“You doing anything?” 

“There’s an exhibit he wanted to see at the Art Institute. Was gonna take him to get crepes after.”

“S’good, you should get outta here.” He shoved his hair back, pushing the curls off his face.

“See you tomorrow?"

"For sure. Say hi to your dad from me." He said shyly. 

"Yeah, maybe next time uhh, I dunno, you could come too. If you wanted, I mean. I keep meaning to take him for breakfast at Kasama." She wrung her hands, swaying lightly on the balls of her feet. 

"I'd like that, Syd." A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, "But you should go, otherwise he'll uninvite me." 

"Fuck yes, yes he would." She rushed for the door, a loud "see ya!" As it slammed behind her. 

 

Another couple of weeks rolled on, and as much as Syd didn't care to admit it, Carmy had been right. Taking their time, building everyone's confidence at their own individual pace, caring about every detail, was working. By running a minor injuries triage on the sideline, Carmy had kept Syd on the straight and narrow. The good vibes were almost intoxicating. As they’d moved into early September, Nat had reduced her hours to as few as possible with her due date looming but she was impressed with how things had improved since opening night. Yet Syd couldn’t switch her brain off. It felt like a constant stream of thought, she could feel herself only giving half of herself to any conversations she was a part of, the other half consumed with what they needed to do next, do better, do more of.

“Yo, Syd, you listening?”

“Of course I am,” she looked up sharply at Marcus,

“What’d I say?”

“We were talking about…” she racked her brain, the guilt mounting. She hadn’t been listening, not even close. The last thing she’d heard was about Luca’s plans to visit, she’d then switched off to think about whether she and Carmy could drag him in for a day or two of training with a few of the crew. She was outlining a possible training plan in her mind, splitting the two days into chunks of time dedicated to the things she wanted him to show them.

“It’s a nice idea, Marcus, totally fine for you to take a day or two and show Luca around.” Carmy confirmed,

“It’s a great idea. There are so many good places you could show him.” Syd nodded along, shooting Carmy a grateful look for saving her. Marcus grinned, 

“Thanks guys, ‘preciate it.” He left the office and went back to his station, pulling his phone out to text Luca.

“Not listening?”

“Thank you for the save.” She slumped further into the spare office chair.

“You got lucky.”

“Ok, ok, I zoned out.”

“You’re always zoning out. Pretty sure you don’t really listen to anyone anymore.”

“I listen to you. Usually. I had an idea about doing a workshop with Luca - if he’s up for it?”

“Dude comes on vacation and you want to put him to work?”

“He’d love it.”

“We’ll think about it.” He assured her, “where’s your head at?” She looked away at the books over his shoulder, 

“I dunno,” she mumbled, “s’like I… like my brain is just so full of stuff, I can’t think fast enough, can’t write it all down quickly enough. I just can’t switch it off, it’s constant.” She tried to think of the last time her mind wasn’t a relentlessly moving machine. 

“You sleeping?”

“Sometimes. I get a few hours if I’m lucky. Don’t you feel like this too?” She asked, almost desperately.

“I used to, til someone started giving me shit about having my full focus.”

“Haha, so funny,” she rolled her eyes, “I’m serious.”

“So am I. That is how it felt before. Then you told me to focus, so I did. One thing at a time. Mostly.”

“What’d you do?”

“Listened to you. Prep helps - keeps my hands busy and gives me time to think.”

“I don’t get it. Did you know Dolly Parton wrote I Will Always Love you and Jolene on the same damn day? So why the hell can’t I do what I need to do in a day? I need to empty my brain completely first. A total reset. Just blank space, no thoughts at all. White noise.” She rubbed her tired eyes, “now that would be first fucking class.” She handed him her half empty iced coffee and swiped the half slice of toast left on his plate holding it between her teeth, “Oh fuck -” 

“S’up, channeling Dolly Parton?” He sniggered. 

“No!” She scoffed, “I just realized how to… ugh, but it means Tina was right. God fucking damn.” She chewed thoughtfully.

“You’ve lost me?”

“Yeah, nevermind. Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah?”

“For real. Back to it, Chef.” She left the office, still cursing under her breath. 

 

White noise. Suddenly it was all Syd could think about, the last time her brain had got up and walked out on her had been when Carmy had his hands on her. She'd felt the warmth of his hands through her clothes burning into her skin, his firm but careful touch trying not to hurt her. The way he'd grazed a particularly sensitive spot that would have made her knees buckle if the table hadn't been holding her up. And of course Tina had been right about the best way to relax. Because of course that would be the answer. She fell practically mute during service, robotically repeating back to Richie on expo, but otherwise not really engaging. She missed the whole conversation about Tina’s birthday plans, didn’t even flinch when Connor dropped a baking sheet right at her feet and didn’t once argue with Richie. She could feel Carmy’s gaze burning right through her at every opportunity, but he didn’t pull her up on her silence.

“Earth to Sydney Adamu, come in Sydney Adamu? Are you reading me?” Richie called over, using his hands as an amplifier,

“Sorry Richie, miles away. What’s up?”

“... Dude, that’s what I’m askin’ you? Where’s my sparring partner, huh? I musta mispronounced at least three different dishes tonight and you didn’t rip me even once! An’ you know I can’t rely on Carmen for witty banter - that’s our bag!”

“Witty banter?” She laughed, “I’m very sorry Rich, it won’t happen again. I promise if you really want me to roast you next time you fuck up, I’ll be there in a hearbeat.”

“That’s my girl! That’s what I wanna hear! Ok lizards, that’s the kitchen closed - thank you and goodnight. Not literally of course, get cleaning. Cousin, coming to burn one?” Carmy shot her one last look before following Richie.

“Baby, you good? I like, signed you up to cater my whole fuckin’ birthday party and you just agreed no questions asked?” Syd sighed with relief, of course she would have agreed to that regardless.

“T, hell could freeze over and I’ll still do your birthday. You know that!”

“I know, just don’t want you burning out - you’re workin’ too hard.”

“I’m working the same as I always do. I promise I’m fine.” She popped a kiss on Tina’s cheek as Richie and Carmy came back in to join the clean up. By the time the kitchen was spotless, Syd was drained. She called out goodbyes from the office as the others left, scribbling notes before they got overtaken in her brain by something else and something else and something else. 

"Syd, home." Carmy peered around the door. Half the lights were off and there were only the two of them left. 

"Shit, sorry. Yeah, I'm going." She dragged herself from the desk. 

"Look, can I try something - and you can tell me to fuck off?"

"I doubt I'm gonna tell you to fuck off, Carm."

"You might. Close your eyes?" She hesitated, but did as he asked. "What are you thinking?"

"Honestly?" She felt him nod.

"Well, I started to think we needed a new fruit supplier cos I swear we're being screwed on strawberries. Then I got onto strawberries being ready earlier each year because, y'know, climate change. So I doomspiralled a little, wondering if we need to move premises due to flooding, food prices, food shortages… but then I got kinda back on track thinking we could grow our own fruit and vegetables but that's, like, a lot of work and now I'm just about back to getting a better fucking supplier - ohh, or joining up with other spots nearby to buy bigger quantities, cheaper? Also, climate change is gonna kill us all, so that was a fun little detour." She finally stopped, eyes still closed, it was so quiet she wondered if Carmy had just left the building during her rant. Then he laughed. A lot. 

"Syd sweetheart, fuck, you need to get some sleep." 

"Fuck you, I know I do. But that is the state of my mind at the moment, and it is not funny! Things are going so well, why can’t my mind just let me breathe?" She sighed. "Can I open my eyes now?"

"No." She felt a hand on her waist, his insistent kiss on her lips, and she squeaked in surprise. He pulled away as she leaned in, leaving her swaying on the spot. 

"Oh." She opened her eyes with just enough time to see him move towards her again. 

"Oh? Should I stop?" He asked. She shook her head, words failing. Somewhat more prepared this time, she met him halfway in an instant clash of tongues and teeth. With one gentle push backwards, he'd pressed her against the wall. She gripped his t-shirt in her fist, catching the chain around his neck at the same time.

"Ohh god," she moaned in exactly the same way as she had in his kitchen. He nipped along her jawline, one hand on the back of her neck and the other on her ass.

"Sounds familiar," she could feel him smile, "how's all the big brain shit goin'?"

"Fuck, Carm -" She gasped as his hand moved from her neck to palm her breast over her t-shirt, "no thoughts here." He pulled away from her abruptly, holding her steady against the wall, 

"Good girl." He watched as her breath stuttered at his compliment and smirked. He flicked his wrist at the button of her pants, and kept his eyes on her as he slid them over the curve of her ass. She nodded for him to continue, and he dropped to his knees in front of her, dragging the material down her leg and pulling off her sneakers. She waited for him to reappear, but he didn't. Instead, he hooked her knee over his shoulder,

"Wait, what?" 

"I'll stop when you forget your own name. How's that sound?" Her jaw dropped, "kidding. Mostly. Say now, and I stop, and we can forget this ever happened, 'K?" 

"I don't want you to stop," she whispered. 

"Good." He hooked his thumbs into the waistband of her soaked underwear and pulled them down her legs, then he nudged her legs apart and lifted one to drape it over his shoulder. "So wet, Syd," he teased, peppering her inner thighs with kisses. He licked a broad stroke through her folds, his nose nestling up against her clit. She could feel her knees shaking so he put a firm hand on the hip of her raised leg to hold her steady. His other hand moved to join his determined mouth, he replaced his tongue fucking her with his fingers and turned his attention to suck her clit 

"Oh f-fucking fuck , Carm," She tangled a hand in his hair, partly to stop him from moving, and partly to keep herself upright. His fingers, knuckle deep inside her, pumped lazily in and out while he savored her taste, wanting to drag out her pleasure for as long as possible. Her dripping cunt ached for release but he didn't let up.

"You wanna come for me, baby?" He murmured as she whimpered at the loss of his tongue.

"Yes, god yes -" her hips twitched towards him, changing the angle so his fingers brushed against her g-spot, he flicked his tongue over her clit at the same time and felt her walls contract around his fingers as she came apart completely with a broken sob of his name. He rested his head against her thigh as she leaned limply into the wall. Her legs trembled, so he slipped her underwear back up, sat back and guided her down the wall to sit in his lap. "Holy shit." She whispered once she'd recovered her breath. 

"How's your head?" He asked, dropping a kiss to her temple. 

"Hmm, pretty empty." She smiled into the crook of his shoulder. She kissed a trail up to his ear and along his jaw, tasting herself on his tongue. With a desperate moan, she moved to straddle his hips, her knees on the cold, hard floor. She could feel him rock hard through his pants and rutted against him. 

"So fuckin' beautiful, Syd." His hands gripped her ass, holding her against him and making them both moan. His phone vibrated across the desk and onto the floor as he slid his hands underneath her t-shirt, "ignore it." He told her, tickling the sides of her ribs while he tried to pull it off. She batted his hands away and leaned away from him to reach it. 

"Fuck, it's Pete?" She handed it over and he swiped to answer the call just before it rang off. 

"Hey man, you good?" Syd couldn't hear Pete's response, but she could see Carmy's frown deepen. She moved to get up from his lap but his hand on her bare thigh stopped her. "On my way. No, no Richie till later - got it. Yeah, I'll bring Syd. Later dude." The phone dropped into his lap between their bodies. "We gotta go."

"We?"

"Baby's coming, Nat wants you there."

"Oh no, no no. That's not… I don't like hospitals. And it's really late. And I'm pretty sure they only let family in, so -" 

"We'll figure it out later, come with me?" He cupped her jaw, bringing her face close to his again, and kissed her, "and we'll figure this out later. C'mon." She stood up with ease, her legs now more willing to cooperate, and held out a hand to help him up. He kissed her again, his cock still half hard pressed into her thigh, "fucking family. Figuring this out later for sure." She pulled away first, hands fluttering nervously as she found interest in her bare feet, the coral nail polish a pop of brightness in the dimly lit room. 

"I'm gonna get cleaned up. Have we got time?" She picked up her clothes from the floor,

"Pete said it's still a while off, we're OK for now." She nodded, considering his wild hair and disheveled clothes. 

"You should straighten up too. She's your sister, full blown labor or not she's gonna know straight away." 

"Yeah, yeah I will." He nodded in agreement. She took her time in the beautifully decorated bathroom. The dark wallpaper and paint with the brushed gold features were all her and Nat. They'd spent an afternoon in a DIY store together picking out the colors and accessories. She switched with Carmy, and while he was in the bathroom, she put her sneakers back on and switched off the remaining lights.

[eroticwound]

Maybe part of my resistance to boxing Carmy and Sydney strictly into the “platonic” category is that I’m not even sure, based on what we’ve seen over the two seasons, if they are even friends. Sydney has been at the Beef/The Bear for a little over a year now (?), so maybe the window has been small to get super close, but you look at her relationships with the other characters and there’s imo much more clarity as to those friendships: she and Marcus of course are very good friends, he was probably her first friend at The Beef; she and Tina, it took some time to build that trust but once it was there Tina became her work mom and Syd values her companionship; although not shown explicitly, I also want to argue that Sydney and Nat have built a friendship of sorts since the end of s1 - they came up with CP at some point, meaning Syd felt comfortable enough (and Nat encouraged) talking shit about Carmy with her when he’s being Carmy. And the omelette was such a lovely act of kindness and care. Syd and Richie’s dynamic is significantly better than in s1, but it’s a bit awkward and kinda in the category of work friend that was once your nemesis but now you happily tolerate, if that makes sense? I do think it’s less intense between them by E10, and I’m curious how them working together like that on expo will make Syd more inclined to trust Richie more. The rest of the crew id say are amicable work friends to just associates?

That leaves her and Carmy. They’ve got crazy chemistry off the bat, their minds operate on almost the same level, completing each others sentences, etc etc. But while that’s great evidence of their strong work relationship, I can see Sydney if asked saying that Carmy is more so just a guy she works (and now is a business partner) with, whereas she’d definitely say Marcus is a good friend, yknow? Syd has huge emotional walls built up, doesn’t like to be vulnerable, though she’s done so when either one of the guys urge her to share more. From Carmy’s end, he actually might (subconsciously) view Sydney as his friend thanks to their easy connection. He also picked Sydney, whereas all of his current “friends” were just inherited from Mikey (sorry Fak). Doesn’t mean he loves them any less or that they aren’t his actual friends — just that with Syd, he’s starting fresh in making a friend. He really wants to get to know Sydney — how she’s feeling, what her former bosses think of her, what Sheridan was like, what her relationship with her parents is like (and he feels guilty for not knowing about her mom) — but his probing always happens in the context of cooking or the kitchen, and so Syd’s default is to be guarded or resort to humor. And I think that there were indications that they were growing closer through the chaos menu, but then he starts to date Claire and that project (and building a friendship) was put on hold for a long time and instead there was big a disconnect cause they weren’t communicating. So like yeah, there are platonic elements, but I say these two are operating as a more ambiguous, “secret third thing”. And especially after E10, I don’t know where their pre-friendship progress stands going forward cause I see their relationship as the one that may need the most repairing post Friends & Family 😔

hey anon! sorry for the delay answering this. i appreciate you dropping these bear thoughts in my inbox :)

i’m not sure what made you think i believe syd and carm are platonic? unless maybe you saw me tag something with “i’m a sydcarmy queer platonic truther.” if that’s the case, let me assure you that puts me firmly in the “secret third thing” camp with you. basically, i think it’s likely carmy is on the asexual spectrum, and what’s more “secret third thing” than a queer platonic relationship?

i agree with your reads on the other, clearer relationships between syd and the bear employees (tho i think there’s also a mentor (syd)/mentee (tina) quality between syd and tina. and marcus obvi feels less platonic/more romantic towards syd)

as for syd and carmy… idk, it’s the most complicated dynamic on the show. i disagree that syd views carmy as “just a guy she works with”—this is a guy she can be *creatively vulnerable* with, a colleague who has serious accolades who is telling her they’re working at the same level. who is telling her out of all the high end chefs he knows, he wants to collaborate with her. like, he believes in her and her food so much that he’s made her his partner in all of this. and that’s in addition to the crazy chemistry you reference! being a chef isn’t just a job for them, it’s an artistic calling. collaborating like they do is more on par with a directing duo than people who just work together in the same department. they make each other better at their chosen art (like that’s straight from under the table scene)

but i agree their friendship is.. in its infancy at the least lmao. and i think your reads for why syd is hesitant are correct. carmy’s only tryna get close and ask personal questions when they’re cooking (because he doesn’t know any other way to bond). that being said, besides her dad, she’s never shown chilling with anyone outside of former or current coworkers. syd clearly forms great relationships with her coworkers, like you point out and as further evidenced by her food crawl in sundae. but it’s heavily implied that syd is just as addicted to work as carm, and might not have a huge circle she hangs out with regularly (yet another syd/carm parallel). she’s got walls, like you say, and is shown to be uncomfortable with a lot of emotion (and can sometimes be a dick about it, like with mikey’s hat <3 ). so there’s allll that at play from syd’s end.

and i do agree that carmy views her as a close friend. i like that you point out everyone in carmy’s life except syd is an inherited relationship. that’s SO TRUE. in general, carmy is really delayed and unaware when it comes to relationships—ALL relationships, not just romantic. fak claims carmy and him are best friends but carm doesn’t think so, or rather he’s not really sure. he hasn’t had enough close friends to say. he thought mikey was his best friend, but then was frozen out and realized he knew nothing about him. he wants to be closer with syd, suggested the palate cleanser, which would have been a great way for syd and him to build their friendship, but then claire came along :\

i *am* super stoked to see where syd and carm’s relationship shakes out next season. like carm’s in suuuuch a bad place, and then syd is SOOO anxious about failing. i fear it’s going to get worse before it gets better… but i do think they’re meant to be together in the best (secret third thing) way :)

[rpfofficial]

anyway the thing about sydney/carm is that people read them as romantic because they're twin protagonists and they are each other's narrative parallels, and what they need isn't to kiss and make up, what they need is to be friends. i think they're both very lonely people and while carm is remedying that with claire and sydney is finding friends in marcus and tina, what they need is like an intellectual equal who challenges them they need a Best Friend and i think they can find that in each other. while i get why they might be seen as romantic i think a lot of the "evidence" for sydcarmy is actually just a colossal failure to just work together. on both parts. they see themselves in each other whether they like it or not their whole relationship is built on mirrors, self respect and respect for the other. They just need to hang out

[whenmemorydies]

I'm catching up with some of my drafts so apologies for how belated this is.

Reblogging for the original post and these excellent reblogs by @thoughtfulchaos773 and @ambeauty. Agree with you both in that there’s too much evidence here of the soulmatism bw Syd and Carmy and that it was never Storer’s intention to have it be anything other than a purposeful, slow burn of something “that needs to be earned.”

This also takes me back to @outmakingmoonshine’s prophetic reblog meta on that line from Carmy in the pilot:

I hate to break your hearts, motherf*ckers, but that gluey, mushy bullshit is not bailing us out this time.

I don't think Storer is a converted Sydcarmy shipper. Sydcarmy is the beating heart of this show and their love/connection/soulmatism was written into it from the jump.

Storer saying he wanted to make a show without a romantic plot and then putting in a dead boring romantic plot smack down in the middle of this with a cardboard cutout white girl is definitely a choice.

Especially when you consider the romantic undertones and beats he put between sydcarmy. I hope he's lying about that and doing the can't giveaway the plotline because I will be so mad.

If he wanted to make something strictly platonic, he definitely knows how to do that. And he had to choose a black girl for this rubbish idea???

They better not pmo.

[yannaryartside]

If Sydcarmy is not engame….

This is a rant. A sad rant but still. I know we have evidence, I would go to the supreme court with it, but hear me out.

If sydcarmy is not endgame:

It would make the show a disappointment for me. It will kinda ruin it to some extent. But not only as a shipper they had her expectations unsatisfied, but as a conscious viewer. I would like to explain why.

Part 1: the meaning of their connection

I was a shipper of this relationship the moment the characters met. She was cute, awkward and brilliant. He was cute, awkward and angsty. I normally go hard for shipping character where I find both of them interesting, and I like their dynamic. This is the ship that had consumed my head the most in all my years of consuming fiction. They both have real traumas and flaws. Even if the show wasn't so obvious with its intentions, I would have shipped them until they both got their respective soulmates. These two characters taught me how complex developing a romance could be, and how satisfactory if the pieces went together. Just the fact that they are so complex and I got to ship them is something I am grateful for. I will never write romance the same way.

Now, I don't know if is the time of the month fatalism hits, but I have been recently seriously considering the fact that it may not happen. That Claire was always supposed to be Carmy’s endgame.

Part 2: potential

The first reason why I would be disappointed if they are not engame is because the concept of two people building something together while supporting each others flaws is what got me into the show. It is such a beautiful concept for a couple, and I know it works on friends, but I once read that romance appears in your life when you have to open yourself to new potentials. In Carmy, Syd saw the potential for grow and movement, in Syd, Carmy saw the potential for peace and sincerity. Not to mention I rather ship two messed up characters than one messed up character and another that the show has called “perfeft” multiple times.

Part 3: Claire

Thinking Claire bear is endgame is to admit that she has to grow of the flaws we all saw, that Carmy could make her better (wich I don't think because Claire seemed to have a lot of lack of empathy to begin with) but ok. The thing that could never work for me is that we know Syd can make Carmy feel peace but Claire can't. It is the theme of the show that a woman should learn how to be like other woman in order to maker her man happy? We will define how much good she can do to Carmy on how much peace she could bring like Syd did. That doesn't sound right to me.

Part 4: Syd

I don't think the purpose of Syd in the whole story is to be Carmy’s endgame, but a lot of her screentime so far has been defined by her relationship with him. In the good things she does for him and his family. We know she has feeling for him. We know that she has had her heart broken before and then this could break it again. Again, that is the theme of your show? That a woman needs to get her heart broken in order to grow or get to her full potential? Who asked for this?

You made her fall for a guy that may never support her creative journey, that may have defined how she view herself as an artist? That she will have to deal with her broken heart and decide to find another spot to work? Are we supposed to believe that is something good for her? You wanna to contribute to a narrative of glorifying women's pain to justify growth? You are gonna use these amazing character just to have her heart broken 3 seasons out of 4. Is that supposed to be her big lesson? Her motivation even?

Not that is justification for Carmy and Syd getting together, but what a waste of time. If you had established and denied the attraction earlier or just never make her have feelings for Carm you could have her a interesting arc worthy of such an interesting character.

Not only that, but it seems all so cruel, to create a dynamic that in friendship can make her grow but because she developed feelings for him can hurt her immensely.

Idk, maybe I just made a story on my head that I thought made sense but the author insist on disagreeing. Maybe I am making storm out of nothing since they may have us a satisfactory thing. But yet…

[whenmemorydies]

THIS REBLOG! YESSSS @freedelusionshere!

Syd and Carmy are definitely the parents, nurturing their own branch of their culinary family tree - the same tree emerging from Syd as she "meets" Carmy (via his food) for the first time in 3x01. And so they're presented with the opportunity to do that quiet, consistent caring mentorship work for their culinary descendants (i.e. Tina, Marcus and Sweeps).

You and I have talked about this heaps on here but yes, Syd showcases what I mean when I describe that "quiet, consistent" caregiving/mentoring work perhaps more than any other character on this show. She does this in both her professional and personal lives. It goes into overdrive during and after season 2 as she does all of that additional work on herself (with Coach K's help) to be a better leader for her team.

I think its VERY evident from these choices what Storer and Calo are saying about effective, impactful leadership. That its not the vitriolic, strong man, samurai-sword wielding bombast of Ball Breaker (literally Drumpf and his ghouls look like they could be avatars in that fucking game lmao). Its actually the quiet, small gestures rooted in care - its in acts often attributed (and as such, pathologised) to mothering. Of course the show doesn't explicitly say this. Instead, the messaging comes to us through Coach K (which we hear him literally narrate in 2x07 Forks):

The other thing is that you're not gonna get there alone. You know, be on a team. You know, surround yourself with good people and learn how to listen.

You're not gonna learn with you just talking.

And when you do talk, converse. Don't make excuses. Figure out the solution. And you don't have to figure it out yourself.

I always wanted to be part of a team and obviously I wanted to lead that team. You know, [...] what an interesting life it is to be a leader.

Other folks on the show say words to these effect as well - see Luca in 2x04 Honeydew and Jess in 3x10 Forever.

...which may also be the showrunners hoodwinking the incel, QAnon, 4chan, Snyder-cut crowd in the same way they're doing with Sydcarmy (we hope). Keep them appeased about quiet, caring, collaborative mentorship cos its white folks like the former Duke basketball coach saying it instead of a Black chef named Sydney actually showing us how this is done in practice.

"I would like to see someone recognize and take care of Syd so much. To see her let someone in instead of letting her be drained dry like Mikey (who had to be the "man of the house" when his father left)."

^this part!!! As much as I love Sydcarmy, I would be happy with season 4 if we get this for Sydney no matter who is doing it. It should be Carmy because that man needs to do some serious repair work on his relationship with Syd but in truth, so many at The Bear should be doing this with her.

"What I really want is for her to see in Carmy the things she wanted from her mother and for Carmy to see in Syd the things he wanted from his father, and then they just decide to do life together. And to slow things down and do what they agreed to do in S1.

Because time allows you perspective and the ability not only to provide care, but also to receive it. Also, fuck you, Money Clock, I already hate you!"

^and this - truer words were never spoken.

If we do have to be subjected to more Faks this season, please let one of them be useful and break that fucking money clock or something.

I just wanna feed my kid: inspiration, creativity and dreams on The Bear

As much as The Bear is about inspiration and pushing professional limits, one of the things I truly love about this show is its gentle celebration of the quieter, less sexy, often invisible work that has to take place in order for inspiration, creativity and dreams to have the space to occur.

You'd be forgiven for wanting to know when this is ever dealt with in the show because like most things, its not explicit in the dialogue. Thats ok though because you've got folks like myself who have a tendency to hyperfixate that can help you navigate the vision! Lets dive in shall we...

Consistency over chaos

I've written here about how Carmy's chaotic upbringing likely influenced his decision to become a chef. In that meta, I suggest that Carmy uses cooking as a means of mastering chaos, particularly given the chaotic and inconsistent upbringing that he and his siblings were subjected to as a result of their absent father and abusive mother. If you have the time, I'd recommend reading that meta before jumping into this one as it sets out some important background, particularly on the importance of consistency in childhood.

The TLDR is: consistency in raising children occurs primarily through routine and predictability. These things create a sense of safety for children which in turn gives them the space to learn and to push boundaries. There are many examples of consistent parenting throughout seasons 1-3 of The Bear which I'll get into below:

Recall 3x06 Napkins and the conversation that Tina has with Mikey about her frustrations looking for new work after being fired from her job of 15 years:

Tina. Oh, shit. Its comedic how hard its been for me to find anything, man. I'll clean a dish. I'll wash a floor. I'll sell some bullshit, you know? I gotta cover this ass, right? I don't need to be inspired. I don't need to be impassioned. I don't need to make magic. I don't need to save the world, you know? I just- I just wanna feed my kid, you know?

Mikey: Amen.

Tina: Just give me a routine. I'm in.

Earlier in 3x06, prior to Tina and Mikey's conversation, we see Tina going about her daily routine. That routine featured so many aspects that point to Tina's desire to look after her family, in particular her son Louie (whom we first meet in 1x07 The Review). We see Tina's care in the pictures of Louie stuck to the Marrero fridge and her work space, in the food she prepares (lunch sandwiches and slowcooker meals), and in the notes she writes for her son:

Whats important to note in 3x06 is that Tina is seen doing all of the above before she loses her job AND afterwards. After she is fired, Tina continues to wake up just after 6am every weekday morning to prepare lunches and cook hot, hearty meals for her family and then dives into the job hunt like that is her new job. Tina keeps things moving, despite her own stress and anxiety about being able to pay her rent in order to keep her home so that she doesn't have to move Louie to a new school where he'll have to make new friends (because as Tina tells her husband, Louie has not had a good track record at making and keeping friends). Her concern always comes back to her son and making sure he is alright. Tina is never shown unloading her worries onto her son (aside from repeatedly telling Louie to turn the TV down lol). Instead, she writes him notes saying "I love you!"

In her disclosures to Mikey and her diligent routine in 3x06, we see that Tina's approach to raising her son - indeed her approach to life - echoes that of Marcus' mother, Angela, as evidenced in Marcus' eulogy for Angela in 3x03 Doors:

Marcus: She never let me be scared, like worried. She kept things moving. Always kept things running. [...] I always felt loved. It didn't matter what was going on or if I was in trouble or whatever.

Angela, like Tina, was committed to creating as safe, panic-less and anxiety-free a space as she could for her child to grow up in. These two women did what they needed to in order to keep their families going, while also giving their children the space in which to thrive.

This approach is echoed by a pregnant Nat in conversation with Richie in 3x04 Violet:

Richie: What? Hey, what was that? Tell me.

Natalie: I'm just, um, I'm thinking about how to not let what's- what's in here *motions to her head* how to not let that get to her.

Richie: Yeah, I think about that all the time.

Natalie: You do?

Richie: I got nothing though. You have any luck?

Natalie: I have nothing.

Despite telling Nat that he doesn't have an answer for how to keep his worries from getting to his daughter, Richie is shown navigating this aspect of parenting with Eva repeatedly through seasons 1-3 of The Bear. We see it in 3x04 when he reassures his daughter that he's good (after she says that his ex-wife, Tiff, thinks he's alone). In the same scene, Richie also checks to make sure Eva likes Tiff's fiance Frank, despite his own feelings towards his ex-wife's impending remarriage. Richie also tells Tiff in 3x09 that he doesn't want their daughter worrying about him.

In fact, the first time I realised that there may be more to cousin beyond the trash he was throwing at Sydney and Carmy in season 1 was in episode 2 of the show during his phone call with Eva where he reassures his daughter of how much he loves her after hearing from Tiff that she's having a hard time at her new school:

In the scene from 1x02 above, we see Richie jump in the course of a few minutes from blasting Sydney with his own white male insecurities ("...I think you should pause and take a breath before you start driving. Man or woman, I'm not discriminating. Its dangerous to get behind the wheel when you're hyserical" rofl this asshole), telling Tiff that he's not surprised Eva's crying because the kids at her new school are a bunch of "fuckfaces" to then sweetly, gently asking Eva how she's doing. Yes, season 1 Richie was a dickhead, but I give the above example to illustrate how good he is at switching tack when it comes to engaging with his child and shielding her from his own troubles: keeping it moving, doing what he can to make sure his kid doesn't feel scared or worried and making sure his child knows that she is loved.

Consistent parenting is also modelled by Emmanuel Adamu with his daughter Sydney throughout seasons 2-3. For example, in 3x04 Violet, Emmanuel tells Sydney his concerns about the apartment she's chosen ("I don't know whats flimsier, these walls or the partnership promises" lol), but as soon as Sydney says she's already signed the apartment's lease, Emmanuel sighs deeply, clicks his tongue in disapproval and says,

Emmanuel: We better go find you a couch.

This is unconditional, consistent love in action. Its how Marcus described his mother's approach to parenting: it didn't matter if he was in trouble, he always felt loved. Just like I'm sure Sydney felt loved in the above moment as her father huddled her off to a secondhand store to buy a couch for an apartment she knew that he didn't want her to move into.

So what does all of this talk about parenting have to do with inspiration, creativity, and magic? Well, its about creating an environment where these things are safe to emerge. It is very hard to let your mind roam where it needs to for creativity and inspiration to take hold when you are under threat, frightened or anxious. When a child's mind is in these states, it is worried about one thing: survival. And as we know, surviving is not thriving.

A dream deferred is a dream denied

The most obvious example of how parenting can impact on a child's ability to feel inspired, to be creative and to dream is shown to us through Mikey's story, as told to Tina in 3x06 Napkins:

Tina: This a family business?

Mikey: Yeah. You know, my- my old man, he opened it. He also ran it into the ground. He just, like, has a giant stack of unpaid bills. He took one look and he split, you know? He hightailed it. Ran for the hills, never came back.

Tina: Mmm. They'll do that.

Mikey: What, bills?

Tina: Dads.

Mikey: Yeah. Amen to that.

[...]

Mikey: I remember when I was a kid, I went on this field trip. I don't remember what it was fucking for, but I remember we went into this old building, you know? Like, beautiful. Like, proper art deco. And on every single floor it was, like, a different business, you know? It was all official. You know, people working in suits and dresses and, like, doing their thing. And I remember thinking like, this building, its like a building of dreams, you know?

Tina: What kind of dreams?

Mikey: Well, if- if you think about, like, every single one of those people, they had, like, one dream, right? And that led them to that building and then to that floor and then to that job. And it was just, like- you know?

Tina: Mmm. So it was inspiring?

Mikey: No, I mean, dude. It was totally fucking depressing. I mean, it killed me.

Tina: How come?

Mikey: I just- I don't know. I mean, I'm a kid, and I'm there, and I'm like, "Well that shit ain't happening to me." You know, I knew- I knew I was gonna get, like, skipped, you know? Like, I had shit to do, you know? I had people to take care of. And I knew that, like- I don't know. Like, that dream shit- pfft, you know, just- you know, wasn't gonna happen to me.

As I talk about in my previous Chaos and Consistency meta, the Berzatto children grew up in a home where chaos ruled. This was a result of their erratic, absent father and their erratic, abusive mother, Donna. Mikey, as the eldest child, bore the brunt of that inconsistency and chaos to such an extent that he felt like he never even had the option to dream. He was too busy looking after his family, too busy surviving, to even contemplate inspiration or creativity. We know that a life without inspiration, creativity or dreams is a life without hope. This is no way to live and we know that ultimately, that lack of hope leads Mikey to a point where he takes his own life. I imagine that this is every parent's worst nightmare. I know its mine.

Changing the world

There's only one thing that I've told my kid I need him to do for me: leave this world a better place than when he arrived in it. Ultimately, I want him to be a good ancestor. As a parent, its my job to create the conditions in which he is able to do that, in whatever way he chooses to go about that task. Others may disagree and want different things for their kids. I share this only because its one of the main reasons The Bear resonates so strongly with me.

In this show, I see a bunch of folks trying their hardest to be good ancestors, despite and because of their own backgrounds and upbringings. This may not be readily apparent when folks watch the show because as we know, The Bear is often described in legacy media as being about a stressful workplace, wunderkind chef Carmy and the restaurant industry. These are very superficial descriptions.

The Bear is many things. I've talked about its critique of late stage capitalism, its resistance to fascism (interpersonally and more broadly), its gorgeous take on a predestined love, its portrayal of intergenerational trauma, its tackling of the white gaze (which I argue here it needs to further rise to the challenge of in season 4), and its dissection of masculinity, to name a few. Others on this platform have also produced beautiful, incisive meta about various aspects of this show (normally I would link to a bunch but in the interest of time, I'll hold off. Hopefully the Media References in The Bear table will help in this regard).

But something I've not yet discussed and haven't seen tackled at length here is how the show raises up the quiet, consistent work that allows a wunderkind chef like Carmy to exist. Carmy is talented and he rose up through the ranks despite his chaotic childhood. But I would argue that one of the main reasons he had the space to pursue his dream, was because of the quiet, thankless work that his brother and his sister and others (like cousin Michelle) likely did to get him there. Certainly, one of the only reasons Carmy is able to run The Bear in season 3 is because of the quiet, consistent work that Sydney has undertaken from season 1 to ensure that he has a team working with him.

By having a parent like Angela, Marcus had the space to imagine, to be impassioned, to seek out magic. And once he's given the environment in which he can pursue his imagination, his passion? He fucking SOARS. We're talking orange chocolate layer cake, "Mom's Honey Bun", "Sydney's Donut (After Carm Destroyed It Like a Little Bitch)", "Copenhagen Sundae", "The Michael", that delicate white violet on a fence. As Carmy says, Marcus can absolutely throw down.

And if the above examples weren't enough, we also get the point driven home by Uncle Jimmy in 3x09 Apologies during his alleyway chat with Carmy:

Uncle Jimmy: Anyway, so I'm in this lecture, and its called "The Day Tomorrow Began," right? Its all about these breakthroughs in, like, science and fucking culture and whatever. And, um, actually how they're all born from people of the U of Chicago, right here in Illinois, you know?

[Note: the use of the word "born" here is important and reiterates the role of parents and other mentor figures - like our teachers, for example - in fostering an environment where creativity can bloom.]

Crazy fucking shit, let me tell you. Like carbon dating. You know what that is?

Carmy: I don't think so.

Uncle Jimmy: So when anything is alive - anything - like plants, animals, human beings, whatever, we absorb carbon 14 atoms into our tissue, all right? So then when we die, those atoms start to get released back out in the atmosphere. This one motherfucker, right? He figures out how to measure how long something's been dead by counting the remaining carbon 14 atoms. Who the fuck thinks of that, right?

Carmy: I don't know.

Uncle Jimmy: Another one? First nuclear reactor. That's right. University of fucking Chicago, baby.

Carmy: Huh.

Uncle Jimmy: Yeah. Its inspiring really, cause its kind of like, if you really nurture these dreams, these goals, no matter how batshit crazy they sound, and trust me, there are like 15 more of these breakthroughs, positively fucking idiotic, alright? But you can make an impact, right? You can actually change the fucking world, as long as you have a place like the university to take care of you, to let you do your thing. Let you drive, right?

Uncle Jimmy's observations to Carmy are interesting because they challenge Tina's thoughts on parenting. Recall in 3x06, Tina says:

I'll clean a dish. I'll wash a floor. I'll sell some bullshit, you know? I gotta cover this ass, right? I don't need to be inspired. I don't need to be impassioned. I don't need to make magic. I don't need to save the world, you know? I just- I just wanna feed my kid, you know?

But what Uncle Jimmy notes, and what I'm trying to say in this meta (hopefully lol, you tell me if this makes sense) is whether she likes it or not, Tina is changing the world. She is making magic. Consistent, loving parents, caregivers, and mentors are impactful and world changing because of the space they create for those they care for. For the possibilities they engender.

Many who watch The Bear know that this show has its roots in the family history of its creator, Chris Storer. Chris and his sister, Courtney grew up in a context that, by their own admission, had a lot of addiction, chaos, and trauma. I think its pretty special that they were able to work together on this show and in doing so, process those struggles on a path towards healing. How often do we get the chance to make things right for our younger selves? Some would say we never do, that’s the past. Many parents would tell you, it’s every day that we have with our kids and are given the chance to be the parent we needed when we were younger.

But you don't need to be a parent, caregiver or mentor to make things right for your younger self, to create safe spaces for others. If anything, The Bear shows us how a group of disparate folks who happen to work together create that space between themselves.

I think Joanna Calo and Chris Storer might argue, that we get the chance to be caring and consistent in every interaction we have with others. Where if given the choice, you give grace and in doing so, space. So that inspiration, creativity and dreams can flourish, wherever you go.

[yannaryartside]

Listen, I am happy to see it. If they decide Carmy is supposed to end with the human equivalent of an carbon box because he cannot handle be with a person with his own issues (which ew, what a depressing lesson for your audience) then so be it.

I want them both to be happy, regardless of what the story thinks that is. My sydcarmy obsesión was never about Carrmy nor Sydney as individuals or to make Syd win over Claire (ew) is about how fascinating and endearing the sydcarmy dynamic is (plus all the evidence, who can cure you from a panic attack and be your anchor thing).

I see them making Marcus a Syd a thing for a while. Maybe Syd actually opening up about her mother’s passing. Healing that and past romantic trauma, I want Marcus and Syd happy dam it. Marcus also needs someone to be himself with.

We’ll see.

Friends, we are gathered here today to mourn the loss of sydcarmy. Gone too soon