To start “The Replicants” (The Bear Season 4 Episode 5), “The Replicants.” Carmy’s back in Al-Anon, thank God. Plus – walk-on alert: Comedian Kate Berlant plays Georgie, the woman who’s sharing at the meeting, telling a story about her addict brother soaking in the bathtub in full clothing and leaving ketchup packets on the bed and nude people on her couch. We understand your sorrow and frustration – but stick to the solution, Kate! (And thanks for sharing.)
Overall, this was also not a terrible episode. However, it did have those long, dragging sequences where nobody talks, or when people are talking, there’s an entire 7-minute Lou Reed song playing over the dialogue, so it’s tough to figure out who to listen to: Am I supposed to listen to the exposition from Lou here or Marcus’s old roommate, Chester, who’s had, what, three scenes over four seasons?
This time plays two roles: one, a struggling real estate agent who’s sold one home but who is now in charge of selling Marcus’s dead mom’s house. He’s also playing this episode’s sage. Here’s this back-and-forth:
MARCUS: You know what I think about a lot? Whenever you sell a house, it’s always something bad.
CHESTER: You think so?
MARCUS: Yeah, you run out of money, somebody dies, you get divorced, you move out.
CHESTER: Like, you could also say it’s good. You know, people get kids, people get married, people made money and they want to buy something. That’s why it’s called moving – you’re moving on.
Back in the kitchen, Ebra is still being mentored by Rob Reiner’s Albert Schnur. He brings him to show off his Italian Beef sandwich wing at the restaurant, and Schnur is impressed how he can do so much business in such a small space with only Chuckie and Chi-Chi to help him.
But seriously – these guys are the best.
Chuckie: “I just crushed the ever-living shit out of an AA meeting.”
Chi-Chi: “You look like this asshole I used to know.”
Albert tries to convince Ebra to figure out how to build a franchise, which is only a great idea if Chuckie and Chi-Chi get a spinoff.
Other not-so-important moments: Syd shoots hoops against herself to help make a decision. Richie has a panic attack about his lonely life. The restaurant is still hemorrhaging money, and Tina calls Carmy out for it. Sweeps is obsessing about boring wine shit.
There is also a triumphant return. Marcus has a new dessert he wants to ship out, but it has very complicated ingredients, including something like pear oil, sushi paper, and fairy sand. I believe it is presented in a kind of violet-flavored candy cup, so he will need some help with plating and prepping. Carmy surprises him with a new stage, his old pal from Copenhagen, pastry chef Luca (Will Poulter), who is back to get everyone all horned up.
The significant plot movement here is that in the last episode, Carmy gave some vague instructions to Sug’s husband, Pete (Chris Witaske), to amend the partnership agreement with Syd, but the details remain a mystery.
Before the dinner rush, we discover that Carmy has finally listened to his staff and will repeat the dinner menus for the first time since the restaurant opened. Based on this gesture and offering her a thorough, thoughtful apology, Just as he’s about to tell her about the amended agreement, Sug comes in with baby Sophie, prompting Richie to say this:
Genius.
Syd takes a phone call from a mysterious number that’s been trying to contact her all day. She returns the call and is told that her father has had a heart attack and is in the hospital. Carmy offers to go with her to the hospital, but she wants to go alone. Now what?!?
THE BEAR SEASON 3 EPISODE 5: LEFTOVERS
QUESTIONS I STILL HAVE: There are 351 hours (15 days) left on the Bear Doomsday Clock. For a show that’s become adept at meandering plots that take what feels like years to develop time flew by here. In a little less than two weeks, The Bear needs a Michelin star or else Uncle Cicero and Computer shut it all down. Ebra better get that Italian beef franchise up and running ASAP.
MIDDLE-AGED DAD NEEDLE DROP(S): After a slow start, this ep came charing through with an entire playlist called “Songs that Will Make Your Wife Roll Her Eyes At You.” “Slip Away” by Lou Reed/John Cale. Jason Isbell’s “Hope the High Road.” Paul Simon…You get it.
CARMY ARM PORN: THE CLASSIC TRICEP CURVE.
A.J. Daulerio is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor. He is also the founder of The Small Bow, a recovery newsletter.
Read the full article here
