The Bear Season 4: Why Sydney Made the Right Decision to Stay

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The Bear‘s fourth season serves as an invigorating continuation after the divisive third season. Excitingly, The Bear has been granted a fifth season by FX Networks, promising more “Yes, chef!” moments ahead. The restaurant, however, is undergoing significant transformations, with much of this upheaval revolving around Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). Throughout the third season, Sydney grappled with a tough dilemma. Ultimately, after much introspection, Sydney chose to remain with her chosen family. Although some may argue this decision was career-limiting, it was evidently the wiser choice for a myriad of reasons.

Adam Gave Off Bad Vibes From the Jump

In Season 3, Adam came across as a nice man and a skilled chef, yet his commitments to Sydney seemed more like unattainable dreams or empty promises. Specifically, he was planning to launch a new restaurant, and he proposed that she would not merely work under him but collaborate with him. This meant she could have the authority to shape the menu, hire staff, and even guide the overall direction of the restaurant.

One might find it suspicious if a situation seemed excessively advantageous. Was Adam truly giving up control to Sydney once she signed the contract, or was it simply a ruse to manipulate what he perceived as a malleable young woman, using her to bolster his own ego?

We Can’t Ignore the Racial Microaggressions

Beyond just the surface, Sydney’s decision was well-founded. Throughout Season 4, there were numerous, subtle yet impactful racial microaggressions. For instance, when Adam invited Sydney to meet up and she mentioned being busy with her hair appointment, he made dismissive comments that implied he didn’t grasp the significance of this for her or how long it would take. It wasn’t so much his lack of comprehension but rather the manner in which he expressed himself and his presumption of control over her time that was concerning. Such behavior could have easily carried over into a professional setting had she chosen to work with him.

During a subsequent conversation with Sydney, he inquired about her familiarity with the Chris Rock documentary titled “Good Hair“. Essentially, this film delves into the history of Black women’s hairstyles. It could seem like he was attempting to gain cultural insights about her, but it didn’t relate to her professional life. Unfortunately, his question felt tone-deaf and seemed to imply that he was only focusing on her racial identity, rather than recognizing her as a multifaceted individual, which came off as disrespectful yet again.

In this scenario, the most notable instance occurs when Sydney enters the renovated space and Adam guides her through it. Upon arrival, he’s playing hip-hop music and inquires if she recognizes the group. He then shares facts about them. However, instead of letting the music continue, he offers her a remote to select a preferred station. She elects for classical music, which swiftly disproves his assumption that she’s fond or partial to hip-hop.

In the show, Adam discusses various ideas for dishes they could create in space, suggesting that Sydney could add an Afro-Caribbean flavor due to her ethnicity. However, it appears that throughout the series, Sydney has not incorporated any cultural influences into her cooking. Despite the fact that Sydney’s culinary style hasn’t showcased her Afro-Caribbean heritage thus far in the program, Adam seems to believe that this is a requirement based on her ethnicity. Essentially, all of Adam’s actions were an attempt to relate to Sydney in some way, but it was clear that these attempts lacked sincerity. In other words, he was trying to find common ground with her by emphasizing her racial background and implying that this was the essence of her cooking identity.

His Handling of Her Rejection Said It All

When Sydney reaches her conclusive point, she feels compelled to contact Adam with the disappointing update. Given the lengthy indecision she’s put him through, it’s only natural that he might be upset. However, an intriguing detail is that Adam had shared the offer with Carmy and he empathized with her reasons for contemplating a departure, prepared to back her up if that was her choice. He didn’t interfere in her decision-making process as his primary concern has always been Sydney’s wellbeing. This is strikingly different from Adam’s reaction.

Sydney chooses to remain with Carmy, not just because she recognizes his genuine respect for her as an individual and a chef. When she informs Adam of her choice, he falls silent before launching an insult at the restaurant, Carmy, and her, claiming that she’d be stuck in mediocrity for the rest of her career when he was offering her a chance to excel. The amusing aspect of this remark is that, in the finale, Carmy boasts about his culinary skills, implying he’s superior to Adam. However, when he praises Sydney, even suggesting she embodies what Carmy can never be, her decision proves to have been the correct one.

With Sydney taking over The Bear’s leadership, supported by Natalie (Abby Elliott) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Carmy steps aside to contemplate his life. To get the venture off the ground, she just needs financial backing. Carmy, who has complete faith in her abilities, believes she can pull it off. It’s quite possible that Adam, the poacher, will reappear in Season 5. Fans are eager to watch Sydney outmaneuver him and demonstrate that she’s moved beyond her role as a cook. She has already excelled beyond anything he could achieve, and her actions hint that he might be aware of it.

Stream The Bear on Hulu.

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2025-07-05 19:02