The ending of “The Bear” season 4 shows Carmy leaving the restaurant to save it, handing over the reins to Syd and Nat, leaving its fate in the dark. The third season showed him devoting his life to this restaurant by sacrificing everything else he loved. The fourth season shows him doing almost the opposite of that. He tries to mend the bridges he burnt with Claire, his mother, and others, while questioning his passion for food. He wonders: Did he get into the business only to prove his worth to Michael? Was it meant to be a big, resounding ‘f**k you’ to Chef David? Or was it just plain escapism? He introspects without letting anyone get a hint of his thoughts. Classic Carmy, right? Well, the fourth season shows him trying to move past that image.
Carmy tries to make progress while trying to find a footing in his personal and professional life, to learn the root of his ennui. Yet, the season isn’t all about that. Of course, Carmy is at the front and center, but so are Syd, Richie, Nat, and Marcus. The fourth season shows them trying to make sense of their families, whether work or biological, hoping to repair what’s been broken. So, if the third season seemed low on steam because it lacked character development, there’s a bit more of it here.
The fourth season also tries to answer some burning questions, like: Does Syd leave The Bear to work with Chef Adam? Does Ritchie make peace with Tiff’s new relationship? Do Richie and Carmy get over their differences? And most importantly, does Carmy burn the restaurant to the ground? Or does he find a way to save it? Let’s unpack what this new season from Christopher Storer’s Emmy-winning show has for us in store.
Spoilers Ahead
What happens in The Bear (Season 4)?
“The Bear” (Season 4) picks up where it left us at the end of the third season when Carmy’s phone starts blowing up with notifications linked to a review about his and Syd’s new restaurant.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 1 ‘Groundhogs’ Recap:
The cat’s out of the bag. Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) and Syd’s (Ayo Edebiri) new restaurant received a negative review, which pointed out the dissonance in their working discipline. It takes a toll on every staff member, not just because it speaks badly about them, but because it jeopardizes the fate of their establishment. If people read this review, they might not want to come to the restaurant at all. So, in order to find a footing, they must make a radical change in their working strategy.
That means no more giving in to the whims of a chef. No more changing the menu at the last minute. No more chaos. Instead, they need to be well coordinated and efficient. That’s why Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) brings in Jessica (Sarah Ramos), Garrett (Andrew Lopez), and Rene (Rene Gube), who were his staffmates at the Ever restaurant. It’s not about making the finest food possible or getting a Michelin Star anymore. Instead, it’s about survival.
They all must find a way for the business to stay afloat. After all, Uncle Jimmy’s (Oliver Platt) ticking clock is still running, and they have about seven months left to prove themselves — or else, he will pull the plug on his funding and sell their business to make up the losses. So, everyone must get their act together or they will have nothing to fight for. Even then, Carmy is still self-absorbed. He refuses to share any of his thoughts or feelings. He also can’t get past the monotony of their work and feels like he is stuck in a Groundhog Day-like situation, mindlessly repeating everything. Long story short, he has lost his sense of purpose.
Syd is also worried about her future. Should she accept Chef Adam’s (Adam Shapiro) offer? Or should she stay at The Bear, knowing it might not even have a future? While she is caught up in these fears, Ritchie has something else on his plate. He struggles to make peace with the fact that Tiff (Gillian Jacobs) will now be with Frank (Josh Hartnett). He worries that Frank might replace him as Eva’s (Annabelle Toomey) father by buying her expensive things that he can’t. Meanwhile, Natalie / Sugar (Abby Elliott) must find a balance between her duties for the restaurant and her newborn daughter, Sophie.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 2 ‘Soubise’ Recap:
By definition, ‘Soubise’ is a thick white (made with onions) sauce used with fish or meat. In this episode, Gary (Corey Hendrix) starts taking lessons to be an oenophile while Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson) tries to find opportunities to expand the business. They both put their best foot forward to help the restaurant. For Ebraheim, that’s a bit more personal. Last time, he bailed out on a culinary class with Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas). So, this is probably his way to make up for it and prove that he cares about The Bear.
He’s not the only person trying to make up for their past. Carmy also makes some efforts. Instead of being a stickler for his preferences, Carmy starts making compromises for the greater good. He also makes a change to his business contract with Syd for her benefit. On the personal front, he calls Nat to apologize for not having met Sophie since her birth. As always, Nat is considerate. Tina starts working according to Jessica’s new system to ensure she gets her tasks done within a precise window of time. Syd doesn’t see the new agreement, worrying it might make her lose her focus on her immediate worries at The Bear.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 3 ‘Scallop’ Recap:
Carmy seems less critical and more appreciative of the efforts everyone is putting into the work, whether it’s Syd or Marcus (Lionel Boyce). Marcus tells him about his struggles meeting Jessica’s new deadlines. So, Carmy agrees he will look for someone to help him with those duties. Uncle Jimmy seeks Donna’s (Jamie Lee Curtis) help in selling his house to help with the financial losses at the restaurant.
Richie plans a special treat for a special guest, who is expecting an old-school Chicago-style experience of a beef sandwich on freezing nights. At night, Carmy shows up at Claire’s (Molly Gordon) doorstep. He apologizes for his outburst and reveals that he wasn’t angry at her but at himself. Yet, even then, he keeps his feelings bottled up. Claire wants him to feel comfortable being vulnerable around her, or in general. In the end, she doesn’t forgive him and leaves the fate of their relationship in the dark. (The episode title is in reference to Syd’s dish that gets high praise from the guests.)
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 4 ‘Worms’ Recap:
The fourth episode focuses entirely on Syd as she tries to figure out the best option for her future. Chef Adam asks her to visit his new space. He allows her all the privileges she may never get at The Bear. It includes hiring the staff she wants, fixing the menu she desires, and choosing the direction she wants to take it in. So, the possibilities are endless. Yet, if she chooses this, she will have to leave her work-family, whom she values the most in her life. At the same time, she also worries that she will sabotage her career by rejecting Adam’s offer and staying on a steadily sinking ship.
Later that day, she goes to Chantel’s (Danielle Deadwyler) place for a hair appointment, likely to distract herself from her worries. Chantel bails on her for last-minute work. So, Syd is left behind with Chantel’s daughter, TJ (Arion King). She cooks for TJ and cryptically opens up about her dilemma. Before Syd leaves, TJ tells her that she should work wherever she wants. It doesn’t change the fact that she is a damn good cook.
Syd walks out to find her phone blowing up with messages from Carmy, asking for help in panic, and then finding a solution by himself. Pete (Chris Witaske) — Nat’s husband and the restaurant’s lawyer — also texts Syd to ask if she has read the updated agreement. It all makes her rethink her choices. The next moment, she calls Adam to start working on the paperwork for his project. Maybe that will give her a better idea of what to choose.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 5 ‘Replicants’ Recap:
The title refers to the advice Ebraheim receives from Albert Schmur (Rob Reiner), who knows more than a thing or two about how to sustain a business. Albert says The Bear should branch out and create replicant restaurants to build a mini-franchise. However, the title likely foreshadows Carmy’s shocking decision in the end as he looks for his ‘replicants’ to take over the business, whether that’s Syd or Luca (Will Poulter).
That’s probably why he brings Luca to work under Marcus. Neither he nor Luca reveals why someone of Luca’s stature is willfully accepting this low-level position. Regardless of that secrecy, Luca’s presence immediately cheers up the entire kitchen staff. The episode also shows Carmy and Marcus revisiting their history. Carmy looks back at Boston’s past, which probably pushes him to build a lasting legacy for the restaurant.
That can’t happen without a strong foundation. So, he agrees to follow a fixed menu and not make spontaneous changes. Marcus sells his late mother’s house with Chester’s (Carmen Christopher) help, possibly to relieve himself of that baggage. Richie, meanwhile, looks at the future. He opens up to Jessica about his struggles with Frank, the ‘nice step-dad’ to Eva, who bought her a teddy bear he didn’t want to. (to give her an important life lesson, even though she is just a child).
Natalie shows up at the restaurant with Sophie. Soon, Syd learns that her dad (Robert Townsend) is hospitalized because he had a heart attack. She rushes there, asking Carmy not to tell anyone else about her dad’s condition. She also doesn’t want Carmy to be there with her, probably because she might have to take care of him instead of the other way around.
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The Bear (Season 4) Episode 6 ‘Sophie’ Recap:
The sixth episode shows Sophie’s day at the restaurant as they all talk about Richie’s ex-wife’s upcoming wedding. Jessica helps Richie see Frank not as a threat, but as a support for his ‘dad’ duties. Neil Fak (Matty Matheson) anxiously tells Natalie that he has invited Francie to the wedding. Until then, the season hints that Natalie has some sort of beef with Francie. We learn more about that in the seventh episode. Until then, Natalie has to take care of Carmy, who may not show up at the wedding at all, fearing he might bump into their mother or Claire, and it would be awkward for everyone involved. Nat convinces him to be open to new experiences and to be at the wedding for Tiff’s sake.
As it happens, Syd cries her heart out at the hospital while Claire (who works there) stays by her side. Syd gets candid about her unease that her father has to worry about her at an age when he should be worrying about just himself. Claire helps her get over her guilt and shame. She makes Syd see how people value having people to care about. “Worrying about people and having people to worry about is everything we got,” she says. She makes Syd realize that her father doesn’t see her as a burden but a gift. As a medical professional, Claire also reveals that Syd’s father will get better after all. Anyhow, Syd decides to be more present in her dad’s life. Her dad still assures her that she need not worry about him being without her.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 7 ‘Bears’ Recap:
“Bears” shows a majority of the Berzatto family at Tiff and Frank’s wedding. However, unlike the chaotic family dinner in “Fishes” from the second season, things are much calmer this time around. So, it almost feels like an antidote to the dysfunctional mess they had to endure in “Fishes.” Everyone tries to make it all go smoothly. Syd lets Richie blow off some steam as he panics, fearing he is losing Eva to Frank. Still, as soon as Donna arrives there, he joins Syd to distance her from Carmy to avoid any awkward interactions. Carmy hides out in the kitchen, where he bumps into family friend Uncle Lee (Bob Odenkirk). Lee admits to having seen Carmy at Mikey/Michael’s funeral.
(To preface, Mikey took his own life a while after Carmy left to pursue a culinary career outside of Boston. So, Carmy felt that he was personally responsible for Mikey’s unfortunate loss. He feels like he abandoned his older brother. That’s why, despite arriving at Mikey’s funeral, he silently left without telling any of his family that he was there. He held on to the secret and thought no one knew, but Lee did.) In the present, Uncle Lee tells Carmy that he mended his relationship with Mikey while Carmy was away. He reveals that Mikey was proud of Carmy’s achievements. Lee also mentions the toll Mikey’s death has taken on Donna. Still, he doesn’t force Carmy to go see her. As it happens, Syd stays by Donna’s side and reveals how much she admires Carmy as a chef.
Donna proudly listens to her speak, but feels bad that she doesn’t know much about Carmy as her work-family does. It makes her realize how detached she is from her young son and that she misses him. Otherwise, the episode focuses on Richie bonding with Frank as a partner in fatherly duties. He helps Frank with Eva’s situation as she hides under a table, scared about having to dance in front of many people. Frank planned that dance so that they could have a memorable father-daughter moment. Claire makes him realize that Eva might not feel that way. They all get under the table, and so does every other member of the Berzatto family. They share their fears, hoping Eva to feel comfortable sharing hers.
This whole exercise also helps Carmy break the ice with Claire, and they dance together. It also helps Theodore (Ricky Staffieri) get over his fear of proposing to his girlfriend, Kelly (Mitra Jouhari). Natalie also patches things up with Francie (Brie Larson). In the end, Tiff gets all welled up as she sees Richie finally having made peace in his co-parenting duties with Frank.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 8 ‘Green’ Recap:
‘Green’ shows things finally looking better for the business. Natalie realizes that their numbers have improved in recent months, but The Computer (Brian Koppelman) doesn’t think that’s enough to keep the business alive. He understands that they can keep working with what they earn from the daily business, but that doesn’t look promising to him in the long run. So, he asks her to figure out ‘the purpose’ they should keep it running. Otherwise, it is business as usual. Gary keeps working on his skills as a sommelier.
Richie gets some life lessons from Jessica. Syd is still preoccupied with her dilemma of choosing between The Bear and Adam’s restaurant. She finally rejects Adam’s generous offer. Marcus still works with Luca on the desserts, but there’s something more to his story this season. His father tries to reconnect with him after many years of distance. So, while initially hesitant, Marcus shows up outside a cafe to meet him. Yet, Marcus turns around the moment he sees him. In contrast, Carmy has a surprising character development, likely influenced by Claire’s emotional support. He finally decides to spend time with his estranged mother.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 9 ‘Tonnato’ Recap:
‘Tonnato’ is the dish Donna talks about while recounting her time in Italy. She reveals feeling alone during her trip to the point she started crying. So, a local woman saw her and made her that dish. Donna says it was ‘mayonnaise with tuna.’ Carmy immediately recognizes it. He also prepares something for her after she opens up to him about her regrets. She reads him a heartfelt note and apologizes to him. So, to calm her, he prepares a chicken dish. He walks back into his old room and sees Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential lying on the bedside table. In the dressing closet, he finds Claire’s green sweater.
As he walks down memory lane, Ebraheim thinks about the restaurant’s future. Albert agrees to help him and his team with business expansion. So, after careful consideration, Ebraheim decides to join hands with Albert, who seemingly convinces The Computer to get over his overall cynicism about the business. Meanwhile, Natalie reveals that Marcus has been selected as one of the finest contemporary chefs by a magazine. While everyone is in this jolly good mood, Syd learns something shocking. The updated agreement splits the business into two halves: the first one belongs to Uncle Jimmy, while the second one belongs to her and Nat. So, where’s Carmy? She realizes that he is planning to leave the restaurant.
The Bear (Season 4) Episode 10 ‘Goodbye’ Recap:
Why does Carmy decide to hand over his business to Syd?
Syd had just started to make peace with being at The Bear for good when Peter dropped the truth bomb. So, the season four finale shows Syd and Richie confronting Carmy in a single, long scene. Initially, Syd asks Carmy the reason for his shocking decision. Carmy reveals that he has lost interest in making food. He realizes that he has achieved what he once set out to do. He has nothing else to prove to Mikey or anyone else. So, he struggles with finding a purpose to anchor his journey going forward.
He says that he is leaving The Bear, hoping it will help them function smoothly. Until then, he had usually been the reason whenever something went wrong in the kitchen. So, he feels they will work better without his chaotic mind. Besides that, he sees the agreement as him appreciating Syd’s enormous efforts. He knew that Adam was trying to get her on board for his restaurant. So, thanks to his decision, she can be in charge of a restaurant. Yet, she hates that he is abandoning what they have built together. Despite all of it, Richie says he will not leave the restaurant no matter what. Syd wants Carmy to add Richie to her and Nat’s share in the agreement. Nat feels bad for Carmy and hugs him. In the final moments of the season, the timer stops, but we don’t learn what happens to the restaurant.
The Bear (Season 4) Ending Explained:
Will Carmy staying away from the restaurant help it sustain?
The ending of “The Bear” (Season 4) leaves the fate of the restaurant in the dark, much like the cliffhanger ending of the third season. It doesn’t reveal what happens to the business in Carmy’s absence. However, it analyzes his motivations for making this shocking decision. A few years ago, Carmy returned to Chicago to take over Mikey’s ‘The Beef’ restaurant to help sustain the establishment. That has always been the catalyst for his overall journey. Yet, he was also driven by the thought of proving himself to arrogant Chef David. Eventually, he realizes that David doesn’t even care about him. Instead, he thinks his feverish working discipline is precisely why Carmy became successful.
David doesn’t apologize, nor does he feel even a shred of remorse. It breaks Carmy’s heart, but it also makes him realize that he will never get David’s approval or apology, no matter how hard he tries. Some things are just beyond his grasp. Meanwhile, he also learns that people love and respect him as a chef. That means he has already achieved what he once set out to do. He has nothing left to prove. So, his departure from The Bear might stop it from bits of unorganized chaos that he unwittingly introduced to the kitchen. That can help the business. Otherwise, Albert’s idea might lead The Computer and Uncle Jimmy to change their minds and find a way to grow the business. For all these reasons, Carmy’s absence might just do more good than harm.
Yet, it is heartbreaking to see Carmy leave what he had dedicated his life to. He helped others see the potential in themselves, but in the process, fell out of love with making food, probably because he used food only as a means to escape his dreadful present. He didn’t want to be with his biological family. So, he tried to find a family beyond them. The season is about him trying to learn to put everyone else first. While doing that, he also recognizes that he can’t work simply for the sake of work. He might need another fuel to drive him all the time.
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