If I should describe Luca in one phrase that would be self-aware. Not in the self-conscious, self-depreciating, Carmy way. The first time this man is presented to us, he's so calm. It's only natural, he's on his element. But as the series progresses, we get to know him better and we understand that as he's also human and flawed, he can lose his cool and say hurtful things to those he love. One of the first things he said to Marcus was that the people you surround yourself with and the environment are very important to help you thrive in both your personal and your work life. Luca's not the typical "do as I say, not as I do" type of person. He does not push forward with a job or a life once he understands the direction it's going to it's not the place he wants to be. He leaves Chicago because he's being truthful to himself and what he needs in life. In juxtaposition with Carmy that runs towards the aching, sour, feeling, even if he has to become the one inflicting the wound. I understand Carmen's wiring because it's the type of mindset that makes you thrive and be the best in the field you choose as you conveniently leave to the side all the things that are hard to face. Human connection starts to feel unaffordable so you shut down, and surprisingly so, the more you leave behind the more you feel that dopamine rush when you're close to your goal. Except that when you actually do reach it, there's no one at home to celebrate with. There's envy, loneliness and bitterness right there to bite you in the butt. Nothing is enough, because the void that you want to fill with greatness could never be fulfilled with other than human connection and actual reconciliation. Carmen Berzatto wasted years of his life being mad at his brother just to start texting him once he could not answer anymore.
And it pains me because it's all too familiar the way he gave up everything for the sake of greatness just to realize that being good at something does not mean you are forced to do it. Which feels contradicting because at least how I see it, there's no space in the show for Carmy to develop in whatever direction he decides to, there's always somebody dictating how he should live his life, wheter that be his brother that decided to step away and leave Carmen with the weight of his unresolved issues, a restaurant to be fixed and workers that needed to be paid, his uncle that pressured him in a way we know he would've never pressured Mikey because he pitied the man, in the way Sydney tells him he needs to stay because he helped to build The Bear even when he stated he doesn't want to. There's different voices throughout Carmen's life that tell him he needs to be something or someone and he actively fights against that until his own head becomes the enemy he has to fight with. He's own companion through this journey has become the one thing that keeps him from being happy, or at least not miserable. In the end, he wins the fight and chooses himself. Which I believe is inspiring because every second counts but it's never too late to start over.
