What Happens To Carmy, Sydney And Richie?

Jeremy Allen White on the series finale of “The Bear.”

FX

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the series finale of The Bear.

The Bear has come to an end after an impressive run, releasing five seasons in five years.

The eight-episode fifth and final season premiered Thursday night, picking up after Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto (Abby Elliot), learn that Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) has decided to leave The Bear and step away from the restaurant industry.

“Every second counts,” the mantra that has guided the series from the beginning, remains at the heart of the final season. Most of season five unfolds over the course of a single day, as a severe storm barrels through Chicago and throws dinner service into chaos. Despite scarce resources and mounting obstacles, the team successfully makes it through the night under Sydney’s calm leadership and collective teamwork.

The series finale (“The Original Beef of Chicagoland”) ends the story on a triumphant note: The Bear earns not one, but two Michelin stars.

After surviving the stormy dinner service, the staff returns to work the next morning. Sugar tells Richie the restaurant is “barely” staying afloat and money is running out, though they have enough cash for a few more days and can still make payroll.

Their last viable option is franchising The Beef, and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson) presents a thorough, meticulously researched prospectus that Carmy quickly approves.

The finale also pays tribute to late actor Rob Reiner, who guest-starred in season four as restaurant consultant Albert Schnurr. After witnessing Ebra’s success running the sandwich window, Albert recognized the potential to franchise The Beef.

Once Carmy signs off on Ebra’s proposal, he calls Albert.

“We are in business,” Ebra says. “It’s perfect. I will have all the documents, email it to you immediately. Anything else I can do?”

Albert isn’t heard on the other end of the line, but Ebra’s response — “As you wish” — suggests his approval while also referencing the iconic line from Reiner’s film The Princess Bride.

Elsewhere, Sydney promotes Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) to chef de cuisine, while Luca (Will Poulter) returns to Copenhagen for a job opportunity, leaving Marcus (Lionel Boyce) to run the pastry station on his on. When Marcus visits the restaurant on his day off to practice, he finds a gift from Carmy: a stack of his journals filled with recipes from his time at The French Laundry, Ever, Copenhagen and New York, along with a handwritten note that simply reads, “No Limits.”

With Carmy stepping away, Sydney officially becomes The Bear’s head chef. Although she initially doubts whether she can fill his shoes, she proves herself to be an efficient, composed and compassionate leader, especially during the restaurant’s grueling service in the middle of the storm.

While in the kitchen, Sydney asks Carmy what’s next for him. He admits he has an idea but isn’t ready to talk about it yet. The two joke around, and Sydney reminds him there’s always a place for him at The Bear.

After ignoring multiple calls from an unknown number throughout the season, Carmy finally answers, and it’s revealed to be a man named Peter Clark (Gary Janetti).

When the conversation ends, a stunned Carmy tells Sydney that the diner everyone assumed was the Michelin inspector last night was simply a regular customer. The real Michelin inspector was Mr. Clark, who visited the restaurant months earlier during season four. He calls to tell Carmy that The Bear has earned two Michelin stars, far exceeding the ambitions Carmy had when he transformed his family’s sandwich shop into a fine-dining restaurant.

Carmy and Sydney embrace as Sydney breaks down in tears of joy. And for the Carmy-Sydney shippers: no, the finale doesn’t turn their relationship romantic, though the warm lighting and emotional weight of their hug give the moment a sense of intimacy.

Meanwhile, Carmy’s cousin Stevie (John Mulaney) arranges an interview for him as an intern at an architectural firm. During the interview with Sue (Bonnie Hunt), Carmy nervously explains that he’s been searching for another creative outlet and has always enjoyed art and drawing. Asked what he hopes to accomplish, he reflects on the storm, describing how everyone came together to support one another.

“Even though it sucked, it was the most fun I’ve ever had,” Carmy says.

Near the end of the finale, Carmy sits alone in The Bear’s office, quietly reflecting. He then sends a text to his late brother Mikey (Jon Bernthal), whose disconnected number is still saved in his phone: “All good.”

The character who does get a romantic happy ending is Richie.

In the finale, he’s invited to attend an international hospitality seminar in Japan, another sign of how much he’s grown since the series began. Although Richie tries to find excuses not to go, Sugar encourages him to embrace the opportunity.

Carmy finds Richie in the walk-in refrigerator amid a panic attack. Richie admits he’s never flown before and is terrified of traveling to Japan. In one of the cousins’ most heartfelt scenes together, Carmy reassures him that flying itself is peaceful and opens up about how his own anxiety often surfaces whenever he’s leaving a place that feels safe. The conversation helps Richie understand why he’s struggling.

Richie later throws a surprise birthday party for his daughter, Eva (Annabelle Toomey), at The Bear. The celebration also reunites many familiar faces from throughout the series, including Gillian Jacobs as his ex-wife Tiff, Josh Hartnett as Tiff’s fiancé Frank, Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna, Bob Odenkirk as Uncle Lee and Molly Gordon as Claire.

Richie decides to go to the seminar in Japan, and Sydney gives him a kit filled with travel essentials, including Dramamine, Tylenol and earplugs. The two share a heartfelt hug.

The series ends with Richie sitting anxiously on the airplane, nervously tapping his fingers against his leg. Then comes one final surprise: Jess (Sarah Ramos), whose flirtatious chemistry with Richie has simmered since she joined the series, is seated beside him. She puts her hand over his, calming his nerves. They two smile at each other before locking hands. As Richie looks out the window, he takes a deep breath and smiles.

All episodes of The Bear are streaming on Hulu.