Jeremy Allen White Reacts to Carmy’s Big Mistake in The Bear Season 5

Jeremy Allen White Reveals Why Carmy’s Biggest Season 5 Mistake Was Exactly What He Needed

This article contains minor spoilers for The Bear season 5.

The employees of The Bear always have many plates spinning.

But the idiom took on a very literal meaning during season five, when rain-induced delays leave the staff—including Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), Marcus (Lionel Boyce) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—scrambling to serve courses in under 10 minutes apiece.

Matters are only complicated, in true The Bear fashion, when they realize this is the evening that “Star Man” (a.k.a. the representative from the Michelin Guide) has decided to dine with them. But just as it seems like everything is going to work out, Carmy drops the very last piece of lamb that was destined for Star Man’s table, watching with nothing less than abject horror as the plate shatters on the ground, ruining the dish and seemingly The Bear’s last hope at earning a coveted star (or two).

“That's such an important moment for Carmy,” Jeremy told E! News in an exclusive interview, “where he's made the decision that he has to take a step back. And he's discussed that with everybody at this point, but he has a hard time letting go.”

Because while Carmy seems lighter in the first episodes of season five following his decision to step away from the food industry, Jeremy says the character still has “such ego,” and after being praised for “years and years” for his abilities, it’s not easy for Carmy to shake off old habits.

And as the plate shatters to the ground, viewers see the panic that begins to descend on Carmy as memories of his failures in past kitchens flash by in a montage. However, whereas such a mishap may have once led to further chaos, his colleagues rise to the occasion and serve Sydney’s Coca-Cola short ribs to Star Man’s delight.

FX

“There's this sort of ego death, and then acceptance of love and support,” Jeremy said of the moment. “I think Carmy’s also found it very difficult, historically, to accept care, you know? And so, I think that that moment, as devastating as it is, is really important for Carmy to get to where he's going, which is ultimately this acceptance and understanding of self.”

But Carmy Berzatto isn’t the only character whose story arc comes to a satisfying pinnacle throughout the season.

In one especially poignant moment, the now-Executive Chef Sydney asks a stunned Tina to be her Chef de Cuisine (CDC), a.k.a. the top operational leader in a professional kitchen.

“To be entrusted with this title, maybe it is a little ego thing,” Liza told E! of Tina’s reaction, “because I'm like, ‘I got this title!’ I feel at that point a little closer to being ready to accept it and honored to be of service in a more serious way and confident way.”

Courtesy of FX

Detailing the character’s journey from line cook to her coveted CDC role, the Emmy winner continued, “And any time, as an actor, Tina working in the kitchen is seen and validated, I feel it deeply.”

And with The Bear ending with this fifth season, the entire cast is just grateful to have been a small part of the show’s perfect recipe.

As Lionel explained, “We've just grown closer as family. I think outside of when we're working in Chicago for that couple of times a year, when we see each other, it's always all love.”

Plus, each cast member brought their top shelf acting chops for the series, aware of how special the series and opportunity was. And Matty Matheson is quick to credit the show’s creator for inspiring the cast.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

“Chris Storer tried to make this thing for a long time,” the real-life chef—who plays Neil, one half of the hilarious Fak brothers, in The Bear—told E! News. “Then he got to make a pilot, and we all got together, they got the right ingredients, and then it turned into what it turned into. This is a once in a lifetime thing. It's heavy, it really is.”

As he put it, “We are all very normal people and now we've been put into this world, and it's incredible.”

The fifth and final season of The Bear premieres June 25 at 9:00p ET / 6:00p PT on FX and Hulu.

For more series hanging up their hats this year—and others promised a new season—read on.

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