This really resonates with how I felt watching this season. I was actually excited by the first episode’s slow burn because I thought it was leading up to something, but the whole season felt like all setup and no payoff. The plot did not move forward at all from season 2.
Regarding your fourth point, this is a theme that has existed throughout the show - the idea that you have to sacrifice everything to be the best, and that there is a rigid hierarchy in the “brigade system” of kitchens, which leads to a cycle of mistreatment of underlings by rockstar head chefs. The book “The Devil in the Kitchen” about Marco Pierre White (who I believe Carmy is loosely based on) is a great real-life example of this, and the show has realistic portrayals of the different types of kitchen environments that exist in the industry.
I think Chef Terry’s influence is felt more in the second season through the softer relationship between Carm and Syd, and after his breakdown at the end of the second season he falls back into the mindset of the Joel McHale character. That’s why he can’t properly respond during their confrontation, because deep down he still believes that sacrificing everything is not only acceptable, but necessary to achieve the greatness he is pursuing.
Thank you for this. I felt similarly, although I must confess I loved the first episode. The fact that it so powerfully demonstrated the power of memory and trauma, largely using moods without even conveying plot, kind of amazed me. But too many Fek scenes in this season. Too many cameos. And if Carmy really has gone the entire season without picking up the phone to apologize to Claire, I'm not even rooting for him anymore.
Also, that final episode was a disappointing waste. The past two seasons have ended well at important moments of development for the restaurant and the characters. We could have actually resolved some plot threads instead of 40 minutes of elite chefs telling us how awesome it is to be elite chefs.
Jon Hamm in the latest Hollywood Reporter actors roundtable: We had to end Mad Men because we ran out of story. Duly runs away because has not seen "The Bear" at all.
I love the backstory work on all the characters especially Tina and her hubby. Sug is the best! Once again I say Jamie Lee Curtis should get an Emmy, retroactively (if she did not-I don’t know)for the fishes episode and oh my God for trying to let go of herself and help Sug in labor- incredible acting and love her pull out all the stops lack of pride in her haggard appearance. Have not seen the last episode but Carmy needs to get real again with his food -fuck the food critics!
It starts and ends with writers. It sounds like the stories are too weak to sustain the show, ergo the tricks and gimmicks by casting, weird directorial decisions, etc.
This really resonates with how I felt watching this season. I was actually excited by the first episode’s slow burn because I thought it was leading up to something, but the whole season felt like all setup and no payoff. The plot did not move forward at all from season 2.
Regarding your fourth point, this is a theme that has existed throughout the show - the idea that you have to sacrifice everything to be the best, and that there is a rigid hierarchy in the “brigade system” of kitchens, which leads to a cycle of mistreatment of underlings by rockstar head chefs. The book “The Devil in the Kitchen” about Marco Pierre White (who I believe Carmy is loosely based on) is a great real-life example of this, and the show has realistic portrayals of the different types of kitchen environments that exist in the industry.
I think Chef Terry’s influence is felt more in the second season through the softer relationship between Carm and Syd, and after his breakdown at the end of the second season he falls back into the mindset of the Joel McHale character. That’s why he can’t properly respond during their confrontation, because deep down he still believes that sacrificing everything is not only acceptable, but necessary to achieve the greatness he is pursuing.
Thank you for this. I felt similarly, although I must confess I loved the first episode. The fact that it so powerfully demonstrated the power of memory and trauma, largely using moods without even conveying plot, kind of amazed me. But too many Fek scenes in this season. Too many cameos. And if Carmy really has gone the entire season without picking up the phone to apologize to Claire, I'm not even rooting for him anymore.
Also, that final episode was a disappointing waste. The past two seasons have ended well at important moments of development for the restaurant and the characters. We could have actually resolved some plot threads instead of 40 minutes of elite chefs telling us how awesome it is to be elite chefs.
Jon Hamm in the latest Hollywood Reporter actors roundtable: We had to end Mad Men because we ran out of story. Duly runs away because has not seen "The Bear" at all.
I love the backstory work on all the characters especially Tina and her hubby. Sug is the best! Once again I say Jamie Lee Curtis should get an Emmy, retroactively (if she did not-I don’t know)for the fishes episode and oh my God for trying to let go of herself and help Sug in labor- incredible acting and love her pull out all the stops lack of pride in her haggard appearance. Have not seen the last episode but Carmy needs to get real again with his food -fuck the food critics!
It starts and ends with writers. It sounds like the stories are too weak to sustain the show, ergo the tricks and gimmicks by casting, weird directorial decisions, etc.
Watch Sunny (on Apple TV); you'll like it, you really will!
Good points. I particularly agree with point 5 re: sluggish plot!