thoughtfulchaos773 reblogged
THE BEAR — 2.10 // 3.09
I think this parallel is a happy coincidence.
1x01 Pilot as Carmy, Richie, and Syd are in the walk-in
vs.
2x10, where Richie and Syd are outside while Carmy begs to be released.
If the walk-in symbolizes Carmy's subconscious and contains his deepest thoughts, beliefs, and feelings, which he avoids, then it reflects his internal conflict and relationships.
In the pilot and second season finale, Carmy does not want Richie there as Richie brings back memories he doesn't wish to access or things he doesn't wish to confront.
Comparing the two scenes , Richie brings up Donna and Mikey. He mentions how Carmy wasn't home when they buried Mikey, and he brings up Donna - both sensitive subjects for Carmy. I'm still wondering if we'll get some understanding and insight into why Carmy was not there. With Donna, it makes sense why he's avoided her, while Mikey's death and his absence during the burial are left unspoken.
It seems like in the pilot episode, when Richie is surprised to see Sydney there, but Carmy doesn't mind her presence. Looking ahead to the finale, it becomes clear that Carmy feels more at ease when Sydney is with him based on the get syd moment (@currymanganese thank you for discovering this). We can hear Carmy asking for her to be there with him when he gets stuck in the walk-in. This may represent that as he finds it easier to confront things with her around.
This is evident from the fact that he was able to confide in her about his brother's addiction, something he struggled to come to terms with. It seems that Sydney has already entered his subconscious, as shown by his panic attack. With Sydney, Carmy seems to have an easier time accessing his subconscious and having more control over it.
In season 3, we will dive deeper into the depths of Carmy's mind, exploring the thoughts that prevent him from being truly happy and open to love, as well as the rumination that keeps him from being present. Will Carmy break free from his mental barriers, or will he remain trapped by his repressed thoughts?
thoughtfulchaos773 reblogged
Richie's journey is not over
I've done my fair share of hating on Richie, but @caiusmarciuscoriolanus 's and @post-woke 's meta on him has gotten to me. As a companion piece to this post about Carmy's future in the culinary world here, here's why I think Richie may be the one to actually leave the industry someday, or at least that he may find a fulfilling secondary vocation by the end of the series.
1. Along with Marcus, but to a greater extent, Richie is Carmy's narrative foil, if Carmy stays in the restaurant world, as Carmy's foil, Richie may want to leave someday:
This is so thought-provoking! Thank you for tagging me, and I'm glad you posted this!!
When I first read it, I thought Richie? Leaving? Didn't he find his purpose? But you're right. What's funny about the finally is that it takes this twist. Since Richie and Carmy are foils to each other at the beginning of 2x01, Richie is left with the question, "What's my purpose?" and Carmy is wondering what's fun for him.
So for the episodes 2x05, Carmy seemingly finds what's fun for him while Richie also finds his "purpose" in 2x07. But 2x06 shows us how somehow their past is what stops them from fully reaching the answers to those questions. The season has us believing that they've resolved their problems...
But episode 2x10, the whole fight shows us that both of them have regressed and still have some searching to do to. Although Richie shows he's inspired, he still needs to find his purpose.
Mmhmm...now thinking about his perception, love of books, existential philosophy (thank you for mentioning this) Richie is going to have a twist in his journey.
Anyways I'll probably reply more in the replies, but you still got me thinking, AND I really appreciate you posting this because I missed reading your meta!
I noticed that episode 1x08 Richie and Carmy are held accountable, and there's this message of men holding things in for the sake of their masculinity.
As far as accountability. One could compare Tiffany/Richie scene where he leaves Tiffany a voicemail in jail and the Carmy/Syd text.
Richie: I was thinking about all that shit that went down with your dad. And uh, how I called him what I called him, and uh, you were right, you know? That was not okay, and um, I'm sorry.
Carmy: (text to Syd) My behavior was not okay.
Richie and Carmy have to face something head on - Richie is stuck with the reality that he may be charged with manslaughter and Carmy is holding Mikeys note. They're facing this difficult truth, and they contact the women they were once close to. Richie lost Tiffany, and in this episode, Carmy lost Sydney, but they still needed their support.
But since their relationships with these women are broken and the support and trust are gone, they could only apologize for their behavior.
It's about fixing their issues so they can old on to the people dearest to them. It's men no longer holding in their feelings. I say this because of Fak and his talk with Ballbreaker
Fak: Do you ever get sad?
Ballbreaker: Of course I do, Neil, but I don't talk about it. I keep it all inside it helps me beat the shit out of people.
The men in this show hold everything in, including their affection. Another Tiff/Richie comparison is season 2, we see that Richie is so gentle with Tiffany when they're alone vs. in public telling the family she's fine. But we get this moment of quiet between Richie and Tiffany just like we get these quiet moments with Sydney and Carmy.
I can say this is the Berzatto man effect. Hiding their feelings in front of people unless it's anger. Even though Richie is not a blood relative, he still grew up with the Berzattos.
As it was mentioned here, Pete, who's very open with his feelings for the woman in his life, he has no problem crying in front of friends of family and showing how much he loves Natalie. Just how Steven is with Michelle at the dinner table.
I hope Carmy will one day get there with being open and loving towards Sydney in front of people and it wont be too late, like Richie (as far as we know). It's not really meta. Just thoughts.
thoughtfulchaos773 reblogged
Squealing my head off because of season 1 episode 6 "Ceres." Starting off with Richie and Mikey telling the story about Richie's voicemail "Hi, you have reached the voicemail of Richie Jerimovich, the Goddess of Agriculture."
Ceres, the Roman Goddess of Agriculture is Demeter in Greek mythology, the mother of Persephone and the goddess of harvest. The mother of the goddess of seasonal change. The mother of hospitality. Hospitality, which is something that Richie now excels at. The writers planted that freaking seed in this episode! His "deep connection to agriculture" is the reason he chose to change his voicemail, something that was unknown to him because his purpose hadn't been cultivated yet.
This is also the episode that springboards Sydney's bid to Carmy for the braised ribs and risotto. Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, known for her deep connection with mankind and her service to them through her nurturing nature, nurturing with food and motherly love. Sydney, known for her deep love and connection to food, who derives a deep connection with people from the food she serves them, who stopped a fight from breaking out in front of The Beef with the connecting power of food. Providing nourishment to mankind, and motherly instincts as she clears up a childish dispute.
But wait! There's more!
Richie's hatred of Sydney stemming from his refusal to accept change, his naivete of the joys of hospitality. He hasn't yet accepted the change she brings. Sydney is the embodiment of Ceres, goddess of agriculture, mother to change. It isn't until he accepts change and embraces his role and purpose in hospitality that Richie finally accepts Sydney and essentially adopts her into the world of people he considers family.