WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for The Bear season 2.
The second season of The Bear delves into the intricate family ties of Carmy, but one mystery remains for the Berzatto family to uncover in season 3. As season 1 concludes with Carmy discovering his brother's hidden money, season 2 quickly resumes with Carmy and his crew embarking on a new restaurant venture. This pursuit brings them closer to realizing Mikey's vision and creating a brighter future in the culinary industry. However, as depicted in season 2 of The Bear, pursuing grander aspirations comes with significant challenges and hardships that force Carmy and Sydney to step outside of their comfort zones.
Each episode of The Bear season 2 serves as an individual storyline, focusing on the journey of the main characters as they undergo personal growth and contribute to the improvement of The Bear restaurant's team. While Marcus decides to leave Chicago and travels to Copenhagen to expand his skills as a pastry chef, Richie discovers his true calling through an apprenticeship. These episodes provide insights into the current development of the characters' stories, but one particular incident during the Berzatto family Christmas dinner leaves a disturbing impact, leaving us wondering about the fate of Carmy's father.
What Happened To Carmy's Father In The Bear
Not much is revealed about Carmy's father in The Bear season 2, but season 1 drops a significant hint regarding his whereabouts. In episode 4 of The Bear season 1, Carmy and Richie are catering a children's birthday party. As Carmy finishes up his work, he notices a photograph of his father alongside Uncle Jimmy. Curiosity gets the better of him, and Carmy asks Jimmy if he remembers the last conversation he had with his father. Jimmy recalls that it has been over two decades since they last spoke. The mere fact that Carmy poses this question suggests that there is a possibility his father is still alive.
In The Bear season 1, episode 4, Uncle Jimmy later reminisces about Carmy's father's earlier venture into the restaurant industry, known as The Beef. Unfortunately, the never-ending shifts in the kitchen took a toll on Donna and adversely affected her relationship with Carmy's father. Jimmy also shares a dream he had, in which he and Carmy's dad are driving a truck and encounter a sudden appearance of a boy on the road. Despite hitting the brakes, Carmy's father mysteriously flies out of the windshield without ever hitting the ground.
These subtle details concerning Carmy's father's past suggest that he potentially abandoned his family following the decline of his relationship with Donna. Jimmy has not had any communication with him for years, indicating that he likely severed all ties with the Berzatto family after leaving. The way Uncle Jimmy speaks of him and describes his peculiar dream could also imply that he may have passed away. However, Jimmy's mention of the boy on the road waving goodbye to Carmy's father as he went flying hints at the possibility that he voluntarily left his family behind.
Why The Bear Season 3 Still Needs To Address Carmy's Father
The connection between several narrative threads in The Bear lies in Carmy's father and his relationship with the rest of the family. Uncle Jimmy's account of his failed restaurant business with Donna sheds light on her mental illnesses. Additionally, the tumultuous relationship between Donna and Carmy's father could explain Mikey's reluctance to have Carmy work at The Bear's The Beef restaurant in season 1. While Carmy has few memories of his father, Mikey likely remembers how their parents' relationship was destroyed by working together at the same restaurant, as he is the oldest sibling in the household.
Exploring the details of what happened to Carmy's father in season 3 of The Bear can also provide insight into why Donna hesitates to enter The Bear restaurant towards the end of season 2. As Carmy's father was also a restaurateur, he is a significant part of Carmy's legacy, just like Mikey. The difficulties he faced in keeping his restaurant afloat serve as a potential source of emotional conflict in season 3. With unanswered questions surrounding his identity and relationship with the Berzatto family, it is imperative for The Bear season 3 to address his fate.
How The Bear Season 2 Sets Up Carmy's Father
Carmy's father is not directly mentioned in The Bear season 2, but his absence becomes noticeable in episode 6 when the entire family gathers at the Berzatto family's house for Christmas. Carmy's father is missing from this reunion. The chaotic dinner scene in episode 6, where Donna drives her car through the wall of the living room, suggests that there is more to the history of the Berzatto family than what is initially apparent, and Carmy's father is a pivotal part of this mystery. It is anticipated that The Bear season 3 will delve into these underlying enigmas revolving around Carmy's father, which have been established throughout seasons 1 and 2.