Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Bear Season 4.It is currently unclear ifThe Bearwill return for a fifth season, but if this is to be the end, then it went out on an absolute high with the tenth and final episode of the season, “Goodbye.” Rather than a slight replay of Season 2’s finale, “The Bear,” we don’t see the final service of the restaurant before the parachute timer runs out. Instead, we pick up with Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) in the aftermath, where Syd is still stewing on the change in the partnership agreement Carmy made. With other core characters such as Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) entering, we are given some of thebest dialogue-based scenes that explore characters' inner conflict as well as the dynamics of broken relationships.
Carmy Reveals He’s Going to Leave the Restaurant in Sydney’s Hands in ‘The Bear’ Season 4 FInale
The first thing the finale ofThe Bearwisely does is quickly throw us into a point of conflict by revealing that, when Carmy phoned up Pete (Chris Wataske) to change the partnership agreement, he removed himself from the ownership side of the restaurant. At first, Sydney’s anger at Carmy stems from the fact that she didn’t hear it from him first, but when Carmy reveals his reasons, her outrage grows. Carmy reveals he has fallen out of love with cooking. Arguably, the moment this is confirmed for him is in Episode 9, “Tonnato,” when he makes his mom, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis), the same chicken dish he made at French Laundry, where he was told his profession was about providing “nurture” to customers and those around them.Carmy stopped thinking of cooking as a way to prove himself, and therefore had “nothing to draw on.”
As Syd points out, Carmy’s mind is skittish, changing constantly, yet it is his conviction in his decision to place Sydney in charge of the restaurant as its lead chef that gives the scene a somber tone. Carmy doesn’t downplay his abilities, claiming he would “smoke” Chef Adam (Adam Shapiro), but he believes she has surpassed him, not only in her cooking, as shown by her previously cooking Tina’s (Liza Colón-Zayas) dish in under three minutes after Carmy said he couldn’t do it, but in the soft skills she brings. Carmy tells Sydney she is “everything I’m never going to be,” referring to the way she can communicate and handle people without the dysfunction he brings. It’srefreshing to see Carmy finally acknowledge just how good Sydney is, after not verbally giving her enough praise.
However, this loving support seems to stir something in Sydney that could also be linked to her father. Sydney tells Carmy that, as her business partner, he is “supposed to be there,” which she also expressed during her amazing monologue when thinking about the fear of losing her dad in Episode 6, “Sophie.” Considering how difficult it was for Syd to turn down Chef Adam and stay out of loyalty, it likely feels like a betrayal, though Carmy’s reasons aren’t invalid in the scene either. It is simplytwo people who want different things.
‘The Bear’ Season 4 Debuts With Series-Low Rotten Tomatoes Score
Where did Season 4 go wrong?
Carmy and Richie Nearly Come to Blows in ‘The Bear’ Season 4 Finale
While Carmy and Sydney’s argument is loud and overwhelming, when Richie enters the scene, the tension skyrockets after he hears Carmy is leaving. At first, Richie doesn’t believe it, but when he realizes this is the truth, he is almost not surprised. He almost walks back inside untilCarmy admits that he went to Michael’s (Jon Bernthal) funeral. This is one of the few times these two have talked about Michael, and following their bust-up at the end ofSeason 2, Richie seems ready to destroy whatever relationship is left as he puts his head against Carmy’s, with only Sydney standing in between.
However, once they separate, the unloading of both characters strikes at the core issues in their relationship and the past. Carmy finally apologizes for not being there, and how he didn’t realize what Richie lost. Yet, Carmy struggles to understand that by saying “that’s why I have to go,” it is a similar thing Richie would have felt when Michael died and only perpetuates the idea that Carmy is abandoning them rather than processing his issues. Thatisn’t to say the conversation is entirely one-sided in misunderstanding one another.
When Richie admits that he bought a cookbook and realized how skilled Carmy was, his envy at the “experiences” he imagines Carmy having is not how Carmy sees them. It appears that, to Carmy, he felt like he lost something more precious, which was the time with Michael that Richie got to have. In the end, Richie accepts Carmy leaving, especially with Carmy’s line that he doesn’t know who he is “outside of the kitchen,” which likely reminded Richie of his desire to inspire people.
A New Partnership Agreement Is Formed in ‘The Bear’ Season 4 Finale
One of the sweetest moments of the season comes when Sydney tells Carmy that she will only accept him leaving if Richie is added to the partnership agreement. At first, Richie denies, saying he doesn’t need a reason or contract to stay at The Bear. However, when Sydney promises that it is not a “gesture,” he is genuinely overjoyed by the idea. While Carmy leaving the restaurant once it is out of debt is a sad idea,seeing Richie go from a chaotic idiot to a put-together co-owner of the restaurant is a lovely arc, considering how he regularly diminishes his own importance and has felt like a failure in the past.
The unique reaction to Carmy’s bombshell is his sister’s, Sugar (Abby Elliott). While Sydney and Richie are outraged or upset, Sugar merely hugs Carmy and smiles. It is clear that she is proud of Carmy for moving beyond his need to show what a great chef he is, yet there is also a tinge of sadness present that reflects the damage that has been done in order for Carmy to get to this point. As always, she is the reasonable voice of the restaurant, making her an essential asset in the trio of her, Sydney, and Richie. After all of this shouting and conflict, we end on a peaceful Chicago skyline and The Bear kitchen, contrasting the first season’s rapid cuts and dirty Beef kitchen. However, when the clock hits zero and the alarm starts, there is a sense of urgency about a new timer, a far more drastic one at that, starting:the timer until the restaurant will be forced to close its doors.
As previously mentioned, itmay be that we are left wondering if Carmy resolves his inner conflictand if the restaurant survives. However, this finale clearly wanted the focus to be on fixing the dynamics between the core trio of characters, and it feels like this was accomplished. There is obviously still work to do, but the heartfelt apologies and monologues in this episode put these characters in far better positions to succeed.The Bearwill be remembered for many things, from its changing tone to the trauma it gives former service workers. But,if final impressions are anything to go by, it will certainly be remembered fondly, no matter what.
All episodes ofThe Bearare available to stream on Hulu in the U.S.
Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a young chef from the fine dining world, returns to Chicago to run his family’s sandwich shop after a tragedy. As he navigates the chaotic environment of the small kitchen, Carmy must manage the struggles of turning around the failing business while dealing with his own grief and personal demons. The series dives deep into the intense world of culinary arts, highlighting the challenges of running a restaurant, the bonds formed among staff, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
