I wish this show was a weekly release. I wanted to sit with some of these episodes for a few days but I couldn't get on anything without seeing spoilers.
This entire season was great. I saw it more as two seasons, separated by episode 6. The first half was the characters getting broken down, more character development, as they tried to stumble their way to the restaurant. Second half you started seeing it come together, stressful as it was, but there was a light. Good story, even though it lags at times. Some minor over/under acting in spots, but overall good performances. I loved the parallel in season 1 and 2's finales where something goes wrong in the kitchen and it's suddenly all hands on deck. Really hoping the show gets renewed for season 3 and the quality is as great as the first two seasons.
So many great character moments. I like how this show simply refuses to let every character be winning or losing at the same time. I personally enjoyed how there were episodes dedicated to fleshing out a specific character and growing as individuals.
Carm's symbolism of him being a "bear" stuck in a "cage" was interesting and a call back to season 1. I like that visual of someone/something breaking Carmy out of his ice box.
The scene with Pete and Donna was just gut wrenching. Her leaving was truly a great moment. She realized she was toxic and could not express her feelings without coming in like a wrecking ball, so that self reflection was touching.
I didn't mind the Claire storyline as much as others but I do think she was more plot device to get Carmy out of the kitchen and into a relationship than character, which was annoying. People keep saying scenes like that were irrelevant or boring when in all actuality it paid off dividends to see Carm in a new environment like that. People also said Claire was boring or flat, but that’s the point. I thought that she intentionally felt out of place because she was supposed to be a “distraction” of sorts from the restaurant. I think the writers could’ve handled the breakup better.
For the love of God, please do not let this show have Carmen and Sydney have any kind of romantic relationship. Why does every male+female relationship on television have to be romantic? I think their storyline as working partners and friends feels enough and complete to me. I'm really 'shipping' a healthy, non-sexual, platonic, supportive friendship between the two.
What the hell happened with Ebra’s story? We barely saw him this season.
All in all, the season had its ups and downs.
What a finale. Watching everyone come together and use what they have learned and prove to themselves and each other how capable they are felt so good, while on the flip side of that we see devastation in Carmy. The restaurant recovers and runs smoothly without him as he sits alone, cold, and while falling victim to his insecure self-worth and ultimately inadvertently ruining one of the best things to ever happen to him in Claire. I knew the fridge issue would come into play in the finale, but didn’t expect it to happen like this. The rich complexity is that Carmy isn’t necessarily wrong. His focus given to Claire took him away from the restaurant, but Claire is also so incredibly good for him otherwise. She made him a better person, but in some regards also a worse leader during a critical time in his professional life. I hope that he can eventually find the right balance, repair things with Ritchie, and find happiness in his personal and professional lives. I think he needs to learn to relinquish some of the control he holds over the restaurant and lean on others around him who have proven themselves capable. His presence in their lives and pushing/challenging them has helped all those around him grow, and he just needs to give himself credit for that while also not putting so much pressure on himself. He’s shaping up to be a fantastic character and I can’t wait for more. Season 3 better be announced soon.
i know that claire and carmy will be fine...
BUT OH MY GOD MARCUS
someone plz hug Richie & tell him he has value
Right from the hip, this didn't completely come together and I'm trying to figure out if that was intentional for the eventual Season 3 redemption, or accidental and all the pieces just didn't fall into place at go time.
Do not get me wrong, there are some absolutely fantastic moments in this finale, some of my favourites from the whole season in fact. Pete & Donna outside the restaurant, Richie in full Michelin-mode and taking over the kitchen, Syd and her father and finally finding "the thing", Marcus knocking his phone so he didn't see the calls from the care home, Richie showing respect and thanks to Cicero by remembering the chocolate covered banana; some honest-to-god A tier drama with arc and resolution and substance.
Carmys arc, and by extension Claires too, just didn't feel...right? Even with the tragic wrap up it just didn't feel very polished? The handle being forgotten because of Carmys divided attention, Carmys self destructive spirals and PTSD from both his early career and his mother/family all make sense, but Claire barging in and overhearing his self-deprecating ramblings and taking them seriously enough to cry and run off just seemed a little, unrefined? Something just didn't feel right and didn't line up for me. The premise is sound and I'm not totally anti-Claire, but the execution of it all felt sloppy at best. Then there was crackhead Josh, which felt like it had a few scenes removed so didn't land as intended, and the Marcus/Syd clash felt very forced, considering all the way up to this point these people have actively pushed to compartmentalise to make sure the kitchen runs smoothly, devoid of emotion and personal clashes like this.
Just a little messy and could have done with another pass, but some of the hits still absolutely hit and I have everything crossed that we get a Season 3 to wrap this all up and see it out.
shit just went from zero to one hundred fucking quick
this season completely elevated the show to a whole other level. can't wait to see more!
man this was an episode. great choice of using rem songs this season. poor aul marcus & pete. :(
the scene that hit me most though was richie arguing with carmy at the end. he was doing so well and then he broke down. it was probably very warranted though and i doubt it’ll happen again.
I love this show so much. The drama is tough, but feel good moments restore the balance every time. Love the cast, the writing and the choice in music. Great season.
To me, this was the perfect ending to an amazing season! We got to be back in that stressful kitchen and feel all of the emotions of their opening night. I think we all knew that the fridge issue would have a central role in the finale, but I don’t think any of us expected it to play out this way. As much as I felt for Carmy, I think this sort of downfall of his was inevitable. Regretfully, he has been quite neglectful towards Syd, the crew and the restaurant prior to this episode and I think him getting locked inside the fridge and them managing fine without him pushed Carmy to come to terms with certain choices he’s made this season and have a new sort of self-awareness. In the heat of it all, sadly, he also ruins his relationship with Claire. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed watching Ritchie fall into THE role that was made for him and I hope going forward that they stick with him staying in that position as it suits him very much! He’s one of the characters that I have come to like a lot this season, so I’m very glad and satisfied with the character development that they’ve given him.
Looking forward to getting a third season! I’m hoping we get to know and see more of Carmy’s mom, Deedee, as her scene in this episode made me very intrigued on who she is as a person and also made me want to understand her thought process. As well as Ebra since he was very absent this season. I also hope that Marcus pulls through the death of his mom as we’ve seen that she was very important to him! It was gut wrenching to see all the missed calls on his phone right before the episode ended. I’m very curious as to how this will impact his character, his role in the kitchen and his artistry as well as the progress that he has managed to make since the first time we saw him.
I watched episodes 1 thru 5 on a regular non-binge pace and was fairly happy. Then I came to episode 6. Honestly, I should have taken a week or at least a few days to process it, but after that I had to watch at least a couple more... which turned into the last 5 eps.
I don't know about y'all, but the growth of Richie brings such heart. Tina was one thing in season 1, but he was something else. EMB's acting was really phenomenal this season, and besides him, there were not just a few tear-jerking moments. Richie and anyone, Fake growing up, Donna and Pete's convo, Claire and Carmy in the fridge, and then Carm and Richie screaming through the "cage". Like, despite all their growth, that despair that hangs over them is too great. So sad, and sadly so real.
An extraordinary season. The first season converted me to loving the show, but this season might make it in a top 10 all time. Great work from everyone involved.
Although, do we need EXTREME closeups during every one on one conversation in all eps? (minor squabble)
I am speechless. Wow. What did I just watch.
I cried a lot because this show is about kindness.
I wanted a Carmey comeback arch the entire season, only for him to dig himself deeper and deeper. It’s hard watching so many people succeed so well, with one failing so hard losing almost everybody’s respect with an idea that isn’t even his anymore. Really hard to watch..
Other than an unease from watch Carmey take L after L— People improved too fast! Cousin became the perfect (cook director/insane server?) so fast and with ease after only a WEEK. Idk. Maybe that’s possible.
Good not great season.
L Carmey
I really hope Carmy fixes things with Claire next season and realises his own trauma. If the show makes Carmy and Sydney a thing I am going to lose my mind. There is no chemistry between Carmy and Sydney and it always felt like Sydney having some unrequited feelings for Carmy and that's okay. But last episode they showed him maybe feeling something too and that would just piss me off, because if he then realises next season that he can in fact have a relationship. It would be obvious to try to get back together with Claire instead of just moving directly on to Sydney. I am actually scared, because the show is a perfect 10/10 for me, but this would be a genuine huge showbreaker. The realism that the show has in all it's parts kinda fell apart with the talking through the freezer door, and I also think it would lose it's realism when you have the forced triangle drama
Another technically impressive single shot to start, complete with awesome sound design to contrast either side of the kitchen door, and that incessant, unacknowledged beeping.
Then from no cuts to superfast cutting. There was a lot to like in the latter stages until the end of the Carm/Claire story, which relied on the most tedious TV trope imaginable. Overall, a brave second season, but not quite as good as the first season. I really hope we haven't seen the last of Claire.
I realllyyy hope they don’t bring Claire back next season, I felt like she had too much screen time and I wish she was in less episodes. On the other hand, Carmy has only himself to blame for how things turned out, he lost focus on the restaurant and I hope he gets that focus back and comes back better than ever next season. I do still wish this episode ended on a higher note.
Wait is that really it?? I wanted at least one last scene with the family together & happy like last season. I saw Carmy & Claire coming and tbh it needed to happen.. Carmy kept fucking up and not focusing on the restaurant. This finished too quickly tho, next season needs to be even longer.
The first episode Richie was my least favourite character now at the end of season 2 he’s my favourite wtf. This show is special
I got a little lost in the end with the printer and Sydney throwing up, did she realize the printer ran out of paper and that’s why the orders stopped? And she freaked out and went to the alley to throw up? I was also scared she was gonna go do crack with that other guy because of the stress
But also I don’t think it ran out of paper cause it seemed like they finishes the courses and everyone went home happy, that’s why Sydney’s dad was out there and why Molly Gordon went to the kitchen so I guess opening night was a success!
i just love all the changes from the beginning of season 1 up until the finale for this season. the characters were able to grow out of their previous routines, some better than others in my opinion, but i really loved seeing their dynamic all throughout this season. carmy still has a lot to work on, but i hope he's going to figure out that he does not need to be too hard on himself. i mean the bear's success can partially be credited to him in the first place. also, the fact that he was able to accomplish his goal when the show first started which was to revamp his brother's sandwich shop.
the entire cast did such a great job, and i can't wait to see more from them. excited for the 3rd season already!
Never would’ve thought Syd and Cousin would be running the restaurant while Carmy was trapped in a walk-in the whole night but there we go!
you can have your dreams or you can have a life. well. sort of. maybe. only for carmy. the rest are doing much better
I don't know how to return to life after seeing The Bear. I can find fulfillment in life as I watch the final episode. What a finale, what a story!
No no come on, This can't be the last episode! i need more of it right now, What an ending!!!
totally crazy and incredible!
and it's totally sure that there will be new season
soooo excited
Ok wtf?! This was a good episode but not perfect. Y'all better release a new season to tie up the loose ends.
Shout by Bro ThorBlockedParent2023-06-23T23:10:00Z
No Carmy not to Claire.
Protect Pete at any cost.