#sydney meta

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

As I predicted last year, the menu changed and so did Sydcarmy.

Bc it’s them.

Now they are no longer partners. They are something else. They are still shapeshifting.

My guess is that now that they won’t have to be together bc they will no longer work together, they will still choose to be together, just for the heck of it.

And we will get more episodes like pasta, or even a food tour that ends in kasama, like 2 foodie friends/ex colleagues, who just love food.

And that’s the best version of Sydcarmy I can ask for, if you ask me.

For the record, I don’t think he will go, and even if he does, it’s gonna be like his Braciole era, he’ll brb. But if you ask me, I want him to go, I want him to never come back to that kitchen, and just be her “partner” in life, not in business. That’s exactly what I want and the best/healthiest version of Sydcarmy I could get. I think they’ll work better that way. They get the best of both worlds that way.

Carmy is not the only one who wants things that are bad for him. Like his relationship with the C person, like his addiction to work, like his escapism.

Syd also wants unhealthy things, his cigarettes, her emotional avoidance of never really opening up outta fear, her toxic working relationship with her workaholic business partner, who she thinks she wants by her side, but what she actually wants is him (the man), although she’s sublimating it in the form of a professional relationship bc she thinks that’s all she should have with him, bc any other version of him is less safe. She thinks she just wants and can handle the chef. Getting in any other kinda relationship with him would be too kamikaze. And who can blame her?

The truth is that she’s hiding behind what she thinks she wants too, just like him. And that what she wants, working with Carmy (the chef) is unhealthy for her, unless they happen to be on a day when “things are good at the 1st house and it’s kinda like the best feeling in the world”. But she knows that things are not always good and when they aren’t it gets too toxic for her. So why wanting more of that? Why risking bad days when the big brother is offering her a way out of it, keeping only the good part, the good days, the debt free house? Because she wants it all, not just the good parts, the toxic ones too. All of it, bc she grew love to it/him. And she doesn’t want to. She doesn’t approve of it. Bc it’s dangerous, it’s toxic, it’s inconvenient. So, she wants what’s not entirely healthy for her. Just like him.

I want them to get the best versions of one another only, at least for a while. They already know the “professional” version and how toxic things can get between them. The only way in which they can start letting themselves feel what they really feel — and are denying— for each other, is by them choosing to be together but not bc they have a restaurant to save, a debt to pay or a star to get, but just bc they want to, no pressure, no agenda, just for their love for food. Their red string.

[bioloyg]

The Ever After Offer

The more I think about Sydney not even wanting to know what The Bear’s partnership offer was, the more sure of this I become. Either Sydney was worried the offer would suck, or - more likely - she was worried it would be GOOD.

Like. I think it says something that:

1. Natalie is the one who tells Sydney to look the partnership offer over because Computer is the one who drew up the agreement. The same guy ALL of them argue with. And the reason I think it’s important that Natalie was the one who told Sydney this is because Natalie is also the same person who threatens Computer when he tries to cut Marcus. She is well aware of how pragmatic Computer is and how that could fuck any of them over.

2. The person they recommend look over the partnership agreement for Sydney is PETE. Pete, who is notoriously othered by the Berzatto family. Pete, who represents everything the Berzattos aren’t. Someone who is level-headed, kind, earnest to a fault, and just overall wants the best for the people around him. While Natalie and Cicero urge Sydney to sign the agreement (after weeks to months of her waffling), they never claimed up front that the offer was flawless.

3. The offer might not be flawless, but considering where it’s coming from, I’m actually kind of surprised by how well it matches Shapiro’s offer.

Think about it. Shapiro tells Sydney that he has backers from Ever. That has to be a well established group of people. Meanwhile, The Bear is being funded by one man’s guilt for a group of kids he loves like they’re his own. Not only that, but the bitch who wrote the agreement is kind of ruthless (managerially speaking).

Computer’s offer is measured and reasonable. 70k is the starting point for what was already supposed to be a negotiation. Having benefits take a while to kick in is, unfortunately, standard in a lot of places. Maybe if Sydney had signed the agreement back in June, she’d have those benefits now. But she didn’t. Nor did she attempt to negotiate and stick up for herself, even when provided the services of one of the only people in the Berzatto extended family who isn’t an asshole on some level.

So. While Shapiro tells Sydney to think his offer over, and that he’ll talk to Carmen, I find it interesting that he neither recommends Sydney get a lawyer or sends her a physical agreement to look over, nor does he talk to Carmen. But most of all, Shapiro is not offering Sydney a financial stake in his business (that we know of). Carmen and Natalie ARE, AND THAT IS THE CRUX OF ALL OF THIS!

Sydney tells her father (and the audience) point blank in S2 that she’s putting everything into The Bear because she doesn’t know if she can do another one. But what she really meant was that she can’t watch another business fail. The Bear felt like it was hers before she was even offered the possibility of a financial stake, and now that she COULD have one, it re-introduces her very real trauma over the loss of Sheridan Road. The idea that even her best wasn’t enough to save the thing she held so dearly. Add to this the fact that Carmen is clipping Sydney’s wings by preventing her from truly having control over the menu, and we can see why Sydney is so rattled about the whole ordeal. If this fails, she will have had no way to stop it from doing so, because one of her partners is an asshole (Carmen), and the other one is too fucking exhausted to get involved when it’s time to argue (rightfully so, but see: Nat not wanting to get in the middle of the Richie/Carmen fight).

With Shapiro there is an element of safety because if his restaurant fails, it’s HIS restaurant, not hers. That leaves just enough mental wiggle room for Sydney to survive and recover. The Bear does not because she’s already all in. That is something that is HERS, even if only in part.

[imliterallyjustablackgirl]

All I am saying is Tumblr has a limit, and I would actually love to read y'all ''supposed'' (hope y'a take the bait) essays about Sydcarmy's scenes or The Bear .

(Matter of fact I would love to read them to sleep.)

I was wondering if there's a way for us to pin them in this tag or some? Metas for all!

I literally have so much to say with gifs and and and red yarn..

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

She knows

Pretend I'm saying this 2 years ago, right after S3 came out.

Remember how we always say that he's staring at her, that he yearns, etc?

Well, Syd knows.

Check Carmy's frames, his blue eyes burning through her memory when she ponders whether to accept Shapiro's offer or not and all that would entail, when she sees her ribs' first review and her minds goes stright to all she'd be leaving behind if she quits, triggering her panic attack.

The Carmy she still has tattoed in her brain is the one she first laid eyes on, in S1, and the one that named her Captain of the ship in S2:

That's what happens when you really really love someone and you're into deep. You editorialize and what prevails in your perception of them are the "good parts", not that you forget the "other ones" or deny them, I mean, you can, some people definitely do, but not Syd, not someone who's brilliant and is not being manipulated. Syd knows Carmy, all facets of him (well, almost all facets of him). She's not oblivious to the bad parts, but the ones that tug the strings of her ❤️are the other ones.

Especially the way he looks at her.

She knows.

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Sydcarmy o´clock

Timing timing timing

She´s not just the cherry; she´s the "Preserved cherry." 🍒

Cherry vinegar

Syd is being treated like the prize Carmy will get IF he passes all the tests; (not a trophy wife that is objectified, but a reward to the ultimate sacrifice, whatever that is for Carmy) therefore, she´s being saved for later or preserved for the final act, whenever that is in Storer´s mind. She´s the cherry on the cake.

So the whole scenario has to be already good so she can enhance it and make it perfect, while everything is fucked Sydcarmy won´t happen. She´s not a fixer. That´s the ER Dr. She´s the cherry on top, but for her to be put where she belongs, the cake has to be already good to go.

Source: Cambridge.org

Meaning Carmy has to have already sorted out all his shit and cleaned up his act, basically no longer be a POS, at least not on the those aspects she has specifically asked him to work on, for Syd to be his cherry on top of all the work he has made and succeeded at.

(BTW: I love it when they´re silly together I´m gonna fucking kill them!)

*extend its life so it can be consumed later.

She´s being reserved preserved for the "right time": Cherry season.

Source: USU.

So I´m assuming that this is the only literal breadcrumb Storer threw at us, because it´s gonna happen in Cherry season for sure, for the show always airs in June every year. Personally, I have the feeling that the series finale will be like a recreation, on better terms, ofc, of Fishes or Braciole Family service, so I wanna say Christmas time? But if I´m wrong, then it´s definitely going to be in June/July (June on the show, I mean, not just IRL), in cherry season. Both options look awesome, so I´m gonna be happy either way.

My point is that the preserved cherry lead is what marks the timing; it´s what´s telling us that whoever represents the cherry in the story is being postponed.(so it lasts longer).

Happily ever after, longer...

Also, we know that Syd is the red, she is the one who usually goes for the red Sharpie. Carmy is the blue in this story.

She´s the blood, he´s the heart, no heart beats without blood, that´s why he served her (only her) the red blood orange sauce. He basically made it especially for her.

Lastly, to reiterate, I think that this Preserved Cherry theory aligns with the previous ones that kinda point at Sydcarmy transitioning to canon this season, but since Storer threw a curved ball and S4 is no longer the final one, the whole TL got pushed forward or stretched, delayed till S5. That´s why I didn´t want it to happen, and IK that at some point last year, it was the original plan to end the show in S4, that´s why JLC said so. But then Storer clearly reconsidered his decision.

IMO The Sydcarmy endgame will definitely begin this season and will be used as a cliffhanger to sell S5, but the real main dish will be served next year and maybe THAT will be the series finale (especially given to the new Oscar buzz that JAW´s upcoming movie DMFN generated and even more so if Enemies opens in the summer of 2026 and becomes a blockbuster, not to mention Ayo and Ebon´s potential blockbusters and critically acclaimed movies). If that´s the case, then FX will definitely wanna bank on all of that success the show´s big 3 will bring along and air a final S5, which is a deal that is most likely already closed with Storer and the cast, but unlike last year, they were told not to disclose it yet. It will be officially announced after S4 premieres and they get to see the numbers and the feedback it gets.

So, recapping: the potential S5 changed it all... just like the fact that when Storer was offered a 4th season last year, this also changed the Sydcarmy TL because he decided to save it for EVEN LATER. Sydcarmy endgame, in Storer´s head, has always been envisioned as the show´s FINAL ACT. The show is split into parts, PART I, II, and III, and now IV, so the actual full-on Endgame is the final act, and thus it will be served as a final dessert. That´s why Marcus is such an important and strategic piece in the Sydcarmy arc.

(and that´s why now that I understood this, I´m no longer freaked out by the ep in S4 that Ayo wrote, bc she co-wrote it with Lionel, so I´m taking a leap of faith and making an educated guess assuming that it´s gonna help the Sydcarmy plot move along).

Bonus track: I do not subscribe to the Shakespearean theory of Marcus being Puck. I don´t even believe The Bear has a Shakespearean macro plot.

I always said The Bear is an Austenian plot, and I unapologetically push the FAIREST CREATURES agenda.

Meaning: Taking something painful and making it beautiful, finding beauty in pain, and always building towards a happy ending and redemption arc for her main characters, unless she kills them first, and if she does, we can be sure that death will serve the happy ending purpose anyway.

Unlike Shakespeare, who was more of a tragedy-comedy kinda fellow. While S1 was indeed EXTREMELY SHAKESPEAREAN, and mostly written by Storer, S2, AKA: THE SYDCARMY SEASON:

Storer made a detour because Calo and he shared the power in the WR, Stalo was born (my favest). And in S4, Stalo will be back!

Stalo is quintessentially Austenian; that´s why I love their collaborative writing style. So the Sydcarmy clock is clicking again, of that we can be sure, therefore the C character will no longer be needed, after Carmy grants them the COURTESY of a long delayed closure that IMO shoulda happened last season.

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

She just needed to hear his voice

Sometimes I get so caught up in what they say, why they say it, how, etc, and I bypass these silent gems:

She just wanted to hear his voice; that´s why she kept quiet at first. His voice felt reassuring to her, at that moment. It calmed her down, like her presence does to him, when he´s in the middle of a panic attack. Same energy.

There was some dead air before he filled it with "You need anything?"

And then the conversation started to have a normal beat after that, until...

She said, "I appreciate you".

At that point, he was the one who took a few moments before speaking again.

Those words hurt him. He took them as "I just appreciate you". And he knows that he feels something much deeper than appreciation for Sydney at this point.

They say soooo much without saying anything at all... But they don´t really listen!

Visit Original Link

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

He´s the blue bear in her dream

She´s both the Bear and herself in his:

They are both in each other´s nightmares because they are both repressing their true feelings for one another. When they quit repressing and consciously choose to express them, their unconscious mind will stop playing tricks on them.

This is very Jungian, which I already talked about here a few days ago... here. The misinterpretation of The Bear as a Freudian fable is part of the problem that keeps the story stuck in terms of Sydcarmy, it´s actually Jungian! The more we dive into the characters UC instead of taking a transpersonal approach, the more the plot doesn´t move forward, and maybe at some point Storer was doing that (S3), but not before when he wrote the original script, and certainly not now. But the transpersonal growth is not something that happens overnight, and is definitely not linear, which I think is what Storer should polish with his writing bc he´s a TV SHOWRUNNER, not a psychiatrist, so for entertainment purposes the timing should be adjusted.

Remember to follow my tag #Gingerpovs 💋

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

Maybe Carmy and Emmanuel go way back - if so, this church and Mikey´s cap are the keys

OK, so hear me out:

I´m thinking Emmanuel took lil Syd to Sunday school and then hit The Beef for a sandwich, and headed home.

BECAUSE THE BEEF WAS OPEN ON SUNDAYS

My HC about Carmy and Emmanuel knowing each other, at least by passing, is based on S2 (02x02) when Carmy recovers Mikey´s cap:

He mentions a booth, and that it was a really fun night, he´s talking about this concert:

2010 Chicago Gospel Fest – The List of Performers

Saturday, June 5th

Walgreens Day Stage Noon – Slayton Palms and Little Mount of Hope 12:45 pm – Mind Over Matter 1:30 pm – The Brown Brothers 2:30 pm – God’s House of All Nations 3:30 pm – Kenny Lewis & One Voice with Special Guest JJ Hairston

Inspiration Youth Stage 12:30 pm – St. James Ministries Youth Choir 12:55 pm – Dance – TBA 1:10 pm – Takaira 1:25 pm – Open Mic 1:45 pm – Youth In Christ 2:05 pm – Charles Middleton 2:20 pm – Brandon Smith & Under Thee Influence 2:45 pm – Open Mic 3:05 pm – The Turner Sisters 3:30 pm – Chrystal Harris 3:45 pm – New Nazareth Youth Choir 4:10 pm – Open Jam

Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage 4:30 pm – Ricky Dillard & New G. 5:20 pm – Bishop Darrell McFadden & the Disciples 6:00 pm – Kathy Taylor 6:40 pm – Byron Cage featuring Mark Hubbard & The Voices 7:55 pm – Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir

I´m thinking that Emmanuel, being probably a church guy (and maybe even a recovered alcoholic who used to go to the same AA meetings Carmy goes to at that church at some point based on 02x10), frequented that church and also went to that Gospel concert, and maybe even shared a booth with The Berzattos for a while and IDK... it´s a HC, that ties these 2 very important men in Syd´s life together with a red string and I love to think that that is exactly what happened, that they go way back, both Carmy and Emmanuel, and maybe Carmy Jr and Syd Jr when Emmanuel took Syd to The Beef every Sunday bc it was his favest spot.

Makes more sense to me than thinking she tainted this beautiful moment with a filthy lie, bc it´s OOC for her to do that:

But I could be PARTIALLY wrong...