Summary

  • Carmy and Sydney's platonic relationship is already perfect, as they have a fantastic partnership and deep respect for each other as friends and colleagues.
  • A close friendship can be just as intimate and compelling to watch as a romantic pairing, and it's refreshing to see a male-female friendship on screen that doesn't develop into romance.
  • There are practical reasons why Carmy and Sydney might not work as a couple, including their focus on work and the potential to ruin their dynamic. The show should consider keeping their relationship platonic for the sake of the story.

Though many viewers of The Bear want Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) to become a couple, this ultimately isn't the best idea for the future of the show. The Bear focuses on Carmy, a former fine-dining restaurant chef, as he takes over his family's sandwich shop after the death of his older brother. The show also follows the employees of the shop, including Sydney, Carmy's sous chef. Throughout The Bear, Carmy and Sydney have developed an interesting dynamic that has intrigued viewers, to the point where the two characters are romantically shipped together.

In a departure from the first season, The Bear season 2 delves deeper into the characters' personal lives, including Carmy's. The second season partially follows the relationship between Carmy and Claire (Molly Gordon), his high school crush. While Carmy does struggle to balance his personal life as Claire's boyfriend with his professional life as head chef of The Bear, it was interesting to see a different side to the character outside of work, and Molly Gordon gives a solid performance. However, a lot of viewers seem to be more receptive to the idea of a Carmy and Sydney pairing, especially since they work closely with each other.

Carmy And Sydney’s Platonic Relationship Is Perfect

A screenshot from The Bear of Carmy and Sydney in the kitchen. Carmy is standing and gesturing with his hands, while Sydney is sitting and has a spoon in her mouth.

Although some viewers want to see Carmy and Sydney get together, the duo's platonic relationship is already perfect. Carmy and Sydney have a great dynamic together as friends and colleagues. They have a fantastic partnership in the kitchen and clearly respect each other as chefs. While friends-to-lovers relationships in media can be entertaining, it might be better if The Bear doesn't go down this route. Workplace romances have been done before, and The Bear would be doing something different by avoiding that trope with Carmy and Sydney.

It's understandable how Carmy and Sydney's dynamic would appeal to shippers; the two of them do have an intimate relationship, and Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri play well off of each other. However, a close friendship can be just as intimate and compelling to watch as a romantic pairing. It's always great to watch a male-female friendship on screen that doesn't develop into romance. Carmy and Sydney's deep connection with each other is already compelling without the addition of romance. It's possible that Carmy and Sydney are soulmates, but more on a platonic level.

Carmy And Sydney Might Not Work As A Couple

Jeremy Allen White as Carmy and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney in The Bear

There's also the chance that Carmy and Sydney might not work as a couple in The Bear. As shown in The Bear season 2 ending, Carmy struggles with a work/life balance and perhaps isn't in the best place to start a relationship anytime soon. Sydney is also quite focused on work and might not be fully ready for a relationship either. Carmy started abandoning his restaurant responsibilities due to his relationship with Claire, and getting involved with someone he works with could make things even more complicated. There's always the chance that romance could ruin their dynamic, which would be a shame.

Additionally, there is the chance that a romance between Carmy and Sydney wouldn't work on paper. Many viewers criticized the romantic relationship between Carmy and Claire, and how it seemed like Carmy was with her because other characters were talking about how great Claire is. It's possible that The Bear's writers can develop a well-written romantic development for Carmy and Sydney, but there's always the possibility that another romantic plotline would fail to stick the landing. A Carmy and Sydney romance wouldn't ruin the show if done well, but it wouldn't be a bad thing for The Bear to keep their relationship platonic.