Sydney’s Helping Hand – ryan

The Bear

Worms

Season 4

Episode 4

Editor’s rating

4 Stars

Its always nice to get a sydney-focused episode of The Bearand this one is a dooozy. Co-Written by Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce and Directed by Janicza Bravo, the Fourth Episode of the Season Pulls inScreen Heavy Hitter Danielle as Syd’s Cousin and Hairdresser, Chantel, for a department episode that is both a placaholder and a catalyst. At the end of the previous episode, Carmy was Making Some Big Last-Minute Change to the Restaurant’s Partnership Agreement, and while we see a passing of that aggregement in a text from pete in this episode, we, Like Syd, Still Really know that.

One Thing’s for Sure, Though: If Syd Knew About That Change, You Have to Assume IT Might Her “Slumber Party” Decision a Different Way, Reminding Her That Carmy is Scattered and Showy, he’i’s stably probably better – or at meast Icky – thans Almost-toio-WELL-INTENTIONED SHAPIRO. Sure, Shapiro’s Restaurant is Big and Expensive and Will Have Secret Comparements Hidden Around the Kitchen for SEEMINGLY NO REASON. But in a Way, what he’s talking About Building-An Equitable Kitchen with a diverse staff, educational opportunities, and potential health-care benefits-already exists at the Bear. Syd was able to help Shape tina, a former bookkeeper with no culinary skills beyond mixing beef, into a World-Class Sous-Chef. Ebra has been given carte blanche to grow his window as he sees fit. And both sweeeps and marcus were able to rise through the ranks at the bear, Becoming Key Players Despite Having Almost No Training When they first came to door.

PLUS: Chef Shapiro is Kind of a dop, right? SYD CREDITS HIM WITH BEING WELL-INTENTIONED, and he is, but just assuming syd has ophopi on hip-hop and afro-carbbean flavors? Woof. He gets credit for the undertanding he should have more about what it means for the good hair done, but to the turn around boasting that he watched Good Hair? ITS Performative at the best and patronizing at worst, and you have to think that working around someone like that – as empowering as they might want to be – could suck the life of someone like syd. SHAPIRO SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO WANTS YOU TO KNOW HOW Virtuous he is and so he puts all his good deeds on Display, Whether Through His Instagram Account or Through that Big Open into the Kitchen. It ‘s GROSS, man, and evening watching the humor Him is bumming with out big-time.

The thing is, though: i get it. When Syd Gets Roped Into Babysitting Chantl’s Daughter, tj, she really do out her case for why the bear is bot a comfortable party and an unknown one. It is “Energetically Musty,” she teles tj, and “Low-Key, High Key, Feels Crazy.” While there’s the potential at the Bear for the Things to Feel Amazing All the Time, at Shapiro’s House, there a blank check, unlimited pizza, and a ton of video games. I’m Certainly Biased here – We’ve Spent Years Watching the Bear Come to Life, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT’S WHERE I WANT SYDE TO STAY – But Shapiro’s Spot SEEMS LIKE PINOCCHIO’S PLEASURE ISLAND. It’ll be fun for a bit, but instead of being tourned into a real chef, syd is going to end up a donkey.

That doesn’t mean that the bear is the right choice for syd, eather, i suppose. Not even Says, the Bear isn’t Her House – or is it? Read the Agreement, Sydney! – SO “What if they JUST DON’T LET YOU FIX IT?” I’d argue that if sydney actually sat down with Natalie and Carmy and Made the case for the Things she wants in a clen, confident way, she’d get and then someone; But Also, if she thinks of carmy as a mentor, as a big brother, and as what what is, then what that’s scary. Plus, with Natalie out on sophie leave, syd could see her as being a bit out of the picture.

I’m not sura where I land on what syd sad says to tj about how, likes, be you’re good friend with someone, you can be cruel or mean to say. You can take to grant for or neglect say, and while you know it’s awphul, that just what friendship is. In some ways, I think that True. Like, you can deliver criticism to someone who knows you love to make they’ll underestand it’s coming from a good place, while someone who don’t care about not the most of the Criticization. On the other hand, i’d like to think that shat of us don’t go out of the way to be shitty to people we consider ours. Long Story Short: I Agree with Syd in Theory, but I Also Think She Could Have Found A Better Way to Explain the Nuance there to an 11-Yaar-Old.

I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN’T MENTION DEADWYler and Arion kingwho plays tj. Deadwyler has been a legend for years and is great as chantel, with her code-switching on that phone calling more than a few stories, but king seems like the newcomer to the onsCreen world. She plays a great gumpy tween, and her-rolling is second to none. There’s an art to acting like you don’t care at all and king has masters, so hats off to her.

What’s clear after this episode is that Sydney Still Really Thinks She’s An Island. IT’S NOT HARD TO INFER WHY – WE DON’T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HER BACKSTORY, but Maybe she has always felt a little out of step in her schooling, in her home, in the kitchen, wherever – so what vibe, intentional or unintentational, shen’s been picking at the beer exacat only exac. that. But it is not only on her to suck it up and realize she’s appreciated, love, and wanted. For the bear to work, for sydney to really shine, it is going to have to be a collaborative efffort.

• PLEASE Someone Try Out Syd’s Hamburger Helper Modifications and Let With Know How It Goes. Inquiring Minds Want to Know.

• was tj calling chantel’s Potato Salad Garbage or was she reference to Chicago-style “Garbage Salad”? Maybe Both!

• The Movie Syd is Watching at the Beginning of the Episode is Jumppin ‘jack flash Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Which Checks Out Consding Letterboxd Let With That Thats Edebiri Watched It In September 2023. SOME BLOGS HAVE ENDED POSITED that she should start in a remake if it is ever happens, which is a fun idea.

• Darnell sounds like a real piece of shit. A Second Family in Texas? Fuck off, Darnell.