We are back in time, in Sydney’s perspective in this episode. There is a very close look at how she is undertaking the responsibility of keeping the family together and at bay and the stress of churning up business for a new restaurant. We also get to see her relationship with her dad, it is so endearing and caring but she is growing out of it. She is looking to be out on her own and prove her independence. This opportunity is given to her as Sydney gets put up for owner of the restaurant, the pay raise she was waiting for…or is it?
The performance of Ayo Edebiri in this episode creates this beautiful doubt but dependence that she has on Carmy and the family. She understands the restaurant industry but the family is a monster she still doesn’t understand, and maybe even trusts. This doubt is seeded in season two as she is not given the promise of being an owner yet, but still tours other restaurants to see where they need to be, only to learn the lesson from other chefs. Pick your partners well. This entire episode, there was an amazing performance of Sydney inundated with the job of the emotional fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
This is put forward by something that has taken over the ear of everyone in the restaurant. A list of important non-negotiables for the restaurant. Carmy attempts to create and raise the standards for the business, only to be confronted by every other family member and chef. They are all incredibly hard to reach, especially at a moment of business volatility. Even more volatile is Carmy’s attempt to quit cigarettes, which is wrecking his composure. However, his biggest challenge could be with brother cousin Richard, as he had said some awful things to him while being trapped in the freezer in the season two finale. Richard is not having Carmy’s “sorry”, and has hard feelings, making the kitchen walk on even thinner ice around these two. The stakes rise the most in the episode when Claire and “Crazy” are brought up. As Carmy can’t bear to talk about his mental state or the love life wrapped within it at the moment but very much needs to.
Here we learn that Carmy has left Claire with the all too well-known excuse: things will never work out because I am me. Both Carmy’s heart and the back of the house are in shambles in this episode, but Carmy sticks to his scribbled list to fix the restaurant leaving his feelings on the backburner. We see this affecting him throughout the entire episode as he sees flashbacks of Claire and him during their time together. Its all he thinks about during the mundanity of the day.
Despite the look of a hot head the entire episode, we see Carmy have a heart-to-heart with Marcus. One that everyone in the office wanted to have with him, as his mom had just passed and it is his first day back to work. He forwarns everyone that he is ok, and just wants a place to work and not think about it. Carmy goes up to him despite this and tells him that he is there for him and encourages him not to bottle up his emotions, as he did and is doing. Marcus thanks him, but even more importantly, he raises the stakes. Marcus opens up about how his mother would have wanted him here in the restaurant, his place of purpose. He tells Carmy, “Take us there, Bear”. This restaurant must go on.
The directing in this episode is something that is incredibly unique. Similar to episode one as it is almost all shot in the restaurant kitchen. People move in and out of the scene, as this is simply just a perspective right before doors open. This feels incredibly realistic, capturing the staff under pressure, giving viewers a realistic perspective. It feels like a stream of consciousness on screen for an audience to witness and does so much to explain the emotions of each character. Not only this, but there is once again a noticeable choice to stick to close and quick shots, sterile light, and angular to parallel shots to induce the feeling of volatility of emotion we witness in this episode.
Rating: 10/10