mitocamdria

[mitocamdria]

If someone else has written this, please point me to it because I was today years old when I realised that:

Season 1 of The Bear = the first, unmistakeable spark between Syd and Carmy erratically building up in fits and starts until we get an out of control blaze/grease fire in 1x08 Braciole.

Season 2 of The Bear = Carmy doing everything he can to suppress that fire/his feelings for Syd...to the point that the bulk of the entire season is about testing his (and the team's) ability to suppress fire 😭

Above: The Bear crew celebrates Sydney and Carmy burying their chemistry 🥲

Season 3 of The Bear = the fire is successfully suppressed in the walk-in: physically and metaphorically until 3x09 when Carmy starts making amends. The fire starts up again, but this time its not burning fast and hot...its the slowburn kicking off.

Season 4 of The Bear = (hopefully) a steady, slow burn building up over the course of the season. The kind that once it ignites, can fill a hearth, will consistently warm a home and the found family within it.

NB: Inspired by @freedelusionshere's post which triggered a whole convo about metaphorical fire in The Bear.

[mitocamdria]

The Bear S4 Trailer

I'm still betting on Carmy being a guest at Tiffany's wedding, there was some discourse on this the previous season, but- Donna is wearing the same dress when she sees carmy, carmy has on a suit, Richie didn't know Donna would be at the wedding last season and Carmy looks just as shocked to see Donna.

Carmy seems to be in a clearer headspace. He wants things to be calm, and it sounds like he's trying to get Sydney to understand that he's not in that chaotic headspace anymore.

I don't believe that Carmy opening the walk-in this time is related to his breakup with Claire; it's always been about Donna. Richie mentioned her in the freezer, and that's another area Carmy has been avoiding. He needs to confront that and find a way to make peace; that's when the chaos will end.

But the show also says, like Syd tells Carmy in this trailer, that their family is chaotic. It won't all be peaceful, and as Carmy tells Mikey in what looks to be a flashback, he knows how hard it can be. It's something Sydney understands, too; it can't all be peaceful for their family, but they will try to find happiness ever after, stay positive, and breathe. What's their family version of happy?

But that won't come without challenges! I know people are jaded by season 3, which I don't understand; it's part of the journey, it wasn't the writer's personal agenda to break up Sydcarmy because of the fans.

He wasn't in the headspace to communicate with Sydney and have an under-the-table moment. This trailer is funny, as he tells her he wants things to be different. They're cleaning off the table, while Sydney looks like, "I'll believe it when I see it."

We shall see.

[mitocamdria]

My name is Mohammed, and I am writing to you from Gaza, where my family and I have lost our home, our dreams, and our sense of safety. We now live in a small, cold tent, with hunger and fear as constant companions. My children—Iman, Hala, Hisham, and Osama—are growing up without warmth, security, or the simple joys every child deserves.

I am not asking for financial help; instead, I simply ask you to share our story. A small gesture—a post, a reblog, or even a mention—could connect us with people who can make a difference.

With your help, we can raise awareness about the difficult circumstances so many families face in Gaza and give my children, and others like them, hope for a brighter tomorrow. Together, we can make an impact.

With endless gratitude, 🌹 Mohammed & Fami

EVERYONE PLEASE READ THIS MESSAGE AND HELP THEM!!

[mitocamdria]

No one talks about all this—how they're threading the story with Carmy always reaching out to get Sydney what she wants. "What do you mean? Let's get a star," Sydney insists, the show is clarifying that she wants the restaurant to earn a Michelin star.

Notice, Jimmy is hesitant to loan money, even with Carmy's sentimental appeal about Mikey's wish the moment before, and he doesn't consider it until Sydney jumps in and insists on something carmy doesn't want but she want it.

"Alright, so you get a star—then what?" This line shows Jimmy questioning what will happen next if this dream becomes a reality. What will happen after you get your wish, Sydney?

I think this line was important—we're trapped, we're dialed. It's not about the business; it's about what will happen to Sydney and Carmy's personal lives should this restaurant become a reality.

At this point, Jimmy understands that Carmy is willing to plunge further into debt for something he doesn't honestly want, but Sydney wants.

As an investor, this doesn't sound promising business-wise, but personally? Carmy is convincing him that he will be committed to getting a star for this woman he met a couple of months ago; he will be trapped, as he says, but he still wants it. Interesting.

As Carmy says this, Jimmy tries to tell the vital story later; a story on not being focused leads to failure. But carmy interrupts and makes it even more apparent, with the possibility of being trapped in supposed Mikey's dying wish, amid Sydney's proposal for a star, carmy, who already owes so much money, still wants to come back and work for a city he ran away from, and he's staying= he's committed.

He wants it because Sydney wants a star. Because Sydney is there..

It's an interesting dialogue that repeats throughout the show that many non-sydcarmy aren't seeing. That carmy does not want a star, and it's pretty straightforward, right? Yet he's still pleading to make it happen, and Jimmy takes note of this, as does Natalie.

"And you want a star." Another dialogue, clear as day: Sydney wants a star, and this is one of the things adding pressure to opening in six months.

Also, Richie and Natalie are witnesses to this conversation, so they're aware Sydney wants a star, and it's something Carmy s set out to get.

On a personal note-I don't know if my brother or cousin is fighting for a restaurant that's going to get him in deeper debt and makes it clear that stars suck, but still is out to get one because this woman he met months ago wants one? I'd be looking at him sideways, and I'm sure Natalie, Richie, and Uncle Jimmy see this.

Richie is the audience for this scene, but it’s important to note that Carmy uses “we” instead of “Sydney” when discussing the desire for a star. In reality, Carmy addresses Sydney and conveys that if she wants a star, this is what they need to do. Richie is aware that he is not included in that "we" when achieving a star, as he clearly states in an episode later.

"So that's how we get one of them fucking stars, a motherfucking sqiurt gunn?" In the script, Jimmy clearly expresses that a star is foolish and that it costs him money. As a businessman with $800,000 to invest, he has a history of making wise decisions and knows when to fold. He understands that pursuing a star is a bad move and isn't interested in it, especially since he knows Carmy and the entire family are sinking deeper into debt. However, despite his reservations, he still supports Carmy in making this dream a reality.

" I don't give a flying fuck into a rolling doughnut about the gastronmical proclivities of some dusty french tire marketing exec" Now it's Richie turn to makes it clear the next episode, he doesn't give a fuck about a star (natalie knows this too, she's just quietly supporting carmy as he figures out why he's on this mission to get a star, even though he doesn't want it. )

"Two tops, booths." The Bear restaurant would not have happened if Sydney hadn't returned; Carmy would have paid Jimmy and let the dream die. Remember season 2, he tells Richie the very first episode the shit wasn't fun for him, yet he's still doing it? He had the money to pay Jimmy back! Why? Is it still his dream to run a restaurant and dedicate it to Mikey?

Maybe. But dreams change, and I think a big part of the show is telling us that next season, they'll get a star, but Jimmy will ask, then what?

As I've stated before, Carmy was initially going to let his dream of owning a restaurant die. I believe that Richie, Natalie, and Jimmy are aware of Carmy's decision to still do something he hates- all for Sydney, and they're just waiting for him to come to that realization.

But, there's a possibility that Carmy is already aware but is simply afraid to fully embrace those feelings, let it rip, and go after the girl.

[mitocamdria]

Inspiration

I think at a certain stage it becomes less about skill and its more about being open. [...] To the world, to yourself, to other people. You know, most of the incredible things that I've eaten haven't been because the skill level is exceptionally high or there's loads of mad fancy techniques. Its because its been really inspired, you know. - Chef Luca, 2x04 Honeydew

Above left: Carmy photographing floral inspiration at noma in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right: Carmy's carrot and caviar flower tart at The Bear in 3x01 Tomorrow

Above left: Impaled sweet cannolis, representative of Carmy's familial trauma in 2x06 Fishes; above right: “The Michael”, Marcus' savoury cannoli with parmesan shell and a mortadella mousse at The Bear in 2x09 Omelette

Above left: Marcus photographing a white violet after remembering his mother in 3x04 Violet; above right: Marcus recreating a white violet in dessert form at The Bear in 3x09 Apologies

Above left: Sydney staring up at Chicago's Marina City towers from a river boat in 2x03 Sundae; above right: Sydney sketches ravioli while workshopping a dish for The Bear in 2x03 Sundae

Above left: Tina chats with Jerry at the farmer's market about climate change's impact on his farm, which limits the range of his crop to mostly cauliflower and brussel sprouts, in 3x04 Violet; above right: Tina workshops a cauliflower and brussel sprout dish to “keep hooking up Jerry” at The Bear in 3x05 Children

Above left: Sydney, in a black and white polk dotted scarf, talks to Carmy in 3x09 Apologies; above right: Carmy unconsciously draws Sydney's scarf on a plate in 3x09 Apologies

Above left: Sydney tells Carmy about the failed lamb ragu pasta dish that ended her business, Sheridan Road in 2x02 Pasta; above right: Carmy makes ragu bolognese for Claire in 2x08 Bolognese

And last but not least:

Above left, row 1: Carmy rolls the beef braciole that Mikey used to make for the family every Sunday in 1x06 Ceres; above right, row 1: Donna describes the cultural heritage and significance of the Feast of the Seven Fishes to Italian Americans in 2x06 Fishes

Above left, row 2: Chef Daniel Boulud teaches Carmy how to make Boulud's signature Crisp Paupiettes of Sea Bass in Barolo Sauce at Daniel in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right, row 2: Photograph of a plated Crisp Paupiettes of Sea Bass in Barolo Sauce from Food and Wine. Note the fried potato, the fish and the red wine reduction.

Above left, row 3: Carmy juices blood oranges at Ever under Chef Terry in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right, row 3: chefs plate what looks like a dish of hamachi, blood orange reduction and grapefruit segments at Ever in 3x01 Tomorrow

Above left, row 4: Carmy plates a paupiette of hamachi with blood orange reduction and zucchini. The dish features fish, just like the Feast of the Seven Fishes, zucchini (a strain of squash taken from the Americas to Italy and popularised there) and blood orange (citrus commonly found in Italy). This plate also features the colours of the Italian flag. A paupiette can also be referred to as braciole, as noted in this meta. This dish might as well have been called Carmen Berzatto: The Biography. Carmy has transmuted his cultural and culinary heritage onto this plate in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right, row 4: Later, Chef David at Empire colonises Carmy's dish and turns it three shades of mayonnaise in 3x01 Tomorrow

Above left, row 5: Carmy hears the news of Mikey's suicide whilst at work at Empire in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right, row 5: Carmy after losing Mikey, decides to make a few seconds count, taking ownership of a dish that he knows is going to be stolen from him and bastardized otherwise in 3x01 Tomorrow

Above left, row 6: Sydney, looking for inspiration and eating at every place she can think of, is served Carmy's paupiette of hamachi with blood orange, the best meal she's ever had, in 3x01 Tomorrow; above right, row 6: Sydney and Carmy's family tree legacy begins, the minute Sydney meets Carmy, on a plate, in 3x01 Tomorrow

Above row 7: After experiencing Carmy's rage/rebellion/grief/love/heritage, Sydney seeks him out. They start making sandwiches.

Now we need to see what these chefs are going to make in season 4, once Carmy opens up more to the world, to himself and to those around him. In particular, I'm keen for Sydney to get her own version of episode 3x01. I want to see her culinary, cultural and familial history. That way, when she and Carmy finally get on the same page, are inspired and collaborate, whatever they end up creating together is going to be that much more satisfying.

[mitocamdria]

Keeping his side of the street clean

Molly Ringwald told us in 1x03 Brigade that the best way to deal with chaos is to keep your side of the street clean:

Fast forward to season 3 when the chaos at The Bear has reached dangerously harmful levels, we catch Carmy literally hosing down The Bear's side of the street in 3x09 Apologies:

Anyone else notice that when Carmy is "spraying shit" here, it looks like he's hosing down the area where Sydney vomited after Friends and Family in 2x10 The Bear?

I'm sure its just a coincidence that we see Carmy rinsing off the physical remains of Sydney's anxiety at the end of a season where her anxiety at The Bear was at its worst, right?

It has to be coincidence that Carmy does this right after pushing Sydney to go to an industry dinner with him that her imposter syndrome almost keeps her from attending, yeah?

Its most definitely a coincidence that after clearing Sydney's anxiety The Bear's side of the street in 3x09, the next time we see Carmy in this episode, he's quietly sketching, being inspired, and looking to the heavens...intercut with scenes of Sydney - and only Sydney - on her way to look after his family...while a furtive voice sings and in her honour I'm not a beggar to language any longer [...] I'm blowing my little kisses to you, baby.

It couldn't be Carmy beginning to make amends - to apologise - to his soulmate Sydney for the betrayal of their shared vision, of their legacy, right? In an episode coincidentally called Apologies? That would be banana-town.

I mean who hasn't done all this for a coworker?

This all has to simply be totally platonic, work-related coincidence.

Shout out to @freedelusionshere for inspiring this post with their excellent meta and predictions for s4!

[mitocamdria]

I probably think about this scene just as much as under the table 😭 it was the first episode and Chris really came out swinging like damn.

“We made it.”

“No you made it.”

“With everyone else.”

“I left you alone.”

“So don’t let it happen again.”

“It’s never gonna happen again.”

THIS IS INSANITY!!!!!

[mitocamdria]

It never fails trying to go about addressing concerns with someone problematic and them lashing out in a problematic way because they are well.. problematic. Being micro aggressive towards Black women or any women of color in a fandom should not be tolerated. Not when the main actress of said fandom is a Black woman who is highly outspoken about her position as a Black woman in this industry.

A lot of women of color are pouring their souls into creating content and wanting to share a safe space of ideas and thoughts but it gets discouraging running into people who are committed to perpetuating harmful stereotypes or just refusing to understand how comments and behaviors look or are viewed from a lens different than a white one. We should all strive to create a space and community that is positive and nourishing for everyone who wants to participate.

The negativity, the silencing, the messiness, the lashing out, the possessiveness over thoughts is so toxic and draining. It’s mostly why I choose to sit back and do my own thing. Nobody is being censored when you get asked privately to reflect on how things you’ve said impact other people. Even now I still choose to be protective of that platform because other people are involved. But if you don’t feel safe in that community, it’s ok to say something. Women of color in this fandom I see you and I love you. I hope you have a wonderful day.

[mitocamdria]

Just thinking

About how will never get over, that the first episode of S3 was a contemplative study of Carmy. Detailing what made him into who he is. His past, his quiet joys and struggles, his achievements and setbacks, what forged him…

And it culminated in Sydney eating his food that he pushed to have sent out , as the denouement

Exemplifying how they’ve always been linked throughout space and time through food , emotion, purpose, passion, meaning, and were always destined to find each other again

[mitocamdria]

I actually have not even read any Sydcarmy fics, let alone write any but thanks for the tag because these seem like a great place to start 🥰

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️

Ooh this is a fun question, thanks to @ambeauty and @erins-quinn for asking me. Truth be told, I have only ever written fan fic for The Bear, so that makes this pretty easy:

1. One night in bed, Sydney has an idea for a shared tattoo. Unsurprisingly, it’s not difficult to convince Carmy. For her it’s just an idea, but Carmy can’t wait to get started.

a tiny bit spicy 🌶️

2. and who doesn’t love a good sick fic?

What if Sydney took Shapiro’s offer and left The Bear? My timeline is shit but let’s say the new restaurant is already open and she hasn’t seen Carmy in months. Of course they reach for the same box of Nyquil under the harsh lighting at Walgreen’s when they both have Covid. What else do you even need to know?

3. What if Syd and Carmy met in the 90’s? Specifically 1997 in a suburban shopping mall just outside Chicago. Carmy’s running a second location of The Beef, and Syd is working at the bookstore. Mikey is still alive, so it’s the same but not fueled by trauma. Enjoy the fluff!!

4. Can I just say that at first glance, this story seems like it’s just gonna be super smutty and maybe hard for you to get through? But give it a chance because I promise you, it’s not really about that. 🤣 So if you’ve seen this pop up on AO3 and thought that maybe it’s just going to be an out of control sex story and skipped it, this story is for you.

Ok, to the actual summary part now: Syd has never been what you'd call a great sleeper. But lately, she's been having increasingly wild sex dreams about her business partner. She begins keeping a diary about it to gather her thoughts and courage. If she doesn't tell Carmy soon, she's going to lose her mind.

5. It’s Halloween and let’s just pretend the restaurant is closed, ok? Syd visits her mom at the cemetery. And whose grave is near Syd’s mom’s? Yeah. Mikey’s.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/60208780

*I’m also in the middle of my elevator story and a longer story I’m writing with @turbulenthandholding , but I’ve been posting about those separately!

Tagging my mutuals to hopefully do the same, or if you don’t write, to share your faves!

turbulenthandholding @devisrina @sydneys-adamu @angelica4equity @doubleappled @sydneys-adamu @amieraisposting @meemalee @ambeauty @thoughtfulchaos773 @unbeweavvveable @imliterallyjustablackgirl @imbarelysorry @fpink202 @alwaysshipping1 @emilybrontay @inalltheirgorgeouscolors @moodyeucalyptus @purposechef @yourhonorthatismycoworker @falllpoutboy @hiengatheart @sillygoose375 @bioloyg @thehouseofevangelista @tvfanatic8787 @alwaysrunningoutoftime @buckybarnesowl @ppmkatie @kdbleu @mitocamdria @ciaomarie @laviejaguardia

[mitocamdria]

Sydney won't take Shapiro up on his offer

We all know that Sydney has the technical skill, the people smarts and the good business sense to find work outside of The Bear if she so chose. By the end of season 3, she's being pursued by one chef in particular (Adam Shapiro of Ever) to join him as he opens his own restaurant.

While she could leave The Bear - serving Carmy right for his treatment of Syd this past season - I don't think she's going to be jumping ship to Shapiro anytime soon. This is based on the conversation that Syd had with Shapiro in 3x07 Legacy. That convo had some call backs and call forwards that speak to a misalignment of values when it comes to running a restaurant together. Lets get into it.

Joy, collaboration and control

First, Shapiro tells Sydney that he wants to run his new restaurant but he doesn't want to cook all the time:

This contrasts to Carmy and Syd's discussion in 2x09:

Carmy: You still love to cook, right?

Sydney: Yeah.

Carmy: Yeah?

Which is followed by their cheeky chat about omelettes with boursin, chives and ridged potato chips (oooh fuck).

So we know Sydney loves to cook.

Carmy does too, even though we know he may not think its fun. Recall his convo with Richie in 2x01 Beef:

Carmy: This shit's not fun for me. (I swear he's saying this and not what the subtitles are saying lol)

Richie: Yeah, but you love it.

Carmy: That doesn't make it fun.

Still, there's the joy - the fun - we know that Carmy and Sydney have when they menu plan and cook together:

We also know from season 3 that both Carmy and Sydney are head down in the kitchen at The Bear. They're both overseeing the cooks, plating and running expo.

Contrast this with Shapiro who wants to run things but doesn’t want to cook every day. I’d go so far as to say he may not love cooking enough to want to keep doing it. Ultimately, Shapiro wants the control that comes with restaurant ownership but doesn’t want to take part in the creation - in the collaborative process - required to build his restaurant’s vibe (recall him telling Sydney it could be whatever she wants it to be in 3x07 Legacy):

Like @freedelusionshere has said repeatedly: Sydney craves collaboration. She did it all on her own with Sheridan Road. She's does not want to be running things on her own again at The Bear. She's reticent about relying on Carmy because as an only child and someone who ran her own business, she's used to being self-sufficient. Post 2x02-season-2 Carmy who bailed on the restaurant to numb himself with Claire and season 3 Carmy who's gone full Michelin-mode, icing her out of so much of the planning is probably giving Sydney even less reason to let herself be vulnerable enough with Carmy to fully rely on him. She indicates to Marcus in 3x05 Children that the idea of relying on someone is scary for her.

Given what we're shown in episodes 3x02 through to 3x04 prior to the above admission from Sydney, its almost certain that the "someone" she is talking about is Carmy.

Still, Sydney knows what she and Carmy can do together based on their frankness with one another in season 1 and their collaboration in season 2. She knows what Carmy promised her in 2x09 Omelette: that he wouldn't let her fail and in 3x01 Tomorrow: that he would never leave her to do it all by herself again. (OK we know he's gone in the entirely wrong direction on this in season 3 by fully taking the reigns himself…but the man is able to course-correct (remember how he made things right with both Marcus and Sydney in 1x08 Braciole?) and I hope he does this early on in season 4).

Above: Carmy reassuring Sydney in 2x09 Omelette that he won't let her fail and that she's not alone this time. Below: Carmy's vow to never leave Sydney to live a life apart from him run the restaurant alone again in 3x01 Tomorrow.

But Shapiro is not offering her any of that. He's letting her take the reigns - and consequently, the fall if anything goes wrong with his new venture - and I'm pretty sure that reality: that the buck for an entire restaurant with a full suite of staff is going to stop with Syd, is even more terrifying and misaligned for Sydney than what is happening at The Bear.

What Sydney doesn't know (but may suspect from Shapiro's offer to give her full control of the restaurant with precious little reason to - how did this man even get her phone number to begin with?) is that Shapiro may have a history of throwing other people under the bus to take the fall for his mistakes. Recall that the first time we are introduced to Shapiro in 2x07 Forks, he is yelling at the crew at Ever about a smudged plate:

After time-costing the effect of the smudge (47 seconds!), Shapiro insists that whoever caused the smudge own up to it. When no one does, he yells across the table at Richie's guardian angel, Garrett:

Shapiro: Fuck you, Garrett!

Garrett: Yes, chef. Fuck me.

Later in 3x10 Forever. we learn that its actually Shapiro who's known for smudging plates (initially from a guest at the dinner who makes a crack about smudges after Shapiro introduces the first dish of the night, and then from Luca in Ever's kitchen):

What's notable is that Sydney is present for both of the above smudge gibes. So while she may not know that Shapiro has a habit of blaming his staff for what are likely his own mistakes (RIP Garrett), she is made aware in 3x10 that the dude is sloppy and notoriously so.

Does it matter if Shapiro is a mess in the kitchen? Honestly, I wouldn't give a shit (lol) BUT I'm not the one pursuing a career in the restaurant industry. Sydney is in this business because she loves cooking AND because she wants to be inspired. This is the same woman who sought Carmy out at his family's old sandwich shop after trying one of his meals. She wants to be the best and she knows that in order to do that, she needs to learn and work under the best. Or the most excellent. Same diff.

Does Shapiro meet the standard that Sydney has for a mentor or collaborator? I don't think so.

Inheritances

Cutting back to 3x07 Legacy: earlier in their convo, Shapiro tells Sydney that he wants to start clean and he doesn't want to inherit anything (presumably from his current job with Chef Terry at Ever):

This is meant to be Shapiro addressing Sydney's concerns from 3x04 Violet when he catches her as she's leaving the train station:

Sydney: It's been a long month [at The Bear].

Chef Adam: Ah. That bad?

Sydney: No, just-- Restaurants.

Chef Adam: Yeah. Right? Why do we do this to ourselves?

Sydney: 'Cause we're crazy.

Chef Adam: Yeah. What was this month's crazy?

Sydney: Um. The kind that's inherited.

Chef Adam: *Nods emphatically* Understood.

The trouble is, as Carmy clearly lays out for us later in 3x07 Legacy, restaurants are built on inheritances. They're ancestral, like a family tree:

Carmy: Like, um, something would start somewhere, and then, uh, people would take that thing and then they would take it somewhere else. So, all these parts of an original restaurant, they would end up at a new restaurant and that kind of thing. That would happen over and over again. And then all these parts of all these restaurants, they would sort of-- You know, they would find each other. And then new people would take those parts and they would put 'em into their restaurant. And the whole thing, it would, um-- It would start to happen all over again.

Marcus: So, like a family tree or something?

Carmy: [looks to Syd who has her back to him, closing her locker] Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

In the context of family, we inherit things from our ancestors whether we want to or not. These things can be genetic (like skin colour, hair texture or the shape of an eye), psychic (intergenerational trauma, you old dog), economic (inherited wealth? I don’t know her), religious or cultural (like a well-loved dish passed down in families).

Some of these things are obviously strengths, even gifts of a kind. Others are challenges that we need to meet. None of them can be ignored. To do so - to start "clean" without trying to work through and integrate our inheritances, good and bad - is done at our own peril. In season 3, this is what Carmy has been doing: he gives little time to the good lessons he's learned from mentors and collaborators like Thomas Keller, Andrea Terry, Daniel Boulud, Mikey and Natalie Berzatto, Michelle Berzatto, Pete, Richie Jerimovic, Gary Sweeps, Ebraheim, Manny, Angel, Marcus Brooks, Tina Marrero and Sydney Adamu, and latches onto the toxic behaviours and practices of David Fields and his mother, Donna Berzatto. To his credit, Richie rightly pulls Carmy up on this in 3x03 Doors (You're not fully integrated!).

When Shapiro says he wants to start clean and doesn't want to inherit anything, he posits a future where no lessons are learned and where no joy or pride is passed down. This is a future without memory. And to quote A.S. Sivanandan (and my tumblr username-sake):

When memory dies, a people die.

Or to put it another way: living a life without memory, without history, is no life at all. Its living in a decontextualised void or vacuum. And neither voids or vacuums hold the requisite components for supporting life.

Shapiro's wish for no inheritances also reminds me of this promo still for The Bear which @thoughtfulchaos773 posted about recently:

This is a shot of Carmy in the kitchen in Empire. The writing on the wall next to him reads:

Its only after we've lost everything we're free to do anything.

This quote was likely written by Chef David Fields who made a living out of terrorising his staff, getting them to subtract everything from their lives until their world revolved around his kitchen. Recall him telling Carmen in 3x10 Forever:

Chef David: So you got rid of all the bullshit, and you concentrated, and you got focused, and you got great. You got excellent.

The "bullshit" here being Carmen's entire existence outside of work. Fields allowed no inheritances from any of the staff in his space. The result? A team likely suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and god knows what else.

Sydney is not about voids or vacuums. She is not about living a life without context. She has shown us time and time again that she listens to history and does her best to integrate it. My favourite example of this is her building an entire fucking kitchen in The Beef's parking lot when the restaurant loses power and gas.

Despite her own trauma from the world of catering, she remembered the lessons she learned there (particularly around innovation and resourcefulness) and she saved the day - and The Beef - from ruin.

Now while Carmy is struggling to integrate in season 3, he has never shied away from inheritances in his work. The most salient example of this is the sandwich window at The Bear which still serves up the Italian beef sandwiches that his family is known for. Something tells me that if it had been Shapiro in Carmy's shoes, he would have nixed that idea completely.

The devil is a snake

And finally, unrelated to any life lessons inferred from the show is the allegorical warning about Adam that we are given in 3x01 Tomorrow.

Recall this scene in the third season premiere where Carmy, Luca and Shapiro are shucking peas at Ever.

Its clear Carmy is working at a speed that Luca and Shapiro find it hard to match. Shapiro is seen looking over at Carmy's tub of peas and whispering fuck in surprise/jealousy:

The camera then dips to Shapiro's tub of peas, which we can see is running low compared to Carmy's.

There are also what appear to be three apple slices on Shapiro's cutting board. They only appear at his work station. Carmy and Luca do not have anything other than peas in front of them.

We know that almost everything we see and hear on screen in The Bear is intentional and I reckon these apple slices are no different. So what could they mean?

The Bear utilises a lot of Biblical imagery and narrative and I think these apple slices continue in that vein. In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eve is seduced into eating the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil by a serpent. In Western retellings of the story, the forbidden fruit is often described as an apple. As a result of this deception by the snake, Adam and Eve are booted from Eden.

Back at The Bear, we have three slices of apple on Chef Shapiro's cutting board. I think these represent three attempts by Shapiro to tempt Sydney to join his new restaurant (i.e. get her to eat the forbidden fruit that will result in her getting booted from The Bear and the life she's built there)

In season 3, Shapiro puts his offer to Sydney twice: once in 3x07 Legacy and again in 3x10 Forever:

I suspect that Shapiro is going to try one last time to get Sydney on side in season 4, but she'll turn him down. Eve might have trusted a snake but Sydney's got better instincts lol.

Now whether she will stay at The Bear is another story and one entirely dependent on Carmy getting his shit together in season 4. But the way I see it, Sydney certainly won't be leaving her found family in order to join Shapiro. I mean who has time for disloyalty, smudges and snakes when you have people to feed and make happy?

[mitocamdria]

Your work is always meticulously thorough and well written @whenmemorydies! Not only that but you always offer unique perspectives on the various potential outcomes for the show.

Anyways, @gingergofastboatsmojito there are most likely only 2 outcomes, Sydney will stay or she will go. So it’s not really that revolutionary of a take in and of itself. But it’s great you are pleased others have also come to this fairly probable and predictable conclusion, love that for you!

I'm glad you guys finally caught up on the fact that Syd is not going anywhere as I have been saying since FUCKING JUNE!

ABOUT TIME!

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[mitocamdria]

The nurturer : Sydney Adamu's legacy

Part 1

(Part 2)

4. Richie : from enemy to kindred spirit

What started out as an antagonistic relationship has quietly evolved into a friendship rooted in mutual respect. Both Sydney and Richie are outsiders looking in, more alike than they care to admit.

In her own way, Syd gently steers Richie back on track when needed, she praises his growth and celebrates his positive changes. Despite their rocky history, Sydney entrusts Richie with significant responsibilities — something few with their shared history would do. Yet, her faith in him is unwavering, offering him words of encouragement, and he consistently rises to meet her expectations.

5. Carmy : only time will tell

Observant by nature, Carmy is the first to verbalize Syd's inherent nature. It's therefore curious that with him, her gestures take on a quieter form, often disguised as actions for the restaurant. Her unyielding support is less overt but no less deliberate, offering exactly what he needs, without seeking recognition or overwhelming him. She cares for him in subtle, unobstrusive, ways, always mindful not to startle the Bear. There's a distinct softness in the way she cares for Carmy. Only time will tell if this difference holds deeper meaning.

But, eventually, the nurturer cracks. The relentless pressure to maintain that level of dedicated care becomes suffocating. The weight of immense responsibility presses down with an unbearable force, and they reach their breaking point. Their reserve runs dry, every last ounce of energy and strength completely drained.

Will Marcus, Tina, Nat, Richie and Carmy be there for Sydney, like she has always been there for them?

[mitocamdria]

Some interesting bits here that the Bear writers may have pulled from, based on acclaimed celebrity chef Charlie Trotter and his wife, Rochelle. 👀

Charlie Trotter / Carmy parallels

From Chicago, left to work at some of the best restaurants in the world as a young man, and returned to Chicago to open a restaurant using money borrowed from his family.

His main restaurant, Trotters, had a side deli, "Trotter's To Go" that served quick, cheap food during the day.

Was dyslexic so drew his recipes instead.

The first chef in the industry to change menus daily, even hourly, and never repeated ingredients

Known as a meticulous tyrant and intense perfectionist in the kitchen

Mom's name is Donna-Lee (Donna + Lee?)

Gave Grant Achatz from Alinea his start and later became Trotter's rival for stars (Achatz is seen in S3 talking to Luca at the Ever dinner).

Rochelle Smith Trotter / Syd parallels

Classically trained chef, earned a culinary degree.

Started her own culinary consulting business.

Mother died when she was 11 and was raised by her father in Chicago.

Met and fell in love with "her soulmate" Charlie on her culinary journey.

[mitocamdria]

Carmy always had the vibe, the vision for something new, and the idea of making the restaurant different. It was never Mikey’s idea—it was his. In a way, his dialogue mirrors Sydney's; they have that same desire.

As we know, after Mikey died, the restaurant became less about building something new and more about trying to turn back time to fix what went wrong between him and Mikey- maybe in a way to save Mikey and break the cycle? Then Sydney came along—a Chef who shared his original vision and understood that things had to change. She became someone who wanted to break cycles with him.

He says the right things—"our menu," or "I wouldn’t even want to do it without you." But what happens if he actually has to move forward without Sydney physically present? Would he be able to carry that vision on his own?

He wouldn't because, in 1x08, he doesn't even try and ultimately gives up when she leaves. He decides to keep things the same. Then she comes back, and he's ready to change again—but not because he has to save Mikey. He wants to break a cycle for her... so she could stay?

Maybe.

[mitocamdria]

Sydney x Carmy - Mirroring

A non-exhaustive journey of some serious soulmatism through gifs. Its not just what they're doing but the shots themselves. These are all intentional writing, editing and directing choices because these two and their connection are absolutely intentional.

Shoutout to @livelovecaliforniadreams, @thoughtfulchaos773, @gingergofastboatsmojito, @brokenwinebox, @currymanganese and anyone else I've missed who have done similar posts on the mirroring in this show before.

....

Confronting fears in the alley behind The Beef/The Bear.

1x08 Braciole / 4x?? (from the Disney season 4 teaser, GIF by @emziess)

Contemplating hard truths by Lake Michigan.

1x03 Brigade (GIF by @thoughtfulchaos773) / 3x09 Apologies

Recovering from a panic attack at home.

1x08 Braciole / 3x10 Forever

Looking at Carmy's bleeding heart paupiette of hamachi.

3x01 Tomorrow / 3x01 Tomorrow

Scrubbing kitchen floors by hand.

1x02 Hands / 2x08 Bolognese

Having a panic attack at work.

2x09 Omelette / 3x03 Doors (GIF by @livelovecaliforniadreams)

Journalling.

1x05 Sheridan / 3x01 Tomorrow

Confronting a shit boss.

1x07 The Review / 3x10 Forever (GIFS by @thoughtfulchaos773)

Threatening Richie with violence.

1x07 The Review / 3x03 Doors

You know...soulmate shit lol.

[mitocamdria]

Delulu Opinion:

Carmy messed up the lacto ferment/marinade.

Alright bearitos, this one's controversial.

I think Carmy may have messed up the lacto ferment and marinade. In fact, I think he may have sabotaged it.

Remember how Carmy already had an asking-out fail in the locker room scene?

After that he goes home stares weirdly at his chef's coat, then comes up with a plan to get Syd in the apartment to spend time with her jam on the menu and somehow the chef's whites, which had been somewhere else, by the way, just so happens to be sitting pretty on the kitchen counter for Syd to approve see.

We all know he staged that, right? RIGHT??

There are certain things I feel don't come naturally to Carmy. He can quickly come up with a plan to fulfill an overload of orders on a bad day in a kitchen, but a sneak date on the fly? He couldn't manage imho. So it had to be something he had thought about beforehand.

"It's not ok if it's two times in a row"

The first day, when the lacto ferment was ruined he instinctively apologizes with the sorry sign saying "I must have given you the wrong count". The next day with the marinade "you marinated it too long, it's ok though" before asking them to go out for "inspiration". I feel like the fact that he had that idea ready meant that it was something he had considered and possibly planned. He even had the exact restaurant on the tip of his lips. Also look at their faces while the try the radicchio, it looks like Carmy already expected it to be bad. That's probably why he made sure to tell Sydney "this was almost perfect", because it wasn't really her fault?

Could it be that he might have thought of it but the opportunity presented itself naturally? Yes. But it's also very highly likely that he engineered that outcome as he already had done to get Syd in his apartment (bear in mind that in Sundae, Sydney found a kitchen to use on short notice and Carmy, a bigger chef with more clout and a better network, could have done the same).

This is why I think it was so hard for him to tell Claire he had plans. He could have easily said he had a work thing but he couldn't say it cause it wasn't really about work for him. He was literally scanning his to do list to look for another reasonable excuse. Because in his head it was a date but in actual reality, it was just work. Carmy is bad at being honest but he's also terrible at lying so he'll deflect or tell you some version of truth that's not the actual truth; eg his answers to Claire about the fake number, not answering about his plans just stuttering then saying "I'm in" to her plans.

I think Claire's call slapped reality onto him and scared the ever living sh!t out of him. So he went from making all these plans with Syd to avoiding her for most of the rest of the season.