), who knows more than a thing or two about how to sustain a business. Albert says The Bear should branch out and create replicant restaurants to build a mini-franchise. However, the title likely foreshadows Carmy’s shocking decision in the end as he looks for his ‘replicants’ to take over the business, whether that’s Syd or Luca (Will Poulter).

That’s probably why he brings Luca to work under Marcus. Neither he nor Luca reveals why someone of Luca’s stature is willfully accepting this low-level position. Regardless of that secrecy, Luca’s presence immediately cheers up the entire kitchen staff. The episode also shows Carmy and Marcus revisiting their history. Carmy looks back at Boston’s past, which probably pushes him to build a lasting legacy for the restaurant.

That can’t happen without a strong foundation. So, he agrees to follow a fixed menu and not make spontaneous changes. Marcus sells his late mother’s house with Chester’s (Carmen Christopher) help, possibly to relieve himself of that baggage. Richie, meanwhile, looks at the future. He opens up to Jessica about his struggles with Frank, the ‘nice step-dad’ to Eva, who bought her a teddy bear he didn’t want to. (to give her an important life lesson, even though she is just a child).

Natalie shows up at the restaurant with Sophie. Soon, Syd learns that her dad (Robert Townsend) is hospitalized because he had a heart attack. She rushes there, asking Carmy not to tell anyone else about her dad’s condition. She also doesn’t want Carmy to be there with her, probably because she might have to take care of him instead of the other way around.

The sixth episode shows Sophie’s day at the restaurant as they all talk about Richie’s ex-wife’s upcoming wedding. Jessica helps Richie see Frank not as a threat, but as a support for his ‘dad’ duties. Neil Fak (Matty Matheson) anxiously tells Natalie that he has invited Francie to the wedding. Until then, the season hints that Natalie has some sort of beef with Francie. We learn more about that in the seventh episode. Until then, Natalie has to take care of Carmy, who may not show up at the wedding at all, fearing he might bump into their mother or Claire, and it would be awkward for everyone involved. Nat convinces him to be open to new experiences and to be at the wedding for Tiff’s sake.

As it happens, Syd cries her heart out at the hospital while Claire (who works there) stays by her side. Syd gets candid about her unease that her father has to worry about her at an age when he should be worrying about just himself. Claire helps her get over her guilt and shame. She makes Syd see how people value having people to care about. “Worrying about people and having people to worry about is everything we got,” she says. She makes Syd realize that her father doesn’t see her as a burden but a gift. As a medical professional, Claire also reveals that Syd’s father will get better after all. Anyhow, Syd decides to be more present in her dad’s life. Her dad still assures her that she need not worry about him being without her.

“Bears” shows a majority of the Berzatto family at Tiff and Frank’s wedding. However, unlike the chaotic family dinner in “Fishes” from the second season, things are much calmer this time around. So, it almost feels like an antidote to the dysfunctional mess they had to endure in “Fishes.” Everyone tries to make it all go smoothly. Syd lets Richie blow off some steam as he panics, fearing he is losing Eva to Frank. Still, as soon as Donna arrives there, he joins Syd to distance her from Carmy to avoid any awkward interactions. Carmy hides out in the kitchen, where he bumps into family friend Uncle Lee (Bob Odenkirk). Lee admits to having seen Carmy at Mikey/Michael’s funeral.

(To preface, Mikey took his own life a while after Carmy left to pursue a culinary career outside of Boston. So, Carmy felt that he was personally responsible for Mikey’s unfortunate loss. He feels like he abandoned his older brother. That’s why, despite arriving at Mikey’s funeral, he silently left without telling any of his family that he was there. He held on to the secret and thought no one knew, but Lee did.) In the present, Uncle Lee tells Carmy that he mended his relationship with Mikey while Carmy was away. He reveals that Mikey was proud of Carmy’s achievements. Lee also mentions the toll Mikey’s death has taken on Donna. Still, he doesn’t force Carmy to go see her. As it happens, Syd stays by Donna’s side and reveals how much she admires Carmy as a chef.

Donna proudly listens to her speak, but feels bad that she doesn’t know much about Carmy as her work-family does. It makes her realize how detached she is from her young son and that she misses him. Otherwise, the episode focuses on Richie bonding with Frank as a partner in fatherly duties. He helps Frank with Eva’s situation as she hides under a table, scared about having to dance in front of many people. Frank planned that dance so that they could have a memorable father-daughter moment. Claire makes him realize that Eva might not feel that way. They all get under the table, and so does every other member of the Berzatto family. They share their fears, hoping Eva to feel comfortable sharing hers.

This whole exercise also helps Carmy break the ice with Claire, and they dance together. It also helps Theodore (Ricky Staffieri) get over his fear of proposing to his girlfriend, Kelly (Mitra Jouhari). Natalie also patches things up with Francie (Brie Larson). In the end, Tiff gets all welled up as she sees Richie finally having made peace in his co-parenting duties with Frank.

‘Green’ shows things finally looking better for the business. Natalie realizes that their numbers have improved in recent months, but The Computer (Brian Koppelman) doesn’t think that’s enough to keep the business alive. He understands that they can keep working with what they earn from the daily business, but that doesn’t look promising to him in the long run. So, he asks her to figure out ‘the purpose’ they should keep it running. Otherwise, it is business as usual. Gary keeps working on his skills as a sommelier.

Richie gets some life lessons from Jessica. Syd is still preoccupied with her dilemma of choosing between The Bear and Adam’s restaurant. She finally rejects Adam’s generous offer. Marcus still works with Luca on the desserts, but there’s something more to his story this season. His father tries to reconnect with him after many years of distance. So, while initially hesitant, Marcus shows up outside a cafe to meet him. Yet, Marcus turns around the moment he sees him. In contrast, Carmy has a surprising character development, likely influenced by Claire’s emotional support. He finally decides to spend time with his estranged mother.

‘Tonnato’ is the dish Donna talks about while recounting her time in Italy. She reveals feeling alone during her trip to the point she started crying. So, a local woman saw her and made her that dish. Donna says it was ‘mayonnaise with tuna.’ Carmy immediately recognizes it. He also prepares something for her after she opens up to him about her regrets. She reads him a heartfelt note and apologizes to him. So, to calm her, he prepares a chicken dish. He walks back into his old room and sees Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential lying on the bedside table. In the dressing closet, he finds Claire’s green sweater.

As he walks down memory lane, Ebraheim thinks about the restaurant’s future. Albert agrees to help him and his team with business expansion. So, after careful consideration, Ebraheim decides to join hands with Albert, who seemingly convinces The Computer to get over his overall cynicism about the business. Meanwhile, Natalie reveals that Marcus has been selected as one of the finest contemporary chefs by a magazine. While everyone is in this jolly good mood, Syd learns something shocking. The updated agreement splits the business into two halves: the first one belongs to Uncle Jimmy, while the second one belongs to her and Nat. So, where’s Carmy? She realizes that he is planning to leave the restaurant.

Syd had just started to make peace with being at The Bear for good when Peter dropped the truth bomb. So, the season four finale shows Syd and Richie confronting Carmy in a single, long scene. Initially, Syd asks Carmy the reason for his shocking decision. Carmy reveals that he has lost interest in making food. He realizes that he has achieved what he once set out to do. He has nothing else to prove to Mikey or anyone else. So, he struggles with finding a purpose to anchor his journey going forward.

He says that he is leaving The Bear, hoping it will help them function smoothly. Until then, he had usually been the reason whenever something went wrong in the kitchen. So, he feels they will work better without his chaotic mind. Besides that, he sees the agreement as him appreciating Syd’s enormous efforts. He knew that Adam was trying to get her on board for his restaurant. So, thanks to his decision, she can be in charge of a restaurant. Yet, she hates that he is abandoning what they have built together. Despite all of it, Richie says he will not leave the restaurant no matter what. Syd wants Carmy to add Richie to her and Nat’s share in the agreement. Nat feels bad for Carmy and hugs him. In the final moments of the season, the timer stops, but we don’t learn what happens to the restaurant.

The ending of “The Bear” (Season 4) leaves the fate of the restaurant in the dark, much like the cliffhanger ending of the third season. It doesn’t reveal what happens to the business in Carmy’s absence. However, it analyzes his motivations for making this shocking decision. A few years ago, Carmy returned to Chicago to take over Mikey’s ‘The Beef’ restaurant to help sustain the establishment. That has always been the catalyst for his overall journey. Yet, he was also driven by the thought of proving himself to arrogant Chef David. Eventually, he realizes that David doesn’t even care about him. Instead, he thinks his feverish working discipline is precisely why Carmy became successful.

David doesn’t apologize, nor does he feel even a shred of remorse. It breaks Carmy’s heart, but it also makes him realize that he will never get David’s approval or apology, no matter how hard he tries. Some things are just beyond his grasp. Meanwhile, he also learns that people love and respect him as a chef. That means he has already achieved what he once set out to do. He has nothing left to prove. So, his departure from The Bear might stop it from bits of unorganized chaos that he unwittingly introduced to the kitchen. That can help the business. Otherwise, Albert’s idea might lead The Computer and Uncle Jimmy to change their minds and find a way to grow the business. For all these reasons, Carmy’s absence might just do more good than harm.

Yet, it is heartbreaking to see Carmy leave what he had dedicated his life to. He helped others see the potential in themselves, but in the process, fell out of love with making food, probably because he used food only as a means to escape his dreadful present. He didn’t want to be with his biological family. So, he tried to find a family beyond them. The season is about him trying to learn to put everyone else first. While doing that, he also recognizes that he can’t work simply for the sake of work. He might need another fuel to drive him all the time.

The Bear (Season 4) Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia

Where to watch The Bear Season 4