S03.E09: Apologies

[chitowngirl]

Synopsis: Carmy thinks about apologizing.
Drops on Hulu June 27, 2024.

Edited June 26 by chitowngirl

[SnapHappy]

OK, this whole "throw the entire plate of food in the trash or dishpan" is so stale.  How many times have we seen that? That kind of food waste does NOT happen, even at that level.  That's why they don't make any money. 

And Syd honey?  If you can't talk to your CDC, you are not even close to being able to run your own kitchen.  Nothing but excuses, you are weak. 

So inappropriate for the 2 stooges to go see Claire.  SHE should have walked them both to the nearest exit and made them leave.  She's educated, she knows better.  The stooges can be excused because they're morons. 

I'm almost going into the last episode hate watching.  Everything is so disjointed and I can't see WTAF is going to redeem the bizarre show I'm watching now.  It seems to be totally unrelated to the first 2 seasons. 

Edited June 29 by SnapHappy

[peeayebee]

2 hours ago, SnapHappy said:

OK, this whole "throw the entire plate of food in the trash or dishpan" is so stale.  How many times have we seen that? That kind of food waste does NOT happen, even at that level.  That's why they don't make any money. 

I have to agree that it's aggravating seeing him throw perfectly good food in the trash. But of course that goes with his character, that something is perfect or it's nothing.

Quote

So inappropriate for the 2 stooges to go see Claire.  SHE should have walked them both to the nearest exit and made them leave.  She's educated, she knows better.  The stooges can be excused because they're morons.

They're pretty simple-minded, so I guess that's why Claire is not firmer with them.

I really want to see what Marcus's dessert is like. I expect it to wow everyone.

Tina's cauliflower steak didn't seem to belong in such a restaurant. I know Marcus made suggestions that would elevate it, but, well, who knows.

Jimmy: Yeah I went to a lecture series. How do you think I got so fuckin' erudite?

[LaDuchesse]

On 6/29/2024 at 4:23 PM, SnapHappy said:

Everything is so disjointed and I can't see WTAF is going to redeem the bizarre show I'm watching now.  It seems to be totally unrelated to the first 2 seasons. 

I agree. This season has been spinning its wheels. Some very excellent episodes. And character stories that don’t move the plot forward can be very good and have their place. But here, there has been no forward movement by the penultimate episode. And that does not make for a good story.

ETA - Having your main character look pensive or sad or whatever while a song representing their feelings plays in the background is not new or good storytelling. It was a common CW show technique. Which is fine for CW shows (which I adored for what they were), but not for a critically acclaimed show that was so amazing in prior seasons.

Edited July 1 by LaDuchesse

[possibilities]

I also hate the food wasting. 

[chaifan]

Was I the only one confused by the flashing of the review headlines?  These weren't actual reviews, right?  They were possible reviews that were going through Carm's head?  Or Syd's head?  Because one flashed was about the restaurant closing.

Tina experimenting with cauliflower.  Really?  Cauliflower?  It seems so uninspiring. 

On 6/29/2024 at 7:23 PM, SnapHappy said:

Everything is so disjointed and I can't see WTAF is going to redeem the bizarre show I'm watching now.  It seems to be totally unrelated to the first 2 seasons. 

I agree, and said something similar an episode or two back.  I also used the word disjointed, and it still feels that way. 

[Black Knight]

21 hours ago, chaifan said:

Was I the only one confused by the flashing of the review headlines?  These weren't actual reviews, right?  They were possible reviews that were going through Carm's head?  Or Syd's head?  Because one flashed was about the restaurant closing.

Yes, they were possible reviews. At first I wasn't sure, but then Cicero showed up talking about how a bad review would cause him to pull the plug on the restaurant.

It's interesting in that it showed Carmy's concern (even before Cicero showed up) was about the restaurant getting a bad review, while Syd is not concerned about that and is instead simply worried that Carmy is going to get all of the credit.

I know Syd said she doesn't have a lawyer, but it was unethical from the start for Natalie and Carmy to say that Pete should look at the contract for her. Pete is part of their family, not Syd's - it's a huge conflict of interest.

A little too much of the Faks. And Claire remains a symbol instead of a person.

[maddie965]

Did I dream this, or did Carmy let something ar Claire's door at the end of the episode?

[MicheleinPhilly]

Ugh, I am SOOOO over the Faks. Please get them off of my screen. 

I also don't really care about Claire and whether she and Carmy ever get back together. They haven't done enough with her to make me emotionally invested in that journey. 

At this point, I'm hoping that Sydney does decide to go with Shapiro because she deserves better. But she at Natalie can remain friends because her care package for her and Pete warmed my heart. Brought to mind when she made her that omelette last season. 

[Alexander Pope]

I was also confused by the snippets of  the reviews flashing on the screen, and agree that they're not real.  But Syd was looking at an actual computer with stories about Carmy on it.  So maybe those kind of profile pieces came out before the restaurant was reviewed, based on Carmy's illustrious history? and added to the pressure?

[tennisgurl]

So the snippets of reviews from Carmy were possible bad reviews coming out of his anxiety spiral while the ones from Syd about how great Carmy is come from being afraid she'll be stuck in his shadow? Right? 

This has been a really weird season, a lot of really good episodes and moments but it feels a lot less consistent than the last two seasons, and at least some of that is because Carmy has been stuck in neutral all season. I know that its how he is, especially how that things are finally happening with The Bear, but I wish we had him show a bit of growth after everything. Last season almost everyone had some sort of arc but this season everyone is sort of stuck, especially Carmy.

If Syd wants to become co-owner for real, she has to be able to have some real talk with Carmy.

[possibilities]

Carmy disappeared and left Syd holding everything last season. This season he dominated and choked her and everybody else out. He is the problem. Everyone else has been behaving responsibly (well, maybe not the Faks). I agree Syd (and everyone else) needs to do an intervention with Carmy, speak up, and not let him destroy not only his dream but everybody else's livelihood. 

I can't believe nobody ever gave him a buidget or reviewed his business plan or any other accountability thing. 

[thuganomics85]

Okay, I've been generous with them in the past since they still have their moments, but the Flaks need to go... or at least really be reduced next season.  They've just become obnoxious and I just find it annoying that the rest of the characters are putting up with their bullshit all of the time.  Even felt bad for Claire despite finding the character to generally be a bore (sorry, Molly Gordon!  You're not at fault!)

Really don't see how this doesn't end with Syd leaving considering the benefits of the new job and how Carmy continues to push her aside.  That said, if she can't even bring herself to talk to him about it, being head chef will be brutal for her.

Uncle Jimmy might be shutting The Bear down no matter what?  Or was he sincere about the review needed to be good?  Sounds like he has some kind of money troubles.

Not sure what to make of Richie and Tiffany/the ex's scene.  I guess their relationship is kind of different compared to others, but it's not that odd that Richie wouldn't be wild about wanting to see her marry the new beau.  Odd.

Liked the Tina/Marcus scene.

A montage of famous magicians on screen and you don't show Gob Bluth.  Booo!

Off to see how this season ends!

[Elizzikra]

On 7/1/2024 at 10:34 PM, chaifan said:

 

Tina experimenting with cauliflower.  Really?  Cauliflower?  It seems so uninspiring. 

 

Tina wants to keep giving business to the farmer’s market guy and she said he always has a lot of cauliflower, so that’s why she is trying to do something with it. Plus you always need something for the vegetarians and the vegans.

[paramitch]

On 6/29/2024 at 4:23 PM, SnapHappy said:

OK, this whole "throw the entire plate of food in the trash or dishpan" is so stale.  How many times have we seen that? That kind of food waste does NOT happen, even at that level.  That's why they don't make any money. 

Michelin-star chef Paul Liebrandt reviewed that specific scene and said it was "100% accurate," and that you don't send anything out that is unacceptable, especially at Carmy's level.

I agree with those hating the food waste, and I would have been happily face-down in that plate myself! But I do think it's realistic and believable that Carmy would toss plates that are not up to par or that have gone cold, etc.

On 7/2/2024 at 5:36 PM, Black Knight said:

I know Syd said she doesn't have a lawyer, but it was unethical from the start for Natalie and Carmy to say that Pete should look at the contract for her. Pete is part of their family, not Syd's - it's a huge conflict of interest.

I agree. I don't think it was deliberate or anything, and that Pete was suggested as a helpful option for Syd (when mentioning she can't afford a lawyer), but yeah. I also thought it was interesting that the terms Carmy and Nat are offering they seem to think are really good, when Syd is visibly being offered a much better deal (including, evidently, immediate benefits, no 3-month waiting period, etc.) by Shapiro.

On 7/5/2024 at 7:43 AM, MicheleinPhilly said:

Ugh, I am SOOOO over the Faks. Please get them off of my screen. 

I also don't really care about Claire and whether she and Carmy ever get back together. They haven't done enough with her to make me emotionally invested in that journey. 

At this point, I'm hoping that Sydney does decide to go with Shapiro because she deserves better. But she at Natalie can remain friends because her care package for her and Pete warmed my heart. Brought to mind when she made her that omelette last season. 

1. I agree on the Faks. AGHGHG. I am so sick of them and do not find them cutesy, funny, or interesting. I can't stand them.

2. I do care about Claire, and about Claire and Carmy specifically. Carmy's tailspin this season is directly related to his past abuse, and to his brief moments of love and peace with Claire. It's incredibly sad to me that he is glorifying those moments now but at the same time cannot simply bring himself to fricking apologize. Carmy is so hard to watch -- he's his own worst enemy every single time.

3. I absolutely loved all the food Syd made for Nat and Pete -- especially the "lasagna with the burnt corners" -- the way Nat likes it! That was so typical of Syd's kindness and absolutely reminded me of the omelette last season. Food is Syd's way of showing care and this was lovely.

On 7/8/2024 at 10:27 PM, thuganomics85 said:

Not sure what to make of Richie and Tiffany/the ex's scene.  I guess their relationship is kind of different compared to others, but it's not that odd that Richie wouldn't be wild about wanting to see her marry the new beau.  Odd.

I really didn't like what Tiffany did here at all.

I get that she wants Richie at her wedding. But it's also a selfish request. Because she knows Richie isn't over her. She knows the engagement was a shock and he was hurt by it. So pushing him this hard (and even guilting him) to be at her wedding really bothers me here. Richie doesn't have to go to her wedding if it will cause him pain. He can wish her the best yet still not feel ready to do that. But she gave him no opportunity to do that and instead made it all about her.

And their daughter would understand. All she would need to be told is that Richie wasn't able to make it. He could call her before or after, wish them well, heck, send them a present. But Tiffany insisting Richie be there is a little cruel and thoughtless to me. I do want them to be family to each other still (both for their daughter's sake and each other's), but Richie is also allowed to set boundaries, and he was nicer about it than I would have been.

 

[SnapHappy]

13 hours ago, paramitch said:

Michelin-star chef Paul Liebrandt reviewed that specific scene and said it was "100% accurate," and that you don't send anything out that is unacceptable, especially at Carmy's level.

I agree with those hating the food waste, and I would have been happily face-down in that plate myself! But I do think it's realistic and believable that Carmy would toss plates that are not up to par or that have gone cold, etc

 

But that wasn't a customer order, it was his off-hours experimentation.   

Of course we understand not sending out sub-par food to a paying guest, but if you're making it as a test-drive, and throwing it out without even tasting, it is expensive waste and looks far too diva-ish and further jacking up the cost to the customer.  

Edited September 16 by SnapHappy

[Kel Varnsen]

On 7/1/2024 at 10:34 PM, chaifan said:

Tina experimenting with cauliflower.  Really?  Cauliflower?  It seems so uninspiring. 

Marcus said to puree the cauliflower. I have never been to a place anywhere near that fancy but would pureed cauliflower really be on the menu? Or are they making something to feed Nat's baby when it starts to eat solid food?

On 7/8/2024 at 1:12 PM, possibilities said:

I can't believe nobody ever gave him a buidget or reviewed his business plan or any other accountability thing. 

It's annoying that the financial success of the restaurant is kind of like a C level plot when it is super important. They said at the start of the episode that they had one and three quarter turns. So they aren't even runny at full capacity anymore. And if they weren't making money running at full capacity, I would think that would be really bad.

Also if Carm is the executive chef and the guy who gets magazine profiles, shouldn't he be out in the dining room, meeting the guests and shaking hands and that kind of shit. Not barking orders in the kitchen and getting mad about everything. They need to hire the woman from Ever to be the kitchen shot caller, Syd can supervise the actual cooking and Carm can just be the hype man cook telling people about the delicious menu he prepared for them.

[Elizzikra]

Quote

Marcus said to puree the cauliflower. I have never been to a place anywhere near that fancy but would pureed cauliflower really be on the menu? Or are they making something to feed Nat's baby when it starts to eat solid food?

I can absolutely see that - pureed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, piped daintily on the plate with a pastry gun. Probably underneath the main protein?

Most of my family is vegan. Honestly, they would love a cauliflower "steak" especially with a good sauce...

[Kel Varnsen]

On 9/15/2024 at 8:38 PM, paramitch said:

I also thought it was interesting that the terms Carmy and Nat are offering they seem to think are really good, when Syd is visibly being offered a much better deal (including, evidently, immediate benefits, no 3-month waiting period, etc.) by Shapiro.

I imagine the biggest difference in the deals is no Uncle Jimmy loan at the new first place. But at the Bear they have probably about a year and a half to pay back $850,000. Which means if you are a shareholder you probably aren't getting any profit shares in that time. And if Jimmy doesn't get paid off you lose your job and your equity. If a normal business has debt they would probably have a more reasonable payoff plan which means you might start making money as soon as the place starts making a profit.

10 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

I can absolutely see that - pureed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes, piped daintily on the plate with a pastry gun. Probably underneath the main protein?

Ok so the puree is like a sauce?  That makes more sense. I was picturing something like how one of the courses would be a plate of pureed cauliflower, in which case my first thought would be: gourmet baby food.

[Elizzikra]

1 hour ago, Kel Varnsen said:

 

Ok so the puree is like a sauce?  That makes more sense. I was picturing something like how one of the courses would be a plate of pureed cauliflower, in which case my first thought would be: gourmet baby food.

No - it’s more the consistency of mashed potatoes. It’s like a very small side or an edible garnish no the plate. I don’t see it being a course of its own.

[edhopper]

Outside of the Wagu Beef, which is donevto death these days. None of their food is special enough for a Michelin star or a $175 cover. 

I'll say again Carm wants to fail, he may be a great chef, but he has neither the temperament or the skills to run a kitchen or restaurant. And yes the front of the house absolutely puts a hold on meals. If someone has gone to the bathroom at a table, you wait for their return until the food should be ready to serve.