The Bear Season 2’s Richie & Sydney Ending Explained By Star: “No Time For…Egos”

Ebon Moss-Bachrach explains Richie and Sydney’s relationship as it stands during The Bear season 2’s ending. In returning for its second season on June 22, the hit Hulu series follows fine-dining chef Carmy Berzatto as he attempts to improve his late brother Mikey’s rundown Italian beef sandwich shop and its unruly staff. An interesting, yet adversarial relationship in The Bear is between Richie, formerly the de facto manager of the restaurant and Mikey’s best friend, and Sydney, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and Carmy’s sous.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Moss-Bachrach was asked about the evolution of Richie and Sydney’s relationship over the course of season 2. The Richie actor explained how their relationship really improved during The Bear season 2’s ending when Carmy is trapped in the walk-in fridge, and Richie and Sydney are forced to put their egos aside in order to ensure a smooth service. Read what Moss-Bachrach said below:

I think it’s surprising, but I think when people have a common goal or common enemy that can happen. With Carmy being locked in the walk-in refrigerator [in the finale episode], the two of them are locked in with this common goal and this need to just get through it. There’s no time for either of their egos to seep in and they recognize each other’s value. Maybe they don’t even really recognize each other’s value; it’s just about the task. Sometimes you just have to do what’s in front of you. I think Richie really does extend an olive branch to her.

I think it’s probably his responsibility to do it because I think his behavior has been so out of line with her that it’s on him to sort of apologize, which is not to say that I don’t think that she’s without flaws. Both of them are not on their best behavior with each other. But he’s in a place where he’s feeling OK about himself for the first time in a long time, which is enough for him to reach out and call her chef and show the respect that I think she deserved.

Richie & Sydney Both Thrived During The Bear Season 2 Finale

During The Bear season 2 finale, Richie and Sydney are forced to put their differences aside during the opening night of the new and improved restaurant. They are able to do so with Richie running the front of the house and Sydney running the kitchen. Once Carmy becomes trapped in the walk-in fridge, Richie takes over expediting and steers The Bear to a successful opening night. Although she vomits during service due to the intense stress, Sydney ends the night feeling fulfilled after impressing her father.

Related: What Happened To Sydney’s Mom In The Bear?

Richie and Sydney’s relationship really starts to improve after he stages at the Michelin-star restaurant and returns a new and improved person. As Moss-Bachrach points out, Richie extends an olive branch to Sydney during the season 2 finale when he asks for her blessing to officially open the restaurant’s doors for the friends and family soft opening. Sydney gives the go-ahead by saying, “Let it rip,” an homage to Richie’s late best friend and the restaurant’s former owner, Mikey.

Richie and Sydney thriving during The Bear season 2 finale really hammers home one of its main themes. Carmy has been able to improve the lives of those around him, especially his staff, but not his own. While he’s trapped in the walk-in on opening night, he spirals deeper into self-doubt and hyper-fixates on his failures.

Source: Rolling Stone