S03.E01: Tomorrow

[chitowngirl]

Synopsis: The next day and the days that led to it.
Drops on Hulu June 27, 2024.

Edited June 26 by chitowngirl

[EtheltoTillie]

Thanks for loading these up. I finished the series only recently since I started late so I’m pleasantly surprised how soon the new season is starting. 

[SoMuchTV]

Huh. So. Random flashbacks, in lieu of a “previously on”?  The episode currently has 9.9/10 on IMDb, so I must not be fully appreciating it. 

That said, I have faith, and halfway through episode 2,

Spoiler

they seem to be back with The Bear we know and love.

 

[driver18]

I thought this was as close to perfect as an episode of television could be. The acting, the music, the editing, the emotional build-up. Just perfection.

Edited June 27 by driver18

[marybennet]

8 minutes ago, driver18 said:

I thought this was as close to perfect as an episode of television could be. The acting, the music, the editing, the emotional vuild-up. Just perfection.

Agree. And I loved the way it used (assumed) our knowledge as viewers of two seasons of the show. It had all the more power because all that work was behind it.  Beautiful. 

[mellyf]

19 minutes ago, driver18 said:

I thought this was as close to perfect as an episode of television could be. The acting, the music, the editing, the emotional vuild-up. Just perfection.

My husband and I had completely different reactions to it. I loved it. He was not a fan.

[Irlandesa]

I probably didn't place every little moment because I tend to forget story beats but overall, I really enjoyed the episode.

And having Carmy lie about the fennel allergy so he could do the dish he wanted and having that be the dish that basically changed Sydney's life... 

[txhorns79]

1 hour ago, mellyf said:

My husband and I had completely different reactions to it. I loved it. He was not a fan.

The recap-y nature of the episode made it feel much longer to me.  I appreciate what they were doing, but it would not be an episode I need to revisit.   

[tennisgurl]

It took me a bit to understand what was exactly going on here, but it all really came together by the end. The editing, acting, the way we saw everything in little slips and pieces like a memory, it was gorgeous. 

Then everything came together and Carmy went through all of that and made his dream dish that inspired Sydney and would eventually bring them together, it all felt like we came full circle. 

I really want blood orange now. 

[MicheleinPhilly]

I found it REALLY intense and it just hammered home the fact that THIS SHOW IS NOT A COMEDY!

But I loved seeing the "how we got to this moment." It was much more effective than any "Previously on The Bear..." could have been. 

[driver18]

33 minutes ago, MicheleinPhilly said:

I found it REALLY intense and it just hammered home the fact that THIS SHOW IS NOT A COMEDY!

But I loved seeing the "how we got to this moment." It was much more effective than any "Previously on The Bear..." could have been. 

But then ep 2

Spoiler

was fucking hilarious. I was dying with laughter

.

Edited June 27 by driver18

[MicheleinPhilly]

I haven't watched episode 2 so yeah, not clicking on that.

If when I watch it, it changes my opinion, I'll admit it but 2 seasons +1 episode have done nothing to convince me that this show belongs in the comedy category. But that's a debate for other threads. 😊

[maddie965]

That was so beautiful, I was in tears most of the time. Everything is just so powerful and profound in this series, it blows my mind. If the rest of the season is gonna be like that, I don't know how I'll survive.

*runs to watch it again*

[HollyG]

The flashbacks along with the music reminded me of a Terrence Malick film. 

[Jordan61]

Is Olivia Colman's restaurant in New York? I thought it was in Chicago, since Richie was obviously in his own apartment when he was working there in the Forks episode.

Edited June 27 by Jordan61
Hit enter too soon

[AheadofStraight]

I think I'm going to have to rewatch. Or maybe just forget it and keep going. This did not hold my attention at all and I kept reaching for my phone. 

[Irlandesa]

3 hours ago, Jordan61 said:

Is Olivia Colman's restaurant in New York?

It's in Chicago.  They showed Carmy working at various places in the montage including NY, Amsterdam and Colman's restaurant in Chicago. 

[chaifan]

On one hand, this was a beautiful episode.  As someone said upthread, perfect.  On the other hand, when we only get 8 episodes (10?) per season, I felt like it was a half hour that could have been better utilized. 

Note to Hulu - this episode would have been better served in one continuous commercial free format.  They should have gotten one sponsor with a giant commercial at the beginning and run it ad free.  In other words, subtract.

I loved how they tied in Syd by the end of the episode.

The asshole head chef that kept riding Carm - was that New York or Amsterdam?

[Irlandesa]

14 minutes ago, chaifan said:

The asshole head chef that kept riding Carm - was that New York or Amsterdam?

I think Joel McHale's chef lived in NY.  Carmy was working at Noma in Amsterdam. 

[Jordan61]

1 hour ago, Irlandesa said:

It's in Chicago.  They showed Carmy working at various places in the montage including NY, Amsterdam and Colman's restaurant in Chicago. 

Thank you. They kept hopping around, and I was confused.

[aghst]

On 6/26/2024 at 7:18 PM, driver18 said:

I thought this was as close to perfect as an episode of television could be. The acting, the music, the editing, the emotional build-up. Just perfection.

 

On 6/26/2024 at 7:29 PM, marybennet said:

Agree. And I loved the way it used (assumed) our knowledge as viewers of two seasons of the show. It had all the more power because all that work was behind it.  Beautiful. 

 

On 6/26/2024 at 8:57 PM, txhorns79 said:

The recap-y nature of the episode made it feel much longer to me.  I appreciate what they were doing, but it would not be an episode I need to revisit.   

I don't think this episode covered any ground which hasn't been covered previously, except at the end when Sid was served Carmy's dish that he agonized over with Joe McHale bullying him.

Yes he went through the ringer in a profession that demands devotion, passion, fanaticism.

I think the episode was suppose to make people appreciate and believe in fine dining, like the Forks episode was suppose to impress viewers about the monomaniacal pursuit of excellence in the restaurant depicted.

Instead it made me think of The Satyricon, where the sybaritic excesses of late empire was partly depicted through culinary theatrics.  The montage of the chefs painstakingly prepping food, picking through produce with tweezers, slowly spooning out exact dollops of sauce, all to produce food not just pleasing to the palate but be photo-worthy on the plate seems like the modern version of late Rome food service as theater.

Because first Sydney takes in Carmy's dish with her eyes and reaches for her phone to take a picture of it.  It seems like the people who most appreciate this kind of excellence is fellow chefs or aspiring chefs, in other words, fellow members of the cult.

If that plate was put in front of me, I'd photograph it too -- food porn was a thing long before modern smart phones.  But then I'd have to try to figure out how to eat it.  Because one culinary trend seems to be the pile on multiple elements, to create a fusion of "flavor profiles" so when you see a piece of edible sculpture, which order are you suppose to eat the components on the dish?  Which items are suppose to pair with each other?  If you see a swirl of sauce painted on the dish, are you suppose to dip the other pieces into the swirl or you're just suppose to appreciate the swirl with the eyes?

Carmy had to be passionate enough not only to do the physically arduous work, pursuing jobs around the world, but put up with the highly-demanding requirements of the employers, including the toxic environment hinted at by the Joel McHale character.

 

[Rickster]

15 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I think Joel McHale's chef lived in NY.  Carmy was working at Noma in Amsterdam. 

The real Noma is in Copenhagen, although the scenes of Carmy on the canals looked like Amsterdam. Pretty sure the yelling chef was in NY.

[Blakeston]

This was lovely and poetic. Some of it was just food porn, but it had lots of great moments and revelations.

To be honest, though, I could have done without the scenes of Carmy and Claire looking at each other all googly-eyed.

And especially the scene of Claire giving the kid the shot - we get it, she's the greatest catch of all time. Except that the scenes of them together were easily the weakest of season two, and I don't need to see the plotline dragged out any longer.

[peeayebee]

I really liked this. It took me a while to catch on what was going on, but it was lovely. A great intro to the new season.

[possibilities]

Meditative and emotional at the same time = winning combination.

Maybe we are meant to see how much more restaurants mean to Carmy than his relationship with "the greatest catch of all time". I didn't think she was a good match for him. She had zero appreciation of his career and didn't seem to understand boundaries at all. She could be a great doctor and a lousy match for Carmy.

I loved the face he made when tasting the fennel-- subtle enough to fit the overall tone, but clearly that was Chekhov's fennel aversion.... 

 

[maddie965]

I posted this on another thread, but I think it should be here too.

I'm not a big fan of Claire myself. But, the way I see it, she is fundamental to Carmy's story. She's there to remind him that he's allowed to have fun, he's allowed to have enjoyment, he's allowed to love and be loved, he's allowed to have a personal life and not just live for his work. She represents all the things Carmy misses in his life.

On the final episodes of the second season, Carmy felt alive, he could relax and smile, because he had an intimate connection in his life. He was feeling complete after a long time of feeling lonely - his only love was his work.

When he got stuck in the freezer, everything changed. He felt so guilty about neglecting his work (something he didn’t do) that he decided to give up contentment and enjoyment and just concentrate on the work again. By giving up Claire, and everything she represented in his life, he became empty again.

And that's why he's so insane and obsessed right now, in my opinion. The restaurant is all he has. 

Again, I understand not everyone likes Claire. But the point of the character, for me, is to remind Carmy he has a right to live. Could be any other woman she fell in love with. But right now it's her, and that's why I want them back together. Call her, chef!

Edited June 29 by maddie965

[anniebird]

1 hour ago, maddie965 said:

I posted this on another thread, but I think it should be here too.

I'm not a big fan of Claire myself. But, the way I see it, she is fundamental to Carmy's story. She's there to remind him that he's allowed to have fun, he's allowed to have enjoyment, he's allowed to love and be loved, he's allowed to have a personal life and not just live for his work. She represents all the things Carmy misses in his life.

On the final episodes of the second season, Carmy felt alive, he could relax and smile, because he had an intimate connection in his life. He was feeling complete after a long time of feeling lonely - his only love was his work.

When he got stuck in the freezer, everything changed. He felt so guilty about neglecting his work (something he didn’t do) that he decided to give up contentment and enjoyment and just concentrate on the work again. By giving up Claire, and everything she represented in his life, he became empty again.

And that's why he's so insane and obsessed right now, in my opinion. The restaurant is all he has. 

Again, I understand not everyone likes Claire. But the point of the character, for me, is to remind Carmy he has a right to live. Could be any other woman she fell in love with. But right now it's her, and that's why I want them back together. Call her, chef!

I liked Claire for all the reasons you said but also because she was a part of his messy past - she knew his whole family and understood all the dynamics involved. He didn't believe that he deserved happiness but he could be himself with her more than with someone he had just met.

Edited June 29 by anniebird

[chitowngirl]

One nitpick-one of the chefs Carmy was learning from, not Joel McHale, was wearing a watch…BIG no no! Might have been the Copenhagen kitchen, so not America, but still.

[peeayebee]

Why is that? In case it falls into the food? No jewelry at all allowed?

[Hanahope]

They also showed him at French Laundry which is in California 

[Black Knight]

9 hours ago, maddie965 said:

Again, I understand not everyone likes Claire. But the point of the character, for me, is to remind Carmy he has a right to live.

It's not so much that I don't like Claire, it's that I'd like her to be an actual character instead of simply a point the show is making. She's been written to have no dimensionality outside of apparently being awesome, and the reason I have to put "apparently" in is because the show just told us instead of showing us (though I suppose the little vignette of her giving a kid a shot is an attempt to correct this). Because again, they aren't interested in writing her as a character, they're just writing her as a point they're making about Carmy.

It's the same basic problem as when writers fridge a character or write a Manic Pixie Dream Girl. I'm not really sure why they don't want to actually write for Claire, though. They can still make their point, and actually make it more effectively, if they write for her. Even most of the tertiary characters get more dimensionality. It's an odd failing on the writers' parts.

[chitowngirl]

4 hours ago, peeayebee said:

Why is that? In case it falls into the food? No jewelry at all allowed?

Food particles and germs.

[MaryHedwig]

1 hour ago, chitowngirl said:

6 hours ago, peeayebee said:

Why is that? In case it falls into the food? No jewelry at all allowed?

Food particles and germs.

Good point. But, as luscious as Carmy's hair is, shouldn't it be in a net? 

[possibilities]

Nobody seems to wear gloves, either. When i worked in a kitchen, gloves for anybody touching food was a rule.

[peeayebee]

Artistic license. Same with no hairnets, I suppose.

[chitowngirl]

10 hours ago, peeayebee said:

Artistic license. Same with no hairnets, I suppose.

I had no problem with the no hairnets or gloves for that reason, but the watch stood out to me 🤷‍♀️😆

[LaJefaza]

16 hours ago, Black Knight said:

It's not so much that I don't like Claire, it's that I'd like her to be an actual character instead of simply a point the show is making. She's been written to have no dimensionality outside of apparently being awesome, and the reason I have to put "apparently" in is because the show just told us instead of showing us (though I suppose the little vignette of her giving a kid a shot is an attempt to correct this). Because again, they aren't interested in writing her as a character, they're just writing her as a point they're making about Carmy.

Perfectly said. Claire is the Maryest of Mary Sues.

Edited June 30 by LaJefaza

[Hanahope]

they aren't going to wear gloves or hairnets in a tv show.  they don't wear gloves or hairnets on Hells Kitchen either.  

[MaryHedwig]

1 hour ago, Hanahope said:

they aren't going to wear gloves or hairnets in a tv show.  they don't wear gloves or hairnets on Hells Kitchen either.

And how does Carmy keep his white t-shirt so clean? At least we should be seeing sweat stains on it. (I know the answer: artistic license; but seriously, how many white t-shirts do they need to keep on standby for Jeremy, I bet they would get all stained up just walking through the kitchen set.)

[possibilities]

At least he isn't still putting his hands in his hair constantly like in previous seasons.

[thuganomics85]

Finally getting around to this.  Looking forward to getting to talk about this show in the forums for the first time!

Totally understandable that this will be a polarizing one and it certainly won't quell the debates over is this actually a comedy show in any way (I think the only laughs I got were from John Mulaney dealing with Carmy's smell), but I personally loved it and thought it was just beautiful filmmaking on every level.  The acting, directing, the cinematography, the freaking music (it all made sense when I saw Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' names in the credits: those two never miss, IMO): all perfection.  And while it might not have moved the overall story forward, I liked seeing the glimpses of Carmy's past and mindset and how everything; both good and bad; have led him to being the man he is now and seeing where each dish he is currently making came from.  Credit to Christopher Storer and company for having this vision and being willingly to put it out though, even though it might not have been for everyone.

Loved seeing the glimpses of previous supporting players like Chef Terry (Olivia Colman!), Luca, Mickey, and Uncle Jimmy.  And I continue to be impress over how menacing and intimidating Joel McHale can be despite probably only having about two minutes of screen time throughout the series.

The reveal at the end with Sydney was unexpected and awesome.

That said, I'm definitely curious to see how things will now go forward after the aftermath of last season.  I'm sure the potential fallout with Claire will come into play, but like Sydney, I'm more curious to see how Carmy and Cousin Richie's relationship will be effected by everything going forward.

[heatherchandler]

10 hours ago, thuganomics85 said:

Loved seeing the glimpses of previous supporting players like Chef Terry (Olivia Colman!), Luca, Mickey, and Uncle Jimmy. 

Luca was so hot when he was the confident chef last season.  When they show him nervous and unsure, it’s like he’s a totally different actor.  I love Will Poulter.

On 6/27/2024 at 10:47 AM, tennisgurl said:

 

I really want blood orange now. 

I need a blood orange reduction… on hamachi, or on something, anything!

[Cotypubby]

On 6/26/2024 at 11:11 PM, Irlandesa said:

And having Carmy lie about the fennel allergy so he could do the dish he wanted and having that be the dish that basically changed Sydney's life... 

oh, I didn’t realize that wasn’t true. I thought he was just making a dish for Sydney so knew if she had allergies.

Personally I found this whole episode a bit boring tbh. I kept getting confused about what was happening when and where and if we knew already how he had cut his hand. Seemed like it was all just a pretentious “previously on.”

[Irlandesa]

22 minutes ago, Cotypubby said:

oh, I didn’t realize that wasn’t true. I thought he was just making a dish for Sydney so knew if she had allergies

They didn't know each other when he made this dish.  In the first season, she told someone that she wanted to work with Carmy because he was the one who made the best dish she ever had in her life.  That's the dish we see.  Although I do wonder how she knew it was his considering Joel McHale's chef was part of the kitchen.

Anyway, she made a fennel salad in an early season.  She doesn't have an allergy.  It was just something Carmy made up so he could serve his version of the dish to at least one person after he heard about Mikey.

[peeayebee]

8 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

She doesn't have an allergy.  It was just something Carmy made up so he could serve his version of the dish to at least one person after he heard about Mikey.

That's what I think, too. I've been reading a couple of articles saying how this was a plot-hole because Sydney has worked with fennel herself and surely tasted what she was preparing. Remind me: In the show have we seen Sydney say she has this allergy?

Anyway, the simplest and most obvious explanation is what you said: Carmy wanted to do the dish his way, so he lied about the diner having an allergy.

[possibilities]

I imagine the server might have told her who made the dish for her. If she said soimething like: "This is the best thing I've ever eaten-- please tell the chef I said so!" the server might have said "That was a special variation by Chef Carmy".

The show asks viewers to pay close attention to notice details. If paying close attention is pretentious, we could use more pretentious people in the world. I don't think everyone needs to enjoy it, and I don't even think a person needs to catch every detail in order to enjoy it. I sure miss some things. But I don't think it's trying to insult anyone. It's a story about "fine dining". It can't all be noisy, crass, and unsubtle.

[Alexander Pope]

Carmy is definitely in Copenhagen.  One of my favorite episodes of the entire show is when Carmy sends Marcus to Copenhagen and he too feeds an invisible cat and lives on a houseboat.

[meep.meep]

On 6/29/2024 at 7:59 AM, chitowngirl said:

One nitpick-one of the chefs Carmy was learning from, not Joel McHale, was wearing a watch…BIG no no! Might have been the Copenhagen kitchen, so not America, but still.

The big chefs that they showed Carmy working with who weren't Joel McHale or Olivia Coleman were Daniel Boulud (Daniel) and Rene Redzapi (Noma) so if one of them was wearing a watch it must be OK to do it.

Loved that Boulud showed Carmy how to make the potato wrapped fish that they did as a Quickfire on one season of Top Chef.

In addition to seeing Will Poulter's character again, we also see the guy who is head chef at the restaurant in Forks, who takes the pizza from Richie and turns it into a fancy deepdish.

The music is great, but I kept hearing timers in the background.

[lucindabelle]

This episode and I love the way the cinematography is so wonderful. Chicago is never as much of a character in any show I’ve ever seen. I’ve been looking at Michelin star restaurant, so I knew the French laundry with its own gardens at once that was a little confusing because it did look like Olivia Coleman was there at the French laundry when we know she’s in Chicago. It was interesting how when she want me to finish that for you she didn’t sound quite as scolding as when Carmie said it to someone else.

 

Want me to finish that for you she didn’t sound quite as scolding as when Carmie said it to someone else.

What is the deal with Joel McHale bullying Carmi?? Why doesn’t he just fire him that really confuses me.

 

Was Claire sleeping with Tina and I don’t mean sexually but were they snuggling? I was confused.

I’m an outlier I know but I like Clare. And I don’t think she’s one dimensional or Mary Sue. She grew up with him, she knows the family, she doesn’t let him get away with bullshit or shutting people out which almost any girl would  and blame herself for things or being insecure but she gives him shit just like Richie or people and his family do. She’s always had a crush on him and he’s always had a crush on her. She reminds me of one of those wise cracking  dames of the 40s so I guess if you think those are Mary Sue then she is Mary Sue, but I like her. I actually think she’s tough enough to not give up on him so easily. Time will tell. 
 

I agree that Carm was a better version of com when he was with her, and called her his girlfriend. I also agree that he took his eye off the ball a little bit, but that happens when people are in love. It did not help that Syd gave him so much grief over it. She’s really to blame for quite a lot of this.

[cmfran]

The whole time I was watching this ep, I kept thinking "this sounds like a Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross score." The credits revealed that to be true. Interesting that they got hired for a one-off episode of TV.