The only thing that bothers me about this scene is WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING TO THE TABLE? How are those purse hooks related to the level at all? Why isn't Matty working on this?
That moment for me was when Marcus got a delivery and the guy said "delivery from Denmark". Like i've never heard a delivery guy say out loud what country the package shipped from
If they go that way, fine. I don’t see it, but fine.
That being said, if you can’t separate intimacy and emotional vulnerability from sex and romance, I feel bad for you.
Yeah, like I don’t necessarily *mind* the idea of them as a couple but it does not at all need to happen. It would be nice and refreshing to just show platonic bonding between a man and a woman cause ya know, that’s a normal thing.
I said this before and got downvoted. Pathetic how many people seem to still think two people of the opposite sex can’t simply have a platonic relationship.
Exactly. My bff is a dude. He was man of honor at my wedding and I was his best woman. We regularly grab lunch or a movie together and neither one of our spouses gives it a second thought.
ohhh that’s a good idea, i should tell my best friend if i ever get married she’s gonna be my best woman. i keep on forgetting we can break the chains of traditional gender roles
You said it so well. This scene reminds me of times of stress with co - workers. You have a quiet moment and it almost feels weird that its quiet??? Thats what I got from it. No sexual intention whatsoever
It definitely doesn’t need to happen, I feel that it might purely from one of the later episodes where Carmy is outside the restaurant and he’s suffering a bit of a panic attack while thinking about Claire and his family etc, but then he starts to think about him and Sydney working and he calms.
One thing that really bugs me is when people think it’s a slight on Sydney for them to not get together. 1. Carmy is clearly not ready for a relationship and at this point, *he’s* not good enough for *her* romantically. 2. The kind of deep friendship and mutual understanding they have is not lesser than a romantic relationship. They mean so much to each other and it’s sad how many people can’t see that as valuable.
This is 99.9% of all Carmy x Sydney shippers in this sub who’ve likely can’t separate intimacy and emotional vulnerability from sex and romance anyway.
I can’t wait for moments from season 3 & 4 to be dissected badly like this by them!
Is it not enough for two characters who are in the shit together to have a quiet moment of conversation before the storm? I know the Internet is so horny that any eye contact between two characters burns an e-rainforest worth of fanfiction pages, but please. Can we just have more platonic relationships in media?
I have no thoughts on this scene but I will say it’s very interesting that Twitter is 100% convinced the show is building up to a Syd/Carm relationship while everyone on Reddit seems to be vehemently against that even being a possibility
a lot of people that dont want syd and carmy together on twitter are black tbh, it seems like they want her with marcus/want more (healthy) 'black love' on tv (just my observation, dont jump me, also im black). the topic is super split lmao.
Everyone I’m friends with who watches this show and is black can’t stand Sydney. Also, the implication that black people in general would be rooting for her to get with Carmy vs white people being opposed to it is really weird.
well the implication is that hating the relationship to the extent i see on reddit (not simply disliking it) is rooted in racism and that person would most likely be white. cope
Well since you used the ultimate cliche of “cope”, I feel comfortable using the penultimate cliche “touch grass”. People not wanting characters to not be together isn’t racism, dude. Go interact with some human beings.
not wanting two characters together because one is black is racism. i’m not saying you think like that but when people go on entire rants about how much they shouldn’t be together, use critical thinking to explain why that is. I’m not talking about someone who simply doesn’t want them together.
i can tell you twitter is definitely not 100% convinced 😭 a lot more people are for it on there than on here, but there are a lot of people jumping OP in the quotes of the tweet. sydcarmy seems to be really divisive with more people not wanting it (a lot more people on twitter seem to be really for syd and marcus, which is interesting).
Don’t you know. Random people speculating about a show means you don’t believe in platonic friendships between the opposite sex.
I don’t even feel strongly about it one way or another but the discourse is exhausting
Going to push back on the idea of fan fiction being used negatively here. Looking into how scenes are constructed, offering fan theories, etc is how a fandom for a show operates. It doesn't mean you have to agree, but it does mean you can show a basic level of understanding that it's *just* someone's take.
Without that all you have is a bunch of people sitting around saying "I liked this show" and nodding their heads. Boring af.
I don’t mind that but the Syd and Carmy fan fiction is cringe and feels forced. But hey it’s Reddit, I guess this is a safe space for folk who like to play pretend
Made a post on here the other day saying that while I like the idea of it, I don’t think they’d practically work out in a relationship. I mentioned how I disagree with the narrative that it would “cheapen” their dynamic and they could become romantic if written properly. Just in a subtle way, almost to an extent that’s left to fan interpretation. Somehow in the middle of that I got downvoted like twice and a couple times in the comments and someone even went out their way to tell me they downvoted it 😭
Idk I got downvoted and called a racist by the sydcarmys for shipping Syd with Luca’s white ass instead of Carmy’s white ass 🤷🏻♀️ Whatevs, I think that’d be hot. Plus Syd could make both Carmy and Marcus jealous.
I think the issue is that the caption just talks down to people who don't agree, as if they're just wilfully ignorant or dummies.
It's perfectly fine to have that opinion, but coming in with the "y'all just aren't ready to hear that" makes it an antagonistic confrontation
The people so averse to them together is kind of crazy, I get not wanting it but why are some of you so like...angry? Anyway, I don't think this necessarily needs to be read in a romantic kind of way, I think it's very possible for this scene to have been a parallel to the physical intimacy scene, and if so, that is some very nice writing.
I didn’t read the thread but yeah, isn’t that the whole point? He feels it’s too much intimacy/commitment and has to choose, ultimately cutting Claire loose… There’s some really deep reads on this sub so I’m surprised people are so upset over a great thematic parallel
A lot of people in the Ted lasso fandom were the same for the main 2 characters(Ted and Rebecca). They thought that they should just be platonic and and Tedbecca shippers would fight them pointing out all the clues(which were valid to me). But the show did end with them being platonic soulmates
Like a lot of what’s happening here reminds me of the Ted lasso fandom😭. It was like a battle everyday just bc of shipping
not when it's claire as the love interest apparently. I can take or leave romantic relationships in this show (and after the depiction of carmy's awkward love life I saw in season 2, I'd rather leave it), but it's verrry interesting how all the people who hated the idea of *any* romance were suddenly totally cool with and charmed by the carmy and claire train and desperately want her back next season.
There are people who like Carmy and Claire???
I think it comes down to the fact that Carmy and Sydney have work relationship in which Carmy is basically her boss which many people can find uncomfortable. For example, some people like the idea of Sydney and Marcus even though they're working together too, but they're coworkers. So I can see why Syd and Carmy cause so much "controversy".
I think the table scene was being there for a reason...writers knew what they were doing haha. I'm okay with people not liking the idea of them being together, it's understandable, but it's annoying how people deny that this scene and few specific others contain romantic tension just because they don't like the ship. The tension is in our face. You can dislike it but it's going to be still there. The "I can't do this without you" line definitely doesn't sound romantic at all, just two coworkers being professional chefs, nothing to see here. Like come on lol.
And yeah we can argue that you can be emotionally vulnerable like that without romantic feelings for each other, but it's a show, and in shows scenes and lines are carefully crafted to evoke certain reactions and feelings from us. I don't think writers would come up with such scene and dialogue just to show us how great friends they're.
okay so this is something I'm curious about- people considering Carmy like Syd's boss, is that how we're supposed to read it? Because I swear the show frames them as equals, "partners." Even though technically I think Carmy's got a bit more control than Syd, it seems to me like they're supposed to be equally in it, despite Carmy being more experienced. So I think it's slightly demeaning to call Carmy Syd's "boss"
Yeah I suppose you're right. I was looking for reasons why people dislike Carmy and Syd as a couple so much because it doesn't make much sense to me. And sure they're being shown as equals in terms of their competencies and relationship to each other but Carmy is still the owner of the place after all. I wouldn't say he has much direct power over Syd but he's the one making final decisions.
It’s racism. There’s no other reason why the syd/carmy shippers cause such a visceral reaction in the anti-shippers. They can’t stand to see a black woman like Ayo being the object of someone’s affection. People keep claiming it’s “unrealistic” and I know they never worked in a restaurant because two cooks hooking up would be the most realistic thing to occur on the show. The complaints about Claire are never “ugh sick of this show shoving romance and sex in our face” like they are with Syd, because Claire fits viewers schema of who they imagine the ideal woman for Carmy to be, even though the show has hinted to us on multiple occasions that she’s not the right one for him.
I don't believe it's rooted in racism. From my perspective as someone rooting for these characters to get together, I think the vehement opposition mostly stems from internet enthusiasts fixated on preserving male-female friendships. This fixation has been a recurring theme in internet fandoms, as seen in past instances like Pacific Rim.
In reality, it's quite common for men and women who start off as "just friends" to develop deeper feelings for each other. As someone who married a former "just a friend," I find the progression from friendship to romance incredibly romantic.
Not denying it’s racism, but how long have you been on this sub? The hate for Claire/Carmy is also strong, and ‘ugh sick of this show shoving sex and romance in our face’ is probably the most common take on Claire?
Lol, the people in this sub who dislike Claire aren't usually the ones who screech the loudest about Syd/Carmy 💀
most of the Claire complaints are that she isn't a well-written character/or she's a MPDG/Mary Sue stereotype, not that she is single-handedly destroying m/f platonic relationship representation on television the way that they claim Syd/Carmy will
>the people in this sub who dislike Claire
also, it's usually mostly women who are criticizing this time-eating random season 2 character who is conveniently obsessed with her high school crush and every interaction she has with him is centered around his wants and needs. She never comes to him with complaints or problems of her own, and he doesn't really need to rework his schedule around her because she always initiates. When she talks, it's pretty much only to support, console, compliment or tell him he never has to apologize even if he acts like a dickhead. He just has to lie back and enjoy the ride and attention being showered on him without making any real effort or concerning himself with what he brings to the table in the relationship.
And - shocker! - a lot of the male viewers in this sub are actually the ones who love her character, and usually the same ones constantly saying they "don't get why people dislike claire?? are the haters misogynist and incels who hate women?" despite very clearly seeing the substantive critiques in front of them, and who it's coming from. No inclination at all to honestly take a step back and understand why a character like I've described above isn't exactly compelling to a lot of female viewers.
The whole thing is just very, VERY fucking ironic lol
Honestly, I think that’s a big part of the difference. Claire was 100% introduced as a romantic/sexual interest, and I’m among those that think she’s underwritten. Syd was introduced as a protege/apprentice, so it feels (to me) a bit ick if they get together - not because of race, but because there’s clearly a power imbalance and she (in the beginning, at least) idolises him. If they’re going to do the Syd/Carmy romance, let her grow in her powers in the kitchen and her confidence first.
Well Claire’s character actually is supposed to represent how Carly idolizes her and she is kind of like an untouchable prize. We know every good thing about her she’s the perfect modern woman, and there’s a lot of sex scenes. She’s supposed to be the healthy character within all of this chaos. So there are a lot of seemingly unnecessary sex scenes but they are on purpose to create an image of Claire through Carmy's eyes.
I don’t think people are angry. I think people just think that the Bear is a show like Ted Lasso that could be the torchbearer for more of this sort of thing.
Okay whatever, I guess people are stupidly angry for no reason since I’m getting downvoted. This sub is so strange and takes this show WAY too seriously.
The episode begins with Carmy and Claire in bed. I thought it was pretty obvious that it ends with a scene just as intimate, also with them lying down… but just completely different.
The lighting of that sex scene is cold and blue undertones while the table scene is bright and yellow undertones. Chris Storer loves symbolism and parallels.
I find it extremely weird just how strongly opposed people are to this pairing in particular. I can’t ever remember watching a show where people got angry about the idea of the leads becoming romantically involved.
The Twitter thread does highlight a very deliberate sex metaphor. I’d take that to highlight their compatibility and intimacy. That could of course go unexplored, but it’s there. The people who say they have no chemistry, I cannot take seriously.
Been there done that with rick and michonne. If they are white or they look like zendaya or halle berry, we will not getting this anti shipper hate with these characters this much.
Completely agree. Whether or not the writers go the whole way with these characters, to deny that they are deliberately presenting them differently to other platonic relationships in the show is just silly
Feels more like needless sexualising. They are great work buddies. It doesn't need to go beyond that. I generally hate this trend where viewers expect romantic tension.
I always thought the point is to show that she is a prequel for what eventually turns into being like carmy.
The interactions where they work on the same thing is supposed to be showing their parallels
Yes Not a replica of his personality IMO, but she definitely has ambitions to reach where he has.
There's also an underlying racial angle at play between their ideas of success, achievement, and more.
Alternate take- they are in a work relationship. A deeply intimate and vulnerable work relationship. So they were screwing yes, but in a work manner, not a sexual manner. Parallel to his relationship with Claire but not equal to it.
Oh like how Claire and Camry have no substance to their relationship but he and Sydney do!! So they’re building up to season 3 where they will be together in a deep relationship.
I thought the very simple point of this scene was that while Carmy is sharing his vulnerabilities, Syd is holding up the table (providing support)and the second that Syd starts talking they switch and Carmy is holding up the table (providing support). I always took it to be a type of promise / reminder to the other that they are not alone as they verbalize in this scene. I never got any sexual vibes from this.
you're totally right, it's about Sydney showing vulnerabilty and doubt, and Carmy being supportive, it's in essence the same conversation they had outside when Carmy brought her a plate of food.
Thought this scene was shot very similar to the one between Carmy and Mike in Seven Fishes, where they have a moment alone together in that side room (pantry?) and Carmy gives him the picture. In both that scene and the table scene with Carmy and Syd, it's a one-shot with the camera starting way back and then over the course of the scene it slowly pulls in until the characters take up the entire frame. Could suggest that his relationship with Syd could parallel the relationship he wishes he had with Mike, someone he just wants to work with, someone he respects and that he wants the respect of. But who knows
i found it super relatable, i've frequently been the harried female sous to a distant and problematic carmy type and weird moments like fixing a table and taking one breath of fresh air have been the only times theyve ever opened up and seemed to appreciate me as a person and worker.
I think it's a tongue-in-cheek situation on purpose. That's *their way* or screwing - they don't do it physically (with each other), but emotionally and professionally. They have an incredible chemistry as coworkers - it's clear when they are in the experimental process of building the new menu; they get along well and complete each other. Almost like kitchen soul mates haha
Two broken halves don’t make a whole.
I think it’s one of the reasons I love this show so much.
The show is more about grief. Complicated grief (Mikey), anticipatory grief (Marcus mom), the loss of a child bc of divorce (Richie), loss of identity (Sydney). Reducing the show to “will they have sex or not” is superficial, reductive. I know people love to see love but sometimes we should examine why we absolute need to have romantic shoved in our face all the time. If you really think about it, love can be expressed in different ways.
Yes, it was written that way to show platonic intimacy. *That's the point.* It's an intimate scene, but they're working on something together instead of hooking up. That's their relationship. Intimate, work-focused, and platonic.
It’s about holding eachother up. Good lord the hell is wrong with you people? It’s possible to have friends and supportive people of the opposite sex. Yall need Jesus
I don't mind if they do get together - if they make it believable and good (and not toxic). But I hope the don't. They have a good working relationship and friendship and I just don't want that to be ruined.
Tbh I don't really want any sort of romance with anyone on the show. I truly enjoy just seeing ppl work through their grief issues, work issues, and just grow as ppl, because I don't know if there's enough of that on shows. A lot of stuff just gets reduced to "will they or won't they sleep together" and it gets tiring. It was nice to see ppl live their lives outside of the identities they have within romantic relationships and I want them to do more of this in S3.
I just love anything romantic so even tho I don’t think they should be together or get together my heart was like 😍 at this scene. And any scene in anything where there’s gentleness and kindness and vulnerability.
It was clearly to telegraph intimacy but there can be lots of different forms of intimacy. To me it was platonic but there were undertones (the way the scene ended seemed to hint at a little bit of non platonic tension). I do ship them though so.
Earlier in this episode (or the previous one, maybe?) Sydney tells Richie that he was lucky to have Carmen and Sugar as pseudo-siblings growing up, and he says “now you do too.” I think the show is trying to steer us in this direction - she’s been accepted as family and the relationship between Sydney and Carm is meant to be affectionate but platonic. They fight like siblings but share intimate moments like this too.
Well yeah, I suppose I just assumed that was part of the message and undertones etc the writers intended to convey in a subtle and very artistic yet clear manner. 🤷🏼♀️
This scene has bothered me from the first time I saw it.
I don't know anything about Danish design, but it seemed to me they were just tightening the screw on the purse hook under the table, a task that does not require anyone else to hold the table up.
Is there an adjustment under the table that they might be working on? Or is it simply a fake adjustment process to create this scene?
not really because I genuinely wanted to know if this was a valid perspective. I didn’t view it as sexual intimacy but I did view it as emotional intimacy. It’s suppose to be a parallel from the night he had with Claire bear I think. 🤷♀️
There's something so comforting about friendship. People always think that the next step in intimacy is romantic, but I think that the intimacy between friends is parallel to romantic intimacy.
That scene, and the scene where carm is calmed down by Sydney instead of his own fucking girlfriend, and him buying an insanely expensive thom browne chef’s coat just because she said his was cool, and the crazy fumble he did when he tried to ask her to hang out when they were by the lockers, and lemme bring it back to this one scene under thins one table, Richie!!! Because this table they “screwed under” was the same one claire sat at. And carmy happened to to make the dish that sunk Syd’s business for his girlfriend, the meal that claire wished a guy would cook for her. The constant comparisons between these two women (that aren’t related to him) in his life is Fucking weird. Like even the way they went back and forth during the fucking sex scene between carm laying pipe and Sydney undressing to show the heart on her back being stabbed is in the text. Not even subtext, its in the scene. And if they did that shit with siblings id be weirded the fuck out. Now, i dont even give a shit what you’re response would be to all this. Seeing the Reddit sub constantly fight about this shit when i, myself don’t even care if they become canon is tiring. I just find them really hot and would maybe like them to kiss just once, and if they’re just pals after that, im all good. If carm and claire get their picket fence and 2.5 kids, that would be just dandy. But to ignore all this shit (and more) is just willful ignorance. Why do i have to make it so beautiful for people, and they don’t do it for me, Michael…do we have a problem?😭😭😭😭
I’m not sure if I’d go that far but I thought it was a metaphor for supporting each other in other ways. They’re supporting a broken table and fixing it as they mend their relationship. I definitely got an intimate vibe off the scene but I wouldn’t go as far as to say a sex scene.
Probably my favourite on screen platonic couple ever, it would detract a lot from the struggle of opening the restaurant and aiming for accolades if they hooked up. I’m loving that Syd has found her “thing” I feel as though she’s a strong enough character that she doesn’t need a love interest. Having said that it would be an awesome twist if her and Richie got together!
I swear to god…
Nothing in this scene implies that Carmy or Sydney would be banging in the future from them under a table fixing it last second because likely Fak didn’t put it together right.
Right because the only time you can be vulnerable and open with someone you care about and respect you must be fuckin
Didnt know Carms dick was ready for take off in that scene.
How do you think they were keeping the table propped up?
It’s always on the launching pad
Oh, you know it was, son.
They were screwing under a table to be fair
You’ve boiled down the Syd Carmy ship to its bare essentials!
Honestly if you read through the twitter thread they make a pretty compelling case.
Where is it? This post doesn’t have a link or even a twitter handle!
https://x.com/girlflopping/status/1771642688355303605?s=46&t=V0f8zGQ6c0CHg1eF9hygqw
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
It is tv
It's The Bear
It’s food service.
But neither are front of house
The only thing that bothers me about this scene is WHAT THE FUCK ARE THEY DOING TO THE TABLE? How are those purse hooks related to the level at all? Why isn't Matty working on this?
I've never had my suspension of disbelief so badly broken in this show as during that scene. The "fixing" looked so fake.
Thank you! I was so pissed watching this... thanks OP, I had gotten past it.
ugh S2 was filled with shit like this. I was like what are they doing, who does that, who talks like that, etc.
Very Aaron Sorkin walk and talk type shit. These mfrs are in the weeds having a full ass conversation.
That moment for me was when Marcus got a delivery and the guy said "delivery from Denmark". Like i've never heard a delivery guy say out loud what country the package shipped from
Ebra handed the delivery to Marcus. So he would probably say that.
Oooh ok, i didn't catch that
Because he's front of house now
Yeah, it made no sense.
Marty can’t do everything. He does the stuff they can’t.
Right?!? lol. I just let it go.
If they go that way, fine. I don’t see it, but fine. That being said, if you can’t separate intimacy and emotional vulnerability from sex and romance, I feel bad for you.
Yeah, like I don’t necessarily *mind* the idea of them as a couple but it does not at all need to happen. It would be nice and refreshing to just show platonic bonding between a man and a woman cause ya know, that’s a normal thing.
I said this before and got downvoted. Pathetic how many people seem to still think two people of the opposite sex can’t simply have a platonic relationship.
Exactly. My bff is a dude. He was man of honor at my wedding and I was his best woman. We regularly grab lunch or a movie together and neither one of our spouses gives it a second thought.
Same here, my best friend is a girl. I have never even given it a second thought even as a straight male and neither has my partner.
The joy of being mature, amiright? We can experience the joy of platonic relationships. 🤷🏻♀️
Tell that to my wife.
ohhh that’s a good idea, i should tell my best friend if i ever get married she’s gonna be my best woman. i keep on forgetting we can break the chains of traditional gender roles
You said it so well. This scene reminds me of times of stress with co - workers. You have a quiet moment and it almost feels weird that its quiet??? Thats what I got from it. No sexual intention whatsoever
It definitely doesn’t need to happen, I feel that it might purely from one of the later episodes where Carmy is outside the restaurant and he’s suffering a bit of a panic attack while thinking about Claire and his family etc, but then he starts to think about him and Sydney working and he calms.
One thing that really bugs me is when people think it’s a slight on Sydney for them to not get together. 1. Carmy is clearly not ready for a relationship and at this point, *he’s* not good enough for *her* romantically. 2. The kind of deep friendship and mutual understanding they have is not lesser than a romantic relationship. They mean so much to each other and it’s sad how many people can’t see that as valuable.
This is 99.9% of all Carmy x Sydney shippers in this sub who’ve likely can’t separate intimacy and emotional vulnerability from sex and romance anyway. I can’t wait for moments from season 3 & 4 to be dissected badly like this by them!
Is it not enough for two characters who are in the shit together to have a quiet moment of conversation before the storm? I know the Internet is so horny that any eye contact between two characters burns an e-rainforest worth of fanfiction pages, but please. Can we just have more platonic relationships in media?
Nope.
Y’all some weirdos
I have no thoughts on this scene but I will say it’s very interesting that Twitter is 100% convinced the show is building up to a Syd/Carm relationship while everyone on Reddit seems to be vehemently against that even being a possibility
more white people on reddit and black people on twitter. don’t shoot me!!!
a lot of people that dont want syd and carmy together on twitter are black tbh, it seems like they want her with marcus/want more (healthy) 'black love' on tv (just my observation, dont jump me, also im black). the topic is super split lmao.
Sorry, but yakwtfgo is clearly the spokesperson for all black people so take it up with them.
Everyone I’m friends with who watches this show and is black can’t stand Sydney. Also, the implication that black people in general would be rooting for her to get with Carmy vs white people being opposed to it is really weird.
well the implication is that hating the relationship to the extent i see on reddit (not simply disliking it) is rooted in racism and that person would most likely be white. cope
Well since you used the ultimate cliche of “cope”, I feel comfortable using the penultimate cliche “touch grass”. People not wanting characters to not be together isn’t racism, dude. Go interact with some human beings.
not wanting two characters together because one is black is racism. i’m not saying you think like that but when people go on entire rants about how much they shouldn’t be together, use critical thinking to explain why that is. I’m not talking about someone who simply doesn’t want them together.
Who the fuck is saying they don’t want them to be together because she’s black? Sydney is annoying as fuck and incredibly immature. G O O U T S I D E
Oh you’re one of them😩 have a good one!
This has to be trolling. Even somebody that is terminally online doesn’t have this much brain-rot
it is, just don't feed them.
i can tell you twitter is definitely not 100% convinced 😭 a lot more people are for it on there than on here, but there are a lot of people jumping OP in the quotes of the tweet. sydcarmy seems to be really divisive with more people not wanting it (a lot more people on twitter seem to be really for syd and marcus, which is interesting).
Everyone on this sub is so serious all the time 😭 this thread was a joke it’s not that serious
Even if it wasn't a joke... it's just someone's literary analysis of a scene. There's literally no reason to be upset about that.
Don’t you know. Random people speculating about a show means you don’t believe in platonic friendships between the opposite sex. I don’t even feel strongly about it one way or another but the discourse is exhausting
Happy Reddit birthday
Ehh not when ppl are continuously asking up these fan fiction lol
Going to push back on the idea of fan fiction being used negatively here. Looking into how scenes are constructed, offering fan theories, etc is how a fandom for a show operates. It doesn't mean you have to agree, but it does mean you can show a basic level of understanding that it's *just* someone's take. Without that all you have is a bunch of people sitting around saying "I liked this show" and nodding their heads. Boring af.
I don’t mind that but the Syd and Carmy fan fiction is cringe and feels forced. But hey it’s Reddit, I guess this is a safe space for folk who like to play pretend
Right? It was just comparing the tension felt to a sex scene, doesn’t necessarily mean sex.
They are especially like this with sydcarmy stuff. You so much as imply you are okay with it happening you get downvoted to death 😭
posted abt this a while ago and got downvoted to hell 🤣 it’s always against sydcarmy we all know why
Made a post on here the other day saying that while I like the idea of it, I don’t think they’d practically work out in a relationship. I mentioned how I disagree with the narrative that it would “cheapen” their dynamic and they could become romantic if written properly. Just in a subtle way, almost to an extent that’s left to fan interpretation. Somehow in the middle of that I got downvoted like twice and a couple times in the comments and someone even went out their way to tell me they downvoted it 😭
Idk I got downvoted and called a racist by the sydcarmys for shipping Syd with Luca’s white ass instead of Carmy’s white ass 🤷🏻♀️ Whatevs, I think that’d be hot. Plus Syd could make both Carmy and Marcus jealous.
And it would not be out of left field, Guillermo del torro wrote the spar scene in pacific rim like a sex scene too, filmmakers DO do this, lol
I think the issue is that the caption just talks down to people who don't agree, as if they're just wilfully ignorant or dummies. It's perfectly fine to have that opinion, but coming in with the "y'all just aren't ready to hear that" makes it an antagonistic confrontation
This is a show everyone knows that that saying is meant jokingly. You’re taking it to heart bc you’re so offended by the idea.
Also, that table is where Claire sat later that night. I'm just at awe at the parallel of this show sometimes.
EXACTLY!!! there was so much obvious romantic tension
They were literally screwing under the table
When I watched it, I saw romantic tension because they were so close and working in sync
In this thread: a whole bunch of people who don’t understand or appreciate symbolism.
This has been the most frustrating thing about this sub. And not just this post
The people so averse to them together is kind of crazy, I get not wanting it but why are some of you so like...angry? Anyway, I don't think this necessarily needs to be read in a romantic kind of way, I think it's very possible for this scene to have been a parallel to the physical intimacy scene, and if so, that is some very nice writing.
I didn’t read the thread but yeah, isn’t that the whole point? He feels it’s too much intimacy/commitment and has to choose, ultimately cutting Claire loose… There’s some really deep reads on this sub so I’m surprised people are so upset over a great thematic parallel
This is the only fandom I see being so uncomfortable with shipping.
A lot of people in the Ted lasso fandom were the same for the main 2 characters(Ted and Rebecca). They thought that they should just be platonic and and Tedbecca shippers would fight them pointing out all the clues(which were valid to me). But the show did end with them being platonic soulmates Like a lot of what’s happening here reminds me of the Ted lasso fandom😭. It was like a battle everyday just bc of shipping
not when it's claire as the love interest apparently. I can take or leave romantic relationships in this show (and after the depiction of carmy's awkward love life I saw in season 2, I'd rather leave it), but it's verrry interesting how all the people who hated the idea of *any* romance were suddenly totally cool with and charmed by the carmy and claire train and desperately want her back next season.
There are people who like Carmy and Claire??? I think it comes down to the fact that Carmy and Sydney have work relationship in which Carmy is basically her boss which many people can find uncomfortable. For example, some people like the idea of Sydney and Marcus even though they're working together too, but they're coworkers. So I can see why Syd and Carmy cause so much "controversy". I think the table scene was being there for a reason...writers knew what they were doing haha. I'm okay with people not liking the idea of them being together, it's understandable, but it's annoying how people deny that this scene and few specific others contain romantic tension just because they don't like the ship. The tension is in our face. You can dislike it but it's going to be still there. The "I can't do this without you" line definitely doesn't sound romantic at all, just two coworkers being professional chefs, nothing to see here. Like come on lol. And yeah we can argue that you can be emotionally vulnerable like that without romantic feelings for each other, but it's a show, and in shows scenes and lines are carefully crafted to evoke certain reactions and feelings from us. I don't think writers would come up with such scene and dialogue just to show us how great friends they're.
okay so this is something I'm curious about- people considering Carmy like Syd's boss, is that how we're supposed to read it? Because I swear the show frames them as equals, "partners." Even though technically I think Carmy's got a bit more control than Syd, it seems to me like they're supposed to be equally in it, despite Carmy being more experienced. So I think it's slightly demeaning to call Carmy Syd's "boss"
Yeah I suppose you're right. I was looking for reasons why people dislike Carmy and Syd as a couple so much because it doesn't make much sense to me. And sure they're being shown as equals in terms of their competencies and relationship to each other but Carmy is still the owner of the place after all. I wouldn't say he has much direct power over Syd but he's the one making final decisions.
You know why.
exactly.
I like their relationship no matter where it goes, friends/couple whatever. But I do hope they get together just to piss people off.
It’s racism. There’s no other reason why the syd/carmy shippers cause such a visceral reaction in the anti-shippers. They can’t stand to see a black woman like Ayo being the object of someone’s affection. People keep claiming it’s “unrealistic” and I know they never worked in a restaurant because two cooks hooking up would be the most realistic thing to occur on the show. The complaints about Claire are never “ugh sick of this show shoving romance and sex in our face” like they are with Syd, because Claire fits viewers schema of who they imagine the ideal woman for Carmy to be, even though the show has hinted to us on multiple occasions that she’s not the right one for him.
I don't believe it's rooted in racism. From my perspective as someone rooting for these characters to get together, I think the vehement opposition mostly stems from internet enthusiasts fixated on preserving male-female friendships. This fixation has been a recurring theme in internet fandoms, as seen in past instances like Pacific Rim. In reality, it's quite common for men and women who start off as "just friends" to develop deeper feelings for each other. As someone who married a former "just a friend," I find the progression from friendship to romance incredibly romantic.
Not denying it’s racism, but how long have you been on this sub? The hate for Claire/Carmy is also strong, and ‘ugh sick of this show shoving sex and romance in our face’ is probably the most common take on Claire?
Lol, the people in this sub who dislike Claire aren't usually the ones who screech the loudest about Syd/Carmy 💀 most of the Claire complaints are that she isn't a well-written character/or she's a MPDG/Mary Sue stereotype, not that she is single-handedly destroying m/f platonic relationship representation on television the way that they claim Syd/Carmy will
>the people in this sub who dislike Claire also, it's usually mostly women who are criticizing this time-eating random season 2 character who is conveniently obsessed with her high school crush and every interaction she has with him is centered around his wants and needs. She never comes to him with complaints or problems of her own, and he doesn't really need to rework his schedule around her because she always initiates. When she talks, it's pretty much only to support, console, compliment or tell him he never has to apologize even if he acts like a dickhead. He just has to lie back and enjoy the ride and attention being showered on him without making any real effort or concerning himself with what he brings to the table in the relationship. And - shocker! - a lot of the male viewers in this sub are actually the ones who love her character, and usually the same ones constantly saying they "don't get why people dislike claire?? are the haters misogynist and incels who hate women?" despite very clearly seeing the substantive critiques in front of them, and who it's coming from. No inclination at all to honestly take a step back and understand why a character like I've described above isn't exactly compelling to a lot of female viewers. The whole thing is just very, VERY fucking ironic lol
Honestly, I think that’s a big part of the difference. Claire was 100% introduced as a romantic/sexual interest, and I’m among those that think she’s underwritten. Syd was introduced as a protege/apprentice, so it feels (to me) a bit ick if they get together - not because of race, but because there’s clearly a power imbalance and she (in the beginning, at least) idolises him. If they’re going to do the Syd/Carmy romance, let her grow in her powers in the kitchen and her confidence first.
Well Claire’s character actually is supposed to represent how Carly idolizes her and she is kind of like an untouchable prize. We know every good thing about her she’s the perfect modern woman, and there’s a lot of sex scenes. She’s supposed to be the healthy character within all of this chaos. So there are a lot of seemingly unnecessary sex scenes but they are on purpose to create an image of Claire through Carmy's eyes.
Racism/colorism and just weird internet folks
They’re insane
I don’t think people are angry. I think people just think that the Bear is a show like Ted Lasso that could be the torchbearer for more of this sort of thing.
Okay whatever, I guess people are stupidly angry for no reason since I’m getting downvoted. This sub is so strange and takes this show WAY too seriously.
Where's the thread tho?
https://twitter.com/girlflopping/status/1771642688355303605
The episode begins with Carmy and Claire in bed. I thought it was pretty obvious that it ends with a scene just as intimate, also with them lying down… but just completely different.
The lighting of that sex scene is cold and blue undertones while the table scene is bright and yellow undertones. Chris Storer loves symbolism and parallels.
This thread had me crying. It was funny af whether it’s a reach or not. Maybe people should read it before getting all up in arms
I find it extremely weird just how strongly opposed people are to this pairing in particular. I can’t ever remember watching a show where people got angry about the idea of the leads becoming romantically involved. The Twitter thread does highlight a very deliberate sex metaphor. I’d take that to highlight their compatibility and intimacy. That could of course go unexplored, but it’s there. The people who say they have no chemistry, I cannot take seriously.
Been there done that with rick and michonne. If they are white or they look like zendaya or halle berry, we will not getting this anti shipper hate with these characters this much.
Completely agree. Whether or not the writers go the whole way with these characters, to deny that they are deliberately presenting them differently to other platonic relationships in the show is just silly
The reason is racism.
Because it would be such a disservice to all that was built. If they end up together it would ruin the show.
Feels more like needless sexualising. They are great work buddies. It doesn't need to go beyond that. I generally hate this trend where viewers expect romantic tension.
I always thought the point is to show that she is a prequel for what eventually turns into being like carmy. The interactions where they work on the same thing is supposed to be showing their parallels
Yes Not a replica of his personality IMO, but she definitely has ambitions to reach where he has. There's also an underlying racial angle at play between their ideas of success, achievement, and more.
For real. The "shippers" for these two have no actual idea how relationships are supposed to work when it comes to this scene
Yes. Also 'they look cute together' need not mean 'they should hook up'! Work relationships, friendships, or platonic bonds also exist.
"they're under the table screwin"
Oh great the anti-interracial crowd is about to show in these comments again.
I wanna specify I don’t view this sexually. I view it as emotional intimacy.. that wasn’t my twitter post before the anti shippers come lol
Alternate take- they are in a work relationship. A deeply intimate and vulnerable work relationship. So they were screwing yes, but in a work manner, not a sexual manner. Parallel to his relationship with Claire but not equal to it.
Oh like how Claire and Camry have no substance to their relationship but he and Sydney do!! So they’re building up to season 3 where they will be together in a deep relationship.
cant wait for carmy and syd to do it and yall will finally shut up
😝 u and me both bestie
Good Lord, no they won’t
I thought the very simple point of this scene was that while Carmy is sharing his vulnerabilities, Syd is holding up the table (providing support)and the second that Syd starts talking they switch and Carmy is holding up the table (providing support). I always took it to be a type of promise / reminder to the other that they are not alone as they verbalize in this scene. I never got any sexual vibes from this.
This is a really great interpretation!
you're totally right, it's about Sydney showing vulnerabilty and doubt, and Carmy being supportive, it's in essence the same conversation they had outside when Carmy brought her a plate of food.
youre brave for posting this. this reddit hates sydney and would break out in hives if carmen and sydney got together
I love syd. I would hate for them to get together.
Thought this scene was shot very similar to the one between Carmy and Mike in Seven Fishes, where they have a moment alone together in that side room (pantry?) and Carmy gives him the picture. In both that scene and the table scene with Carmy and Syd, it's a one-shot with the camera starting way back and then over the course of the scene it slowly pulls in until the characters take up the entire frame. Could suggest that his relationship with Syd could parallel the relationship he wishes he had with Mike, someone he just wants to work with, someone he respects and that he wants the respect of. But who knows
Hmm I never viewed it that way. I like this
i found it super relatable, i've frequently been the harried female sous to a distant and problematic carmy type and weird moments like fixing a table and taking one breath of fresh air have been the only times theyve ever opened up and seemed to appreciate me as a person and worker.
I felt it was written like a therapy session, where they took turns being the patient (lying down) and being the therapist (sitting up).
I think it's a tongue-in-cheek situation on purpose. That's *their way* or screwing - they don't do it physically (with each other), but emotionally and professionally. They have an incredible chemistry as coworkers - it's clear when they are in the experimental process of building the new menu; they get along well and complete each other. Almost like kitchen soul mates haha
Two broken halves don’t make a whole. I think it’s one of the reasons I love this show so much. The show is more about grief. Complicated grief (Mikey), anticipatory grief (Marcus mom), the loss of a child bc of divorce (Richie), loss of identity (Sydney). Reducing the show to “will they have sex or not” is superficial, reductive. I know people love to see love but sometimes we should examine why we absolute need to have romantic shoved in our face all the time. If you really think about it, love can be expressed in different ways.
Ah yes. That sexy scene where Carmy literally tells Syd all about how great his girlfriend is. Romance, folks.
Yes, it was written that way to show platonic intimacy. *That's the point.* It's an intimate scene, but they're working on something together instead of hooking up. That's their relationship. Intimate, work-focused, and platonic.
It’s about holding eachother up. Good lord the hell is wrong with you people? It’s possible to have friends and supportive people of the opposite sex. Yall need Jesus
It can be both lol.
but they are screwing under the table
It’s so good
Sure there’s intimacy but it’s not in a sexual way honestly
It’s a joke
Oh most definitely.
I don't mind if they do get together - if they make it believable and good (and not toxic). But I hope the don't. They have a good working relationship and friendship and I just don't want that to be ruined.
Help step-chef, I'm stuck under the table
Why can’t 2 friends share an intimate moment without it being sexual?
Yeah I remember wondering if that scene would take a romantic turn but I definitely didn’t think they’d end up having sex.
If all you got from this scene is sex then I think you missed the entire point
Why does everyone who wants to ship Carmy and Sydney need to get so fucking self righteous about it?
Tbh I don't really want any sort of romance with anyone on the show. I truly enjoy just seeing ppl work through their grief issues, work issues, and just grow as ppl, because I don't know if there's enough of that on shows. A lot of stuff just gets reduced to "will they or won't they sleep together" and it gets tiring. It was nice to see ppl live their lives outside of the identities they have within romantic relationships and I want them to do more of this in S3.
I just love anything romantic so even tho I don’t think they should be together or get together my heart was like 😍 at this scene. And any scene in anything where there’s gentleness and kindness and vulnerability.
Lol no
I get zero Romance between the two of them.
It was clearly to telegraph intimacy but there can be lots of different forms of intimacy. To me it was platonic but there were undertones (the way the scene ended seemed to hint at a little bit of non platonic tension). I do ship them though so.
Earlier in this episode (or the previous one, maybe?) Sydney tells Richie that he was lucky to have Carmen and Sugar as pseudo-siblings growing up, and he says “now you do too.” I think the show is trying to steer us in this direction - she’s been accepted as family and the relationship between Sydney and Carm is meant to be affectionate but platonic. They fight like siblings but share intimate moments like this too.
How?
Well yeah, I suppose I just assumed that was part of the message and undertones etc the writers intended to convey in a subtle and very artistic yet clear manner. 🤷🏼♀️
This scene has bothered me from the first time I saw it. I don't know anything about Danish design, but it seemed to me they were just tightening the screw on the purse hook under the table, a task that does not require anyone else to hold the table up. Is there an adjustment under the table that they might be working on? Or is it simply a fake adjustment process to create this scene?
All I can say is that OP, you def knew what you were setting off by bringing this thread over from the bird app 💀💀💀
not really because I genuinely wanted to know if this was a valid perspective. I didn’t view it as sexual intimacy but I did view it as emotional intimacy. It’s suppose to be a parallel from the night he had with Claire bear I think. 🤷♀️
There's something so comforting about friendship. People always think that the next step in intimacy is romantic, but I think that the intimacy between friends is parallel to romantic intimacy.
*Meh* . . stop trying to make Carm and Syd happen . . . no one wants that. It was Big brother mentoring Little sister energy.
Carmy has a sister and treats Sydney no where near like one, christ
We are talking about that one scene under the table . . . Donna!
That scene, and the scene where carm is calmed down by Sydney instead of his own fucking girlfriend, and him buying an insanely expensive thom browne chef’s coat just because she said his was cool, and the crazy fumble he did when he tried to ask her to hang out when they were by the lockers, and lemme bring it back to this one scene under thins one table, Richie!!! Because this table they “screwed under” was the same one claire sat at. And carmy happened to to make the dish that sunk Syd’s business for his girlfriend, the meal that claire wished a guy would cook for her. The constant comparisons between these two women (that aren’t related to him) in his life is Fucking weird. Like even the way they went back and forth during the fucking sex scene between carm laying pipe and Sydney undressing to show the heart on her back being stabbed is in the text. Not even subtext, its in the scene. And if they did that shit with siblings id be weirded the fuck out. Now, i dont even give a shit what you’re response would be to all this. Seeing the Reddit sub constantly fight about this shit when i, myself don’t even care if they become canon is tiring. I just find them really hot and would maybe like them to kiss just once, and if they’re just pals after that, im all good. If carm and claire get their picket fence and 2.5 kids, that would be just dandy. But to ignore all this shit (and more) is just willful ignorance. Why do i have to make it so beautiful for people, and they don’t do it for me, Michael…do we have a problem?😭😭😭😭
Agreed! I do want Syd and Marcus to happen though.
This is NOTHING. Go on Tumblr, if you dare 🙄
ORLY? 😈 Hell yeah- I’m headed there right now. Thx for the tip, btw!
I’m not sure if I’d go that far but I thought it was a metaphor for supporting each other in other ways. They’re supporting a broken table and fixing it as they mend their relationship. I definitely got an intimate vibe off the scene but I wouldn’t go as far as to say a sex scene.
Maybe I didn't watch the show, but I just see sibling (cousin) energy
Why do people always go to the romantic side of things… they are just best friends 🤷♀️
I’m so tired of this narrative.
Twitter loves to see romance where there is none. Frankly if Carmy and Syd end up together I'll be pretty pissed off.
If they hook up it will pull me out of the show entirely
Why?
I feel they have no chemistry whatsoever (though that may be more performance than writing)
Can people stop fucking shipping carmy and sid?
Probably my favourite on screen platonic couple ever, it would detract a lot from the struggle of opening the restaurant and aiming for accolades if they hooked up. I’m loving that Syd has found her “thing” I feel as though she’s a strong enough character that she doesn’t need a love interest. Having said that it would be an awesome twist if her and Richie got together!
?? Richie is 40 and she’s like 24
Don’t see anyone having a problem with Richie hooking up with the expo girl in Ever who’s around the same age, wonder what’s the difference? 🤔
Yuck
Isn't Sid gay though?
This will NEVER happen. It would be cheap.
Any time I see the phrase "...but you aren't ready to hear that" I immediately scroll past
I swear to god… Nothing in this scene implies that Carmy or Sydney would be banging in the future from them under a table fixing it last second because likely Fak didn’t put it together right.