History Fridge / TheBear2022

* There are several references to Goldilocks and the Three Bear in The Bear, the most blatant example is Carmy telling the story of a gelée that was either too hard or too soft. Now, what color and texture does Carmy's hair have?

* Carmy's nightmare in episode 2 ends with him starting a massive fire on his stove, apparently trying to cook even in his sleep. He woke up in time to put it out before doing any serious damage...''this time''.

** Jeremy Allen White later [[https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/the-bear-cash-tomato-cans-season-2-1234742400/ confirmed]] that canonically, the can contained around $5,000.

* In the first season, Natalie said that she wished Carmy would ask if she's okay more often. Contrast that with her mother's reaction to being asked if she's okay in the second season: Natalie sees it as a pure expression of love and interest in someone's well-being, while Donna sees it as a condescending question that only exposes that she's acting "not okay" (a state that she perpetuates, mind you).

* In the first season, Natalie said that she wished Carmy would ask if she's okay more often. Contrast that with her mother's reaction to being asked if she's okay in the second season: Natalie sees it as a pure expression of love and interest in someone's well-being, while Donna sees it as a condescendingly naive question that only reveals how far removed her family is (a distance she perpetuates, mind you).

** Another parallel between Carmy and his mother in this finale is how both of them remove themselves (willingly or not) from all the good things happening in The Bear: Carmy's neglect gets him trapped screaming while Richie and Sidney save the service and showcase The Bear's incredible progress, while Donna's guilt keeps her from sharing the beautiful things her family has going on such as The Bear and Natalie's pregnancy.

* Carmy's neglect getting himself stuck in the walk-in in the season two finale is a dark reflection of his mother locking herself in her car that fateful Christmas night - Richie even picks up on this, sarcastically calling Carmy "Donna" which infuriates him. Both characters have, despite making things "beautiful" and working for their families, have also totally alienated them and established martyr complexes, locking themselves away so that no one can help them even if they wanted to.

** Another parallel between Carmy and his mother in this finale is how both of them remove themselves (willingly or not) from all the good things happening in The Bear: Carmy's neglect gets him trapped screaming while Richie and Sidney save the service and showcase The Bear's incredible progress, while Donna's guilt keeps her from sharing the beautiful things her family has created such as The Bear and Natalie's pregnancy.

* In the first season, Natalie expresses that she wished Carmy would ask if she's okay more often. Contrast that with her mother's reaction to being asked if she's okay in the second season.

* Carmy's neglect getting himself stuck in the walk-in in the season two finale is a dark reflection of his mother locking herself in her car that fateful Christmas night - Richie even picks up on this, sarcastically calling Carmy "Donna" which infuriates him. Both characters have alienated their families, locking themselves away so that no one can help them even if they wanted to.

* There are several references to Literature/Goldilocks and the Three Bear in The Bear, the most blatant example is Carmy telling the story of a gelée that was either too hard or too soft. Now, what color and texture does Carmy's hair have?

* Carmy threw out a can of tomato sauce in the first episode. It all works out in the end for the restaurant, but... considering what we find out was in the cans in the season finale...

* Natalie's choice to have Pete as a spouse makes a lot more sense in light of episode 206. He may be unable to take a hint and a bit of a bore, but he's always kind and supportive. Seeing how unjustly ''nasty'' Donna could be at Natalie, and how volatile the Berzatto household could get, Pete is a source of stability and support that Natalie can depend on.

* Natalie's choice to have Pete as a spouse makes a lot more sense in light of episode 206.

* Carmy telling Sydney that her risotto and braised beef weren't ready yet comes off as him being perfectionist at first, especially considering everyone liked it. However, the scene also illustrates Sydney's impatience and wanting to move ahead before she's ready vs the more experienced chef Carmy who knows the value of being cautious and getting things right first. It proves to be subtle foreshadowing for the restaurant's disastrous attempt to switch to a to-go model, which Carmy had been reluctant to do but caved in due to pressure from Sydney, the latter of whom's inexperience with the ordering system led them to be flooded with hundreds of orders right at opening.

*** Carmy is cooking quietly, only sometimes shaking his head at Michael's story, reflecting taking over Michael's work at the restaurant without criticizing him, only thinking it.
*** Richie is sitting in the back, helping Michael telling his story by occasionally adding a detail, without taking attention from Mikey, reflecting how he jumps from station to station in the restaurant without having a position himself, just helping where and when he is needed.

* The kitchen is getting lit better and better as the show goes on. It is dark in the beginning when everything was chaotic, dirty, broken, and nobody knew their place. Then, episode by episode, the light goes on as everybody is working to make it a better place.
** This is taken UpToEleven in Episode 5, when Richie, Carmy and Fak have a fight. During it, a fuse blows and the light goes out. It turns back on once the fight is resolved.

* In a flashback, Michael is telling a story whilst cooking. The scene is mirroring the whole premise: Michael starts the Brasciole, then tells Carmy to finish it, moving out of the way. Carmy is now in the middle of the screen, Michael stands in the corner of the screen, Sugar is assisting out of focus in the background, Richie is in focus, sitting closely behind Carmy. Michael is still telling the story, getting all the attention.

* Richie states since Carmy works at The Beef, it is the first time they are making a deficit. This isn't Carmy's fault, though, Michael was using the loaned money to break even every week, keeping the rest to put away.

* There are several references to Literature/Goldilocks and the Three Bear in The Bear, the most blatant example is Carmy telling the story of a gelée that was either too hard or too soft. Now, what color and texture does Carmy's hair have?

* The kitchen is getting lit better and better as the show goes on. It is dark in the beginning when everything was chaotic, dirty, broken, and nobody knew their place. Then, episode by episode, the light goes on as everybody is working to make it a better place.