Spoilers beneath.
Season 3 of The Bear spent 10 episodes main as much as a big second: the restaurant’s first main overview. The groundwork is laid early; within the season’s fourth episode “Violet,” the Fak brothers give themselves a challenge. Neil (Matty Matheson) and Ted (Ricky Staffieri) have tracked down each Chicago-based restaurant critic, blogger, and influencer and pasted their faces to the wall of the workplace. Whereas it’s executed in good religion, Carmy takes one take a look at the wall and is instantly flooded with reminiscences of the cruel criticism he confronted each inside and past the eating places he educated in. However he retains his composure, solely letting out a, “I hate this sense,” earlier than asking the Faks to place the names right into a binder and go away it on the entrance of the home.
Nevertheless it seems the Faks’ brilliant concept was too late. By episode’s finish, Carmy and Syd discover out that the Chicago Tribune is requesting images of The Bear’s meals, which might solely imply one factor: they’re being reviewed. And even worse? The critic has already come and gone, that means the chance to impress is now out of the employees’s arms.
The overview hangs over Carmy and Syd’s heads all season, personally and professionally. Regardless of the Tribune writes may make or break the restaurant; Uncle Jimmy confirms their best concern when he tells Carmy that his funding can solely proceed if there’s good press.
We don’t get a glimpse of the overview till the ultimate moments of the finale, “Ceaselessly.” As Carmy exits the funeral for his former mentor’s restaurant, he’s met with 4 missed calls from Uncle Jimmy, three from his uncle’s monetary advisor Laptop, two texts from Laptop, and a Google alert confirming the Tribune has lastly printed the overview. The flurry of messages from his greatest investor and his right-hand-man isn’t precisely an ideal signal for The Bear’s future, and the short snapshots we see of phrases from the article aren’t probably the most flattering—very similar to we’ve been seeing by way of Carmy’s reminiscences all season.
“Complicated,” “glorious,” and “culinary” are the primary three phrases that pop on the display. Then, the phrases transfer quicker. “Revolutionary.” “Sloppy.” “Good.” “Easy.” “Complicated.” “Scrumptious.” “Inconsistent.” The season ends with Carmy’s response: “motherfucker.”
There are compliments seemingly peppered in together with actual criticism. The phrases “complicated,” “inconsistent,” and “modern” stand out probably the most to me, as they communicate to one of many main sources of battle of the season: Carmy’s resolution—and insistence—on altering the menu each single day. It led to creativity and innovation within the kitchen, however it additionally led to a serious rift between him and Sydney, who clearly felt like her authority was undermined and that she was a associate in title solely (which is why she, understandably, hasn’t signed the partnership contract and has a panic assault within the finale).
Uncle Jimmy (proper) tells Carmy he can’t afford for the restaurant to get a foul overview.
We received’t get affirmation on what the overview really stated till next season—for all we all know, these phrases might be one other flashback to Carmy’s painful previous experiences. However assuming these adjectives are from the long-awaited Tribune piece, the juxtaposition of phrases feels just like the overview is looking the restaurant a distinction in and of itself. There’s Carmy, a much-celebrated and globally educated chef, alongside a employees that requires severe coaching to succeed in his stage of ability and perfection. There’s additionally the walk-up window that continues the legacy of the Authentic Beef sandwich store, opened as a money seize that should exist subsequent to the high-end aspirations of The Bear restaurant. To me, it’s doable that the reviewer is commenting on the vastly totally different ends of the spectrum which might be on show in varied elements of Carmy’s enterprise.
The episode ends with a “to be continued” title card, and Carmy’s “motherfucker” may imply many issues—particularly when you attempt to decipher the tone of his supply. It’s most definitely a response fueled by his perfectionism; With a lot on the road, “sloppy” and “inconsistent” simply received’t reduce it.