"The Bear" Sundae (TV Episode 2023) Poster

(TV Series)

(2023)

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7/10
Intelligent visual storytelling that maybe goes too overboard.
bayleykedar5 July 2023
I love a montage as much as the next person, and this episode jam-packed as many into 25 minutes as possible.

This works on some levels; I particularly loved the montage set to 'Future Perfect' as the different dishes flashed across the screen, alongside images of the developing city across time and its urban sprawl. However, it maybe sacrificed a bit too much of its runtime to achieve this almost music-video-esque aesthetic.

What saves it? The brief but endearing conversation between Carm and his ex-girlfriend (I'm forgetting her name, Claire?). And the facial acting of Ayo Edebiri throughout, who conveys her character's doubts, frustrations and sadnesses effectively to ensure that minimal dialogue is required.

Still, a good episode that was certainly never boring to watch. The cinematography was a particular highlight, and if individual characters are getting individual episodes in this season? That may be something I can get on board with.
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7/10
What's The Issue
gbarrett-3994128 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I not sure the wall being torn down is the issue. Sydney was in her feeling because Carm stood her up for the food tasting. I don't understand her issue with being a partner, if that is truly their relationship. She has contributed ideas and time, but has yet to contribute dollars. There was an existing business before she arrived and the money for the renovation has come solely from Carm's uncle. Successful businesses don't just give away partial ownership for good ideas. A bonus, sure. Profit sharing arrangements maybe, but why would she feel entitled (her female chef friend gave her a half baked warning) to be an owner. Carm 100% owns the restaurant with his uncle being a true financial partner. If the business gets sued or goes bankrupt, Sydney would have zero liability. That's the real world.
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8/10
Sydney in focus!
and_mikkelsen10 January 2024
This episode slowes down and we mostly spend time with Sydney as she is tasked with finding inspiration so that they can make the food they want and find the balances of taste they are looking for!

While not as impactfull as the previous episodes, this one still has its moments to keep it from forgetable boredom!

Carmen once again has a great monologue in the beginning about whether you are happy with what you are doing, the importance of it as well as what It means to those you are working with, that they can tell you love what you do and you likr being there!

Great montages of food with Sydney to get me hungry! While i dont think she developed that much, there still were a couple of good moments!
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Same High Standard as Last Season But ...
Maxsenate27 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Maintaining the same intensity as this show had in season 1 was probably too much to expect. The characters are still masterfully portrayed, but up to this point in the season, the writers are clearly counting heavily on the interest in the characters we developed in the previous series.to carry the series.

This particular episode features Sydney eating her way across Chicago. Nice music and good cinematography, but surprisingly little dialog. It feels like the writers are coasting.a bit.

Somewhat sparse in the first two installments of this season and virtually missing in this episode is humor. This was a strong point last season. Hopefully subsequent episodes will improve at least this aspect of the previous season even if the show cannot achieve the same intensity.
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8/10
I scream
Trey_Trebuchet15 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Yeah I don't agree with most of y'all on this one.

It is certainly not as good as the opening episodes, but I feel like I watched something different from everyone else on here. Is the frantic energy gone? Yes. But not to the demise of an at-least enjoyable episode. Sydney's outing was beautifully shot and I was personally really interested in the conversations she had with all of the different restaurant owners.

And it's not like that's the WHOLE episode. We still got some great dialogue with her and Carmy. We still got some plot-progression toward the end, and an interesting (likely crucial) conversation between Carmy and Claire (And I think this was the episode where it's revealed Sugar is pregnant but I could be wrong).

And Ayo Edebiri? She's excellent in this role. Why are people on here saying she isn't as good as the rest of the cast? She literally IS Sydney. She's perfectly cast and very likable. I won't at all be surprised if she wins a second Emmy.

And I'll say it. She had a right to be mad. She is Carmy's "partner" in this business, as discussed in prior episodes. She literally just wants to be in the loop about big stuff like an entire wall in the restaurant being torn down.

By no means amazing, but it's a good episode and I feel like people are either underwhelmed or completely missing the point or both.
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8/10
interesting story development
nerrdrage17 September 2023
The montage-heavy nature of this episode was fun, as were the scenes with people who I assume are real Chicago area chefs. It also conveyed the idea that the restaurant business is a dicey one, accentuating Sydney's misgivings.

I don't quite get the nature of those misgivings yet, though. As I understand it, the restaurant is half owned by Carmen and half by Nat. Mickey left the restaurant in his will to his two siblings. Sydney isn't in a position to make a financial investment that would give her the right to expect something like profit-sharing. Is she just young and clueless?

The scenes regarding the mold were funny. Sydney's reaction to not being consulted was irrational but a product of her rather clueless fears. They would have torn down the walls anyway, no choice.
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7/10
Should Syd worry about Carmy?
santipe-9067028 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Carmy stands Syd up. He forgets about their meeting because she agrees to help her friend, maybe in an attempt to have fun, since he isn't amused working all day to open the restaurant.

Syd visits multiple Chicago restaurants, trying to 'reset' her palate and discover new flavors and combinations. She gets a lot of warnings about the danger of having a business partner in the industry.

At the end, she is pissed since Carmy didn't let her know they had to take down an entire wall.

It's uncertain whether Syd trusts Carmy or not, but I feel like he's not the type of guy who would steal all the money from the restaurant and run away to the Caribbean.
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7/10
Losing momentum
Mesina0220 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Doesn't quite pack the punch that the first two episodes brought.

The lack of that chaotic energy was certainly felt, not really saying that it should be like that every time but when this show sort of settles down thats when things start to feel a bit slow.

This episode brings up the idea that Sydney might be questioning her trust in Carmy. Now it's understandable why she might feel this way but its sort of been like that since season 1. I wonder if that narrative will actually impact the overall story or if it will just be an obstacle for her to get past.

Overall, an episode that I do think loses this seasons momentum but it does carry over some interesting plot developments.
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7/10
Lazy writing
joelpietarila10 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So Carmey needed to bring down a wall because of termites or something and Sydney felt like she should have been called first. Why? What does that accomplish? Is she acting stupid on purpose or are the writers just trying to force this narrative about Sydney not being able to trust Carmey? Yes, her dad and friends in the other restaurants are telling her that you need a very trustworthy partner to run a restaurant with. But this hole shabackle started when Carm didn't tell Sydney he won't be able to make it to the restaurant. That seems like lazy writing. He literally said to meet in an hour which means that the call he got from Claire or whatever her name is was maybe 30 minutes after he scheduled the meet. There is no way he would forget that since that's literally what he was going to do next. And also why did Carm stay to clean alone? What? Why? They cooked together so they should clean together.

The montages were fortunately great and every scene with Carm was good so those redeem this episode for me.

Also Sydney's actress' acting is two circles of Hell lower than everyone else on the show.
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5/10
That's not how life or business works
RaeGal-4461112 January 2024
So Sydney contributes zero money, has nothing to lose but some crappy food dishes that no one seems to like (not even herself) she has no resume or reputation yet is worried about Carmen!?? Can someone please give this chic a reality check!? It's a total entitlement of a generation expecting things and pieces of something that belongs to someone else or another family because they demand it! She literally walked into a family restaurant off the street and begged to work there and she thinks she's something special. I just don't like her and it's making the show less fun to watch.

I give the rest of the stars for Richie and Carmie and literally anyone else besides Syd!!
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7/10
Another review lost to the app
martymoves14 April 2024
I had a long and incredibly detailed review, ready to be posted. Then in typical imdb fashion, their app glitches and it is lost.

So here's the liner notes.

Ms. Ayo is far too young for this role and was horribly mis-cast.

This episode lacked rationale. The actions of our female lead were not only questionable at best, but unethical and illogical. Absolutely bewildering.

Just like having a teenager in a role that should be filled by a 25 year old. She is literally unbelievable in this role.

For some context:

Jeremy Allen White was older than Ms. Ayo is now, when he was playing the role of 'Lip' Gallagher on Shameless, nearly 15 years ago. A character who was younger than the one Ayo is playing now. (Did you get all that?)

There is ZERO chemisty between the two. And the whole 'daddy's little girl' angle does her NO Favours, at all. It is a HUGE detriment.

Also, if buddy was supposed to go help his new/old friend, how did he end up at the shop; while she was taking an eating tour of Chicago, that he was supposed to be with her on?

Poor writing, editing, and casting.

The show has a lot of promise, but the entirety of season 2 so far has been painful, to say the least. In season 1 the makeup and wardrobe were enough to take away from the fact that she is far too young for this role. But thus far in season 2, its absolutely unforgivable.

To repeat: She would be too young for a role that Jeremy played 15 years ago when he was older then, than she is now.

Somebody dropped the ball big time.

This is the first episode i have rated below its average rating. So clearly I had been enjoying the show up until this point, more than most, obviously, since i have rated it higher than the average viewer.

So disagreeing with me would defy logic. Proving that you can't have your cake and eat it too. That euphamism has always been idiotic in any rhetoric, but so is casting someone grossly underage for the role. It seemed poetic.

I don't care for "opinion", I only deliver the real. And everything i've said, is real.

Short form: You re-cast her, people lose their heads about it, show gets cancelled.

You keep her, and faster than you can imagine people stop watching, and no number of awards is gonna save them.

You would have to fire so many people from production. In the end its just not worth it. I'm sure they will tough it out for 4 or 5 seasons despite the dwindling viewership.

But don't take my word for it.....actually, absolutely take my word for it. I've never been wrong, don't see how I would start now.

(Also writing the character out of the show would save it as well. The "easy way out". Check it)
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5/10
S2 is a snore fest
superfox_88822 July 2023
I have never been so disappointed in a season 2! The first season was full on, pumping with action. So far all the characters are meandering through, eating food and complaining about rotting wood.

I do not understand how these episodes are rating so high. I am waiting for something, anything, to happen, and it is not.

There's no plot, and the actors seem like they're just saying the words. The soul of this show has been torn from it's still-beating heart, broken down and stomped on, returning to a lifeless corpse that is season two.

And the music! Oh my god. There's a new song playing every thirty seconds. It is annoying and adds nothing to this slow motion train wreck.
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Sundae
bobcobb30114 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode featured a whole lot of yelling (nothing new there) and a lot of the show's signature elements from bickering about the tiniest details to no one agreeing over how to fix the bigger ones.

But they did tackle one interesting element of the main characters realizing "their palettes were f'd" and they needed to try something drastic to fix them. I have to imagine this happens with upscale restaurants a lot more than they would like to admit that they need to turn to smaller, less classy establishments to give them ideas to steal, I mean inspiration.

Not bad at all though, just not worthy of the acclaim it gets.
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