‘The Bear’ Season 2 Episode 9 Recap: “Omelette”

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We start off The Bear Season 2 Episode 9 (“Omelette”) with Carmy and Claire in the middle of sex-having time. At least, I think it’s them? It’s very dark, and Nine Inch Nails is playing, but there appear to be little limbs and hair jumbles. But if it’s them, then that means the relationship has progressed, and Carmy’s fully embracing his new boyfriend status.

Every other Bear person not in the throes of passion is anxious about the opening. Especially Sydney, who can’t help but feel that her life’s work is over if the friends-and-family night is a flop. However, her dad is in her corner and is looking forward to eating her Coach K-inspired food. “I have no idea how you do what you do, but I am excited.” But the sentiment grows hollow the more he talks because he’s still trying to convince her that being Chef Sydney doesn’t have to be the most important thing. “Why can’t this be the thing?” she asks. Dad still doesn’t get it, continues patronizing her, and clipping her wings.

We cut to a scene of Carmy in full Jacob’s Ladder mode, fritzing between his past with his mentally ill family and his present happiness courtesy of Claire. He’s feeling the pressure, flexing in his tee-shirt in an alley, while another run of R.E.M.’s “Strange Currencies” floats through the scene like a ghost. All this love in his life is making Carmy seasick.

On the walk over to The Bear, Sydney passes a close-down notice for Verdana, a restaurant she stopped by during the food-inspiration tour of the city. The chef was one of her mentors, a cruel reminder that even the best can still fail in this business.

At The Bear, Carmy and Sugar discuss what’s left to do. Carmy hates a painting she’s hung in the restaurant. It also turns out that they can’t open the sandwich window yet because it’s not ServSafe® Certified, which Ebra said he’d renewed, but it turns out he had not. Biggest bomb, though — Sugar invited Mom Berzatto. Carmy takes the news well, but we can tell that he’s reeling. (She crashed a car inside their house, so maybe make sure Mom is ServSafe® Certified herself before you plop her at a primo table during the most important night of their lives.)

Syd and Carmy attempt to make menu adjustments and tighten loose ends. The biggest one is still the broken walk-in fridge door which Carmy has promised to take care of but has yet to call Tony the fridge guy, to do so. (The broken fridge door is Chekhov’s gun. In fact, there are, like, eight guns in this show, come to think of it.)

“I need your focus,” Sydney says, “Just like you need mine.” This is an important quote because we need constant reminders that Carmy probably has the least to lose from this endeavor. He’ll bounce back, throwing pans and vein-popping tantrums at some other restaurant.

But right now–game time. The kitchen’s starting prep, and Sydney has my second favorite line of the season so far when she gives instructions on how she wants the meat prepared – “Salt that like a sidewalk.”

Marcus has his desserts to show them. He’s got one called Mom’s Honeybun, then Copenhagen Sundae, Sydney’s Donut, and then the insane-looking cannoli:

And then Marcus lets Carmy know the name: “The Michael.”

Carmy gets choked up, then Marcus makes a Jeremiah Johnson nod.

Before the crazy dinner rush, Carmy has a one-on-one with Cicero, who tells a meandering Chicago tough guy parable that involves Alex Gonzalez and Steve Bartman, the moral being, don’t be either one of those two guys and just act like a fucking chef. (This is not what he said–but he should have.)

The weird moment happens between Syd and Marcus, who attempts to no-big-deal ask her out after the night is over, but Syd doesn’t handle it well, gets flustered, then returns to agonizing over line prep. Maybe next season for those two!

Meanwhile, the front of the house is getting ready as Suit Richie fires everyone up, quoting Siddhartha and then throwing a little of his own flavor. “We’re gonna be streets ahead of people tonight: Anticipation creates luxuriation.” Totally worked on me.

Right before the doors open, Carmy discovers that the bag hook on a table isn’t fastened correctly and slides under to fix it. Syd comes walking in and gets underneath to help him. They have a tender moment discussing their fears (Carmy’s is Claire’s greatness, and Sydney’s is “fucking things up”). The bottom line is these two are very alike and make each other better. Before the shift, Carmy gives Syd her own monogrammed chef’s jacket. She suits up, and with five minutes to open, AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood” dropkicks in. Richie, Nat, and Carmy are at the front station waiting for Sydney to say the magic words. “Let it rip,” she says. Richie unlocks the door.

THE BEAR SEASON 2 EPISODE 9: LEFTOVERS

QUESTIONS I STILL HAVE: I guess Nat decided that Richie was the best option to captain the front of the house. I love the transformation, but this guy was stealing electricity a month ago. They should let him bus tables for a few nights first.
MIDDLE-AGE DAD NEEDLE DROP: “Come Back” by Pearl Jam. This is a deep cut off the band’s 2006 Avocado album. It’s a tender, r-and-b-ish ode to heartbreak and death, but it’s played during the under-the-table scene between Carmy and Syd. I thought it was an odd song choice for that particular moment, but I am not complaining. (I have seen Pearl Jam 27 times in concert and have been a dues-paying member of their Ten Club for over a decade. I know. Sorry.)
CARMY ARM PORN: Under the table and dreaming.