The Bear Recap: Best New Chef

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Donna appears refreshed. The latest episode resumes right where the last one ended, with Carmy knocking on his mother’s door. Upon opening it, Donna’s hair seems bouncier, her nails are well-manicured, and although a hint of a smoker’s face remains, there’s a vibrancy and lucidity to her overall demeanor that wasn’t noticeable in previous seasons.

It could be that Carmy gives Donna the chance to prove herself when she invites him inside. Initially hesitant — as he often is — Carmy eventually steps into the well-kept suburban house, feeling uneasy in the haunting dining room reminiscent of “Fishes”. His eyes momentarily linger on Mikey’s chair before settling down with his mother in the kitchen. They sift through a collection of family photographs, including Laura Linney who starred alongside Oliver Platt in “Big C”, and then Donna becomes emotional over a picture of Mikey. There’s a palpable sadness within her, and Carmy understands enough to allow her to retrieve a crumpled note from a desk drawer. On the paper, she expresses remorse for her past mistakes, acknowledging that she has hurt her children and family, and that she feels unworthy of their success. She’s been sober for nearly a year, which is progress, although not enough in her eyes.

The emotional impact of Donna’s speech isn’t only due to Jamie Lee Curtis’ powerful portrayal as DeeDee, given her outstanding performance from the start; but also because it resonates deeply with parents. They understand the agonizing guilt that follows even the smallest mistakes. There’s constant self-negotiation. Every minor issue can seem like a step towards a child’s potential therapy sessions, and it’s hard to fathom the guilt one might feel if they were to accidentally drive through their own living room and, worse still, if they lost their child as a result. Despite Donna not being responsible for Mikey’s fate, she can’t help but believe she bears some responsibility each moment of every day.

From my perspective as a sympathetic observer, I believe we’re all striving, as parents, to surpass the accomplishments of our own upbringing. The elusive key seems to be finding a way to cherish the positive aspects of our experiences instead of dwelling on the negative ones. It appears that Donna may have accumulated more missteps than triumphs in her journey, yet – as Carm is reminded – we can’t claim to truly understand the complexities of her life. We’re unaware of the burdens she carried into motherhood and marriage, but this knowledge doesn’t excuse her past mistakes. All that remains for her now is to acknowledge them, offer an apology, and strive together towards a more promising future.

Reconciliation between Carmy and his mother doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing for the Berzatto family in the future, but it’s heartening to see them acknowledge their imperfections and strive towards accountability. After their heartfelt talk, Carmy whips up a French Laundry chicken dish, a laborious task suggesting he spent the entire day in the kitchen. He then explores his old bedroom, stumbling upon Claire’s vintage green sweatshirt – a size that seems to fit him surprisingly well. While it might seem coincidental, I suspect Carmy intentionally kept the sweatshirt from Richie’s birthday party, a sweet gesture, albeit a bit eccentric.

At the Bear, Cicero pauses from walking around and engages Syd in conversation about her mother and their growing relationship over the past year. It’s possible that Cicero is facing financial troubles due to the Bear, as revealed by Donna, but I feel that running the restaurant has made him a more compassionate individual. Earlier, he seemed somewhat unscrupulous, showing fleeting moments of kindness, but now I genuinely believe he will make the right decisions for the Bears.

It turns out that the Computer character has become aware of the burger-window business strategy due to a face-to-face encounter with Rob Reiner’s character, Albert Schnurr. The experienced mentor allows Computer to grasp the concept independently, and it appears that he becomes quite convinced that this idea could be their ticket to salvation. Cicero behaves like a sulky toddler, blowing his horn from the car while feigning indifference, but it’s clear that this news, along with Sugar’s announcement that Marcus is one of Food & Wine’s top emerging chefs, could extend the life of the Bear by a few more months.

Isn’t it great that the recognition from Food & Wine went to Marcus? He’s had quite a difficult year, yet his work appears incredibly visionary. There’s been a lot of buzz about Syd’s scallop dish this season, but everything Marcus has produced feels exceptionally creative. It’s impressive, considering he started at McDonald’s.

If Syd seems somewhat melancholic regarding Marcus’s reputation, she skillfully conceals her feelings, particularly after receiving a call from Pete. In this call, it’s disclosed that Carmy has completely withdrawn from the Bear’s ownership agreement. I had anticipated this development, even though I wasn’t sure if he was merely stepping aside or redistributing his share among the staff, but his decision seems justified. The Bear wouldn’t be where it is today without Carmy’s foresight and guidance, yet it’s clear that his passion for it has waned. He may become more associated with the restaurant’s past than its future, which raises questions about not only the Bear, but also the show named The Bear.

Small Bites

What’s happening with Chester in this episode that has everyone so confused? Previously, his comment about Luca being attractive made me question if he had feelings for him, but now it seems like he’s more concerned about Marcus leaving. It’s possible he’s afraid that his friend is entering a new stage of life and might leave him behind. However, acting shady by sending Hooters invitations and telling lies about Michael Jordan doesn’t make things better, buddy. It all feels quite awkward.

In Carmy’s room, there are vintage concert posters featuring a Chicago punk band named the Catburglars and Dillinger Four. I wouldn’t have expected these bands to be Carmy’s preferences, but it’s neat that he appreciates them just the same. Catch you in the Riot Fest mosh pit, Carm!

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2025-06-26 21:54