In the FX series The Bear, the previous episode, “Forks,” focused on Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Viewers got to see him in a different element as he took on the job of serving customers and the chefs in one of the best restaurants in the city, which Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) had worked at before The Bear. He was confident in working with the people around him, for a short period of time. He got to learn so much from the chefs and the manager. The episode was just focused on his training. He was able to show attention to detail within the customers’ preferences and also understood how much effort and agility it takes to make customers happy and even more proud of their service.
Now, in this episode, “Bolognese,” starts with Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). She’s in an empty building. Could it possibly be a new location for The Bear? After the very short scene, it then goes to Carmy. Claire (Molly Gordon) comes into the kitchen and asks if he’s okay. She had stayed the night with him. She consoles him as it is clear, he’s stressed out because it’s getting closer to opening time. The fire suppression guy is supposed to come out today to give them the okay on that part of the development. This is one of the most serious parts of opening the restaurant.
At The Bear, Ebra (Edwin Lee Gibson) finally comes back from his time gone. He’s walking and Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) notices him as she’s cleaning the drive-through window. He apologizes to her and Tina respectfully accepts it. Ebra tells her that he had a hard time accepting the new changes. They talk and Tina lets him know that they’re short-staffed. Ebra gives in, deciding to come back.
The crew has two more weeks until The Bear opens. Sydney is looking at the plan that has been marked down all through the time of redeveloping The Bear. Carmy is with her, looking at the plan as well. The restaurant is getting new hires and some deliveries are coming in. If they fail the inspection, they’re screwed. They both agree that they have to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Sydney walks away and Richie makes his return, wearing an all-black suit. He looks like a better-changed man, even though he wasn’t gone for long. Richie apologizes to Carmy, stating that he “gets it,” meaning that he understands why Carmy set him up for that training and why Carmy has been working very hard to make sure that customer service is at its best.
Going to the kitchen, Sugar (Abby Elliot) is standing there, looking at something. Fak (Matty Matheson) and Sweeps (Corey Hendrix) bust in talking about the gas. Fak tells him that the gas won’t shut off. Sydney goes to open the walk-in refrigerator, but the handle breaks as she pulls on it. Fak tells her that Carmy was meant to fix it, but he didn’t. Marcus (L-Boy) is also back in the kitchen as well, not telling Sydney that he was there because he wanted to surprise her. He was working on a dessert, having her try it and she liked it.
Carmy tells the two of them how he told Claire about his mom, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) drove the car into the house one Christmas Day, which was shown in the sixth episode “Fishes.”His point is that he wants to bring cannolis into the menu, but make it his own. Marcus says that he’ll work on it and try to bring something good together with his idea.
The three new hires come in, so Carmy and Sydney tell Tina to drill them into the produce and get things together. They walk away as she goes to meet them. She looks at them, intimidatingly. They all look very nervous and she has them come inside.
Sugar is in the newly changed office, making its first debut. She’s on the phone as Richie comes in. She smiles at the fact that he’s wearing a suit. Richie tells her that he wears suits now. He sits down and they talk. He apologizes to her and she has Sweeps come in and sit in on the conversation as a witness. He apologizes for making things worse in the past and for treating her horribly.
He tells her that they would make a good team together, each of them having different skills. “I’m wearing a suit because it makes me feel better about myself.” That’s what Richie tells her. During his time in training, he wore suits and it certainly made his self-confidence higher. They make a deal that they’ll work together, but only take things on one at a time.
In the next scene, Tina is training the new hires, watching them as they cook. Carmy and Sydney look at the drawings he made for the menu ideas. He drew out food ideas and the plate set up. Sydney acts weird around him as he brings up his and Claire’s conversation, regarding the menu items. He notices and asks her what’s wrong. She tells him, “I didn’t know we were running our menu by Claire.” She speaks her mind and they get frustrated with each other. He starts to raise his voice and she tells him to calm down. The two of them apologize to each other. She tells him that he needs to decide whether Claire is his girlfriend or not.
On the other side of the restaurant, Richie and Sugar get done with an interview for a front-of-house staff member. While Richie doesn’t think she’s a good fit, Sugar thinks she is. He switched up the napkin position and took into account that the interviewee didn’t notice it. Sugar is taken back by this action. Carmy goes to the walk-in fridge, noticing Fak’s back is facing towards him. The two of them are hiding in there. Carmy asks Fak if Claire is his girlfriend and Fak says that she is.
Tina gets the delivery of the new pot and pans. Going back to Carmy and Fak, Carmy tells him that he loves Claire. Sydney and Richie talk and she tells him that he looks and smells nice. They both talk, saying that they’re both an only child. He tells her to let him know if he needs anything. It’s clear from everyone that Richie has become a brand-new person.
Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) calls Sugar and tells her to meet him at the car. She goes inside and they talk. He lets her know that the interest rates are getting pretty high. He tells her that they need more money added and warns her that they have to be open in ten days. Sugar asks him for some parental advice.
Ebra puts a picture of himself, Tina, and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) on a light, taping it. Fak makes a comment about it, yelling “Jewish lightning.” Sugar tells him he can’t say that and Richie has a word with him as he’s talking to new hires. Fak tells Richie that Mikey tried to burn the place down to get insurance money, which was already known to him. Fak tells him everything and Richie tells him it’s a good plan.
It is now ten days until The Bear opens. Sugar, Sydney, and Carmy are looking over the plan. Today is the big day for the inspection. The Fire Suppression guy checks everything and the crew stares at him as he tests everything. As he counts down on the trial, every person on the crew has flashbacks of their personal lives and their time working with each other. He tells them that they passed the test and they all cheer.
With the good news they positively work on the food, organization, and prepping some more for the opening. The episode was positively good. Carmy finally calls Claire his girlfriend. Sydney is still using Coach K’s skills and advice for her own personal use. It’ll be interesting to see how things go for the special day of opening The Bear.
Rating: 9/10