The Bear & The Weight of Environment
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- čas přidán 27. 05. 2024
- Written by Mickey Angelov.
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00:00 - intro
01:27 - season one
04:06 - season two
07:20 - carmy is different
09:51 - the culmination & future predictions
Carmy being locked in a cold room - 'on ice' - whilst everyone else moves on with life is a fantastic image for the resolution of this season. His point of pride was having triumphed over so much external adversity - becoming functional in disfunctional environments. But when things start going right in his environment, and he's only left with internal problems, he's stuck... Very excited to see what progress looks like for Carmy in season three!
I REALLY like your theory of the "pyramid of positivity" be upside down in the third season, with the others helping Carmy get his shit together. It would not only be a really cool thematic payoff but also a very cute message, about how the kindness and positivity we leave in the people we help might come back to help us when we need it the most.
YES right? thats similar to what came up to my mind too seeing the episode. Cause carm took care of his people, his people came to take care of him when he's under.
I agree. My thought is the Berzatto family is dysfunctional, but once you’re in, you will always have family, even if they cuss you out and actively hate you. You still have family that will come through.
I think season 3 is going to be all the people who have been saved, in one way or another, by the Berzatto family coming together to prove to Carmy he can trust them enough to have his own personal life.
I have a tough time imagining what comes next in these ongoing serial shows. Because what I want is for everyone to just turn out okay. But the story's job is something deeper. Sometimes the story needs to take people to their worst moment and leave them there. Sometimes, the story needs to show us the darkest side of who we are.
One of my favorite things about story is when the symbolic becomes literal. Carmy trapped in his refrigerator (the one he never got around to fixing because he got sidetracked avoiding Clair) stuck in the cold through his restaurant's triumphant opening, unable to enjoy the success he created, or the growth he cultivated. That literal imprisonment perfectly mirrors his interior state to an almost comical degree. It tells you more about him than any monologue he could have delivered at an Alanon meeting.
Like his mother, Carmy runs himself ragged trying to take care of everyone. She made Christmas dinner, he made a restaurant. He turned a dysfunctional work environment into something truly beautiful, something that fulfilled everyone... but himself. And like his mother, he deflected every attempt to help him, and then turned on everyone for abandoning him. He took on more than he could handle, and ended up unable to enjoy the act of creating something beautiful for everyone, which is the whole point of being a restaurateur in the first place.
It's nice to think Carmy will figure himself out in the end, but I think that's going to be an epic, harrowing, heartbreaking journey. He thought he had returned to Chicago a changed man, with a fresh perspective and the determination to do things better. But he still has to confront what's deeply broken inside. They all do. Richie got a fresh perspective, but he hasn't left the old Richie behind. He still has a past he has to deal with. Sydney needs to accept that she's still a beginner, not a master, and there's no shame in that. The Bear showed them who they can be, what their potential is, but they still have to figure out how to be those people, wounds and all.
The opening scene of the show is Carmy's dream, letting the bear out. I think the next season will involve Carmy getting badly mauled. I look forward to it with equal excitement and dread.
This is a wonderful comment and a fantastic analysis. Can't agree enough with everything you said. The one thing I'll add: I hope they don't prolong the show too much. I can see The Bear having maybe four season max. Hopefully they finish on a high note!
@@lookasidefilms6614 Couldn't agree more. Nothing worse than when a show starts dragging out its story, just because it's a success.
@@lookasidefilms6614 i sooo agree ie Please Someone KILL EVE. (killing Eve - I gave up on I think S3 or4)
@rottensquid: a wonderful comment - insightful & entertaining:
Nobody has mentioned the blink-of-an-eye glimpse into Sydney’s backstory, so I will: she is not at all uncomplicated…it’s in ‘Bolognese’, & as we’re so focused on ‘the countdown’, we don’t even see it coming…🙄
One of the best things about ‘The Bear’, is that every episode is worth rewatching - with its recurring theme of growth & purpose!
Thank you for sharing!
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I work in hospitality industry and the forks is giving me such encouragement to be better. Brilliant work to put that episode after the anxiety attacks the fishes.
Total agreed with your perspective of Claire's storyline. She is his impossible desire.
100% agree. Vital character!
I found your ideas interesting. I don't think Carmy is having his growth arc yet, in fact I think this season was very much him running from growth and change. He ran to the past, to a girl from his past to feelings from the past from before. He's helping others change, so he knows what needs to be done, but he's avoiding it. I don't think Claire is his journey to self improvement, I think she's the anchor holding him back in his past. Hell to avoid taking a chance at stepping forward and growing, he literally locks himself in a frozen box. At least this season.
Thanks so much for your comment. Totally agree - and I'd love to see what they do with the character to help him move forward!
Right he as hiding and avoiding. Everyone else was moving forward to something new, while Carmy was burrowing himself into the past.
I don't usually comment on videos but this was a beautiful perspective on both seasons! Especially love the analysis of the inversely proportional journey the other chefs had compared to Carmy in S2.
Thank you so much! Appreciate the comment and the kind words. Carmy is definitely on a road of his own - looking forward to seeing where they take the character in future seasons.
I like the way you added, "See the light" as Carm was being freed. Sparks and all. season 3 can't come soon enough
Thank you!
I used to be a line cook in a kitchen, and yes absolutely everything is about environment. How do you interact with those around you? How do you communicate with those you are working alongside with? These all affect how the food comes out. It is important to have a strong, solid team who not only are there supportively for one another but also help others to grow. I started as a line cook as a 17 year old girl, being both the youngest and the only female in the kitchen. I now have my bachelors and quit my job, but I left with so many new insights into the importance of environment and so many new skills in communication, leadership, time management, etc. The Bear gives me war flashbacks at times, but I also love how it shows the impact of each interaction so realistically. Great analysis and I hope to see more from you!
Thank you so much for your comment, and such a wonderful perspective. I too have worked hospitality a lot and in kitchens as well - and The Bear gets a lot of things spot on. The feeling of time running out, the constant anxiety, the necessity to do every single thing perfect. It's a difficult atmosphere to capture and the show does a fantastic job doing so. Congrats on your bachelors, hope the new path ahead is wonderful!
I very much like this take
And you can clearly see in the show how the restaurant is a toxic place before and after the sudden death.
Its a big risk for a show to seperate it's characters like that but it just worked and every one of them went threw his own arch to become better as a person and as a chef.
This utterly deep yet a very simple insight into how you are a product of the people around you. And no matter what focus you have or what determination you have, you might eventually average out.
Thank you so much for this super thanks!
This was such an amazing video essay! completely agree with what you said and I finally realized that one of the bear's overarching theme is a sense of community and how each character develops in the environment that they've fostered. can't wait for season 3
Thank you so much for your kind words! And likewise!
I wholeheartedly agree with the take. I feel a lot of people missed out on the tight struggle of the self and overall environment improvement for the main characters. how its hard to have time for yourself when trying to better other people
Thanks for your comment. Definitely agree - and would love to see more improvement for Carmy next season. He deserves it and his arc is reaching that time, in my opinion.
@@lookasidefilms6614 definitely hope to see it too. It was heartbreaking that he self destructed in the finale, when he made a lot of personal growth till that point. Can’t wait to see how he gets back on his feet both on the restaurant front and the personal.
I really liked your assessment of both seasons and the structure of the show overall with regards to each character's individual story arc.
I personally viewed s2 of The Bear as "the training arc"- let me explain: in shounen (and sports) anime, characters come together at the beginning with all their personal baggage (s1), then they set a goal for the team to work towards. As each character is at a different level, they must all work individually to level up. This is the training arc. By the end of s2, the team has levelled up. However Carmen is faltering- he didn't go on a training arc because Carmen already has the technical skills. Carmen's arc is internal & about self discovery & healing. Carmen is suffering from PTSD of sorts from his time working at Noma as well as suffering from imposter syndrome. Once he is able to believe that he is good at what he does, and that there is more to life than just work, hopefully he'll be able to find a balance. Once he is ready to accept the love he deserves- self love and romantic love, he'll be able to have the confidence to lead and also rely on his team to pick up the slack where he fails.
Thanks so much for your comment and thoughts. Totally agree. Carmy is a fascinating character and I think it's amazing he's got people talking!
@@lookasidefilms6614 A week after finishing I sat down and watched from S1E1 rihgt through - but with subtitles. Quite amazing.
There was so much in Claire perfectly designed for Carm. By the fridge and she explained "I didn;t want to fix it I wanted to understand it" at the party talking about sad sunk people and her last words after Carmy was "I know you do" I got a jolt when Cicero was talking to Carm amd Carm says "Im in a relationship" and the naswer is "thats great news" then "that scares the heck out of me" Your insights to the show were amazing - I would like to add - enhancing every environment was impeccably chosen music. There is genius in every aspect of this show.
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I think you’ve come up with some really brilliant insights. As much as I enjoyed season 1, it is season 2 that I am really savouring like a fine wine. The episode featuring Jamie Lee Curtis was astonishing.
In terms of what I’d love for you to examine is the transformation of Ritchie in the 7th episode. When it starts out with him polishing forks, I felt completely connected to the character. But as the episode progressed, I realized that I was actually on the damn roller coaster riding shotgun.
I have never dined in a three star restaurant and frankly I really hadn’t given the idea of what it takes to run an establishment like this any thought. But WOW…did this feel like a crash course in extreme fine dining!
I think it was the perfect tonic to the previous episode.
The dread, abuse and chaos found at the family gathering during the Seven Fishes episode gave me emotional whiplash when contrasted with the wonder, caring and order found in Forks.
The juxtaposition between the two produced some of the most truly satisfying television I have ever witnessed.
Thank you so much for you comment! Really agree on what you mentioned about Richie and definitely - The Bear is a very immersive show!
Fantastic video essay and I look forward to watching more videos on your channel. Also, I really appreciated the focus on Sydney here and the recognition of the importance of her presence in the story. I get the sense that many people did not fully understand her character and either simply did not like her or could not see where she was coming from.
Thank you so much for your comment. I totally agree. I think some people who don't like Sydney are missing the point - she is a beautifully crafted character and an incredibly important part of the show.
It's interesting how a lot of reviewers never go in depth on the impact of his relationship with Syd and how the importance of their partnership plays a big role on how they both grow individually and together, as well as the scene of Sydney being the one to calm him down when he's panicing, which I thought was very interesting as well as emblematic of his relationship with her in contrast to his relationship with Claire and his family. It's a missed oppourtunity to not discuss that in my opinion. I have a lot of thoughts on that but I truly don't feel like typing them all out right now lol. (Also I'm not looking at it in a romantic aspect, just want to get that point accross, but I also don't abhore the idea of them together like some people do).
I like though, that you do at least acknowledge her importance to the show, I didn't know that she wasn't liked because I love her but I feel like reviewers often neglect her contribution to the show which is insane since she plays such a big role.
Carmy is a life changer, he was omnipresent the whole season 2 even when he was off of the camera, all was related to him and like you said, he was the pusher in both seasons but nobody is pushing him, he had a bad pusher in the past but we also found good pushers like he was to Lukas, and Terry were there for him too. Carmy is also a mess emotionally, I think he is not that aware of his greatness, I think he is much more like Donna, emotionally and he has to deal with that to keep going in life, and that's when the good people around him will support him giving him back all he's done (like you said) Tks for the video, amazing job!
Can’t BEAR to see this on such little views. Exceptional video essay my friend!
Thank you so much, man! ❤️
This show has completely gotten under my skin in the best way possible. We finished S2 a few days ago and I’m still thinking about it. I can’t remember the last time a piece of media had so much care and love for its characters, even as they were put through the ringer. And I will wholeheartedly throw my hat in ring for Claire as a necessary character in S2 and hopefully a returning feature in S3. If S1 was about acknowledging trauma and S2 was about growing through that trauma (or rejecting growth in Carmy’s case), then S3 could and should be about finding balance in this new space with these new skills and personal understandings.
I think my opinion on Claire is very different from yours, I don't think that her presence is that simple, I think that she was there to show Carmy what he thinks an Ideal "perfect" life would be like, she gave him the fantasy of a perfect relationship especially when a lot of his personal ones are toxic and crazy.
She was there to show him what he thought he wanted, I think. Richie and his brother were always trying to set them up and I think that he wanted to pursue it because he thought that that was what he needed, especially since he always needed that push from Richie despite his hesitance, but I think that he was really just avoiding a lot of his problems.
It's not like his life was perfect after getting with her, he was still having issues mentally as well as grieving and I personally think he used her as a distraction, one which inevitably got in the way of his work which he unfairly left Syd and his sister to deal with which really made me dislike him this season.
Carmy doesn't know what balance is, and so he spent too much time focusing on one thing instead of the really important thing that had a lot of people depending on him.
I just think that the idea that Claire "showed him what love is" as another commenter said is a really surface level view that doesn't really look at the impact her character has on not only the restaurant but his interpersonal relationships with the people at The Bear. I would also talk about the panic attack scene and what that is reflective of, but that's mostly just my opinion and speculation on Claire's ties to his family versus Syd's near lack of one.
I was both a civilian and military chef. I don't why but cooking in a tent in an active war zone, was less toxic than cooking in a restaurant.
Jesus, what is going on in restaurants?
@@birdiewolf3497 Chefs being assholes, doing/dealing drugs, harassing the waitresses etc.
@@LamVanDam I just don't understand why it has to be like that when all y'all are doing is making food. Why does someone have to do meth to work at a restaurant? Why does everything has to be so intense?
@@birdiewolf3497 Its the drug- it makes you think you can only do the work under the influence. Its the hours - you can keep going. Its the life style - i speak from experience of my own son - he has worked in a 3 star mind boggling dining experience - I got to go with staff discount!!! These people start early work late, work hard and party hard.
I had never really considered ‘the weight of environment’, until I recalled (this show is great at allowing you to do that, & draw some parallels with one’s own situation)…working in a corner of an office, while the entire staff sat in a group, playing cards! It gets worse - as well as being designated to answer the non-stop telephone, I was somehow responsible for providing tea/coffee for my hard-working colleagues…life can be difficult on all fours!
It couldn’t last, & didn’t…& if I’d stayed around, I might have been questioned along with the rest, concerning fraud by certain of my ‘superiors’: toxic?
I had played hooky for one single day (a tempting job offer- & believe me, I was open to temptation) & was deemed a ‘misfit’ by the manager…what else was new?
Schadenfreude rules !
I loved this video - thank you so much for sharing: I look forward to more! ❤️
You made me cry???😭😭😭 Really insightful and it was refreshing to hear some of my personal thoughts articulated in your voice.
Oh, wow! That's such a kind comment, thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!
this was fantastic!! i love your visualization of "contamination," and i love your prediction for season 3, with that pyramid potentially inverting itself! it hadn't clicked for me until this essay that the cramped environments are such a huge part of the show. i love how we only ever get glimpses of michael, but his presence is always felt in his absence. carmy can rebuild the beef and start over, and effectively try to grieve by honouring his brother, but he's ultimately still frozen in time (and environment! like you said! and those concepts come together in when he's trapped in the walk-in fridge), unable to accept change and positivity. i think that's why the flashback epsiode is so important, because it shows how comfortable chaos is for carmy, and his self-sabotaging behaviour really hit close to home. you make a great point by saying that while carmy has given tina, marcus and richie new opportunities and new environments to thrive in, he can't find that from within for himself. i was also apprehensive with the claire storyline, but came to realize as you said, that she's important, even if she's just a plot device! she's this embodiment of good that carmy simply can't accept because he's always expecting the other shoe will drop. all in all, i second your predictions for season 3, and if they come true, with carmy finally accepting support from his found family, i think that would make for a great conclusion to such a strong show. :)
Thank you so much for your comment! And for the insightful perspective, too! Totally agree on the flashback thoughts you had!
interesting that you predicted the bear might not need carmy anymore. what a direct parallel to donna continuously saying, “nobody needs me.” omggggg
Great point! I didn't think about that at all.
Excellent video essay! Totally agree with everything you said. I initially didn't like the addition of Claire but like you said, I realised her purpose. She was there to help Carmy grow and learn to love. When he got stuck in the walk-in, he decided not to take this step and instead decided it was all a distraction. Hoping that's explore in Season 3.
Also, I love what they did with Ritchie coz I absolutely hated him in the first season. And now, yes, he is everyone's favourite. Keep singing on, Ritchie!
Thanks so much for your comment and kind words! I hope they focus on that more in season 3, too. Totally loved Richie!
I loved this show so much but could not explain what about it hit me so hard. And you just explained so well! Put into words that thing so great about this piece of art!
Thanks so much! Your comment really means a lot!
I love The Bear. I appreciate that you made an actual analysis that didn't consist of 5 minutes of plot explanations like so many videos I've come across lately. Assume the viewer has seen it and move into things. Great take and good vid. Subscribed!
Thank you so much for the kind words. Really happy you feel that way and thank you for subscribing!
Just rewatched the series and I've been interested to hear what everyone thinks Season 3 will be about. I love that you pointed out how his influence and belief in other people started a chain of positive belief among his team, and yet leaves him at the top with nobody to believe in him or push him.
I think S3 will contine showing his team thriving even moreso without him, and eventually Carmy exiting his career as a chef. He started his journey as a chef out of a place of bonding with his brother and it grows into a monster burden because of him continuing to crave validation from Michael. For Carmy to reach a healthier place, I feel he would need to either rewire his relationship to his profession, or find a more specific and personal way to contribute to the world - something that is chosen without the influence of unhealthy external desires such as proving himself to somebody else.
The break down in the finale, hits hard. The typical entrepreneur dilema. You have no personal life. If you take a steo away, everything gies to shit
I think Carmen needs both Sydney and Claire. Richard knows what Carmen needs more then he does.
Sydney pushes him to realize how guarded he is and that he needs to call Claire what she is, his girlfriend, which he initially cannot admit.
I love all the effort you put into this bro, really well done xx
Thanks so much, man!
Excellent assessment & love your insight on environment impact on emotional health
Thanks for this, I've watched a lot of critiques of The Bear and this one I feel is spot on. Totally agree with all of your thoughts !
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!
Really good! Thank you 🙏🏻
So inciteful! Always look forward to when these come out.
Thanks so much!
Thank you for your essay. Explendid. Can't wait for S03. And can't wait for more videos of yours
Thank you so much!
Very beautiful & informative essay - I had the feeling that you wish everyone well: thank you so much for sharing:
From Brighton UK, take care & be well!
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Thank YOU for watching! And hey - I'm based in Brighton, too!!
beautiful piece
Thank you!
I love these essays. Always gives me something new to think about!
Thank you so much!
Really great video essay on the show
Thanks so much!
Fantastic essay. Well done
Beautiful
So well thought out, so well made, gz bro 👏
Thank you!
Dude fantastic perspective.
Appreciate it!
beautiful summary sir
Great analysis, man. Keep it up!
Thank you! Appreciate the kind words!
Loved this! The triangle theory was really interesting! Who do you think will be on top for next season?
Thank you! Next season - I'm banking on Richie. I think he'll step up and really take charge. We saw hints of this in season two, hoping the show goes more in that direction. :)
Great video!! More!
More to come!
Absolutely adored this!! As a fan of the series I was so glad this came out. Will you do more reviews?
Thank you! Most definitely!
wicked effort on this video :)
Thank you so much!
Beautiful essay ! I really enjoyed this
Thank you!
Love it!!
Thank you!!
Great video, chef!
Thank you, chef!
This analysis was really good
Thanks so much!
Great video, man
Thanks so much!
I hope next season will also feature the return of carmy's past and former head chef
Likewise!
I agree it was a necessary part but I promise you every time I saw Claire on screen I went like "excuse me what the actual f-k are you doing in my house" out loud. I didn't like her but I'd argue it's intentional from the writers.
That's fair, haha! I'm curious whether they'd bring her back in season 3.
Claire was barely growth. She was a new experience but she represented the past. A fantasy. Something he thought he needed but ultimately he needed to let go of, as evidence by the way he described his connection to her to other people. Think about how he talked about the menu to Sydney, saying that Claire made him realize he was holding onto things that were no longer serving him. It was foreshadowing. She was familiar. Safe. But she didn’t fit with who Carmy is in the present of season 2. They speak the same language when it comes to the past but not the present or the future.
I want to watch this show but where, how? Is it on Netflix, Prime..?
It's on Hulu in the Stated and Disney+ in the UK! Not sure about other countries.
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I've been racking my brain about where season 3 will go and I have no idea, but I loved this video. Good job.
Thank you so much!