I felt a lot of the same things. Seemed like half the episodes were flashbacks of “this is how this depressed and dysfunctional person became a depressed and dysfunctional person”.
We already knew a lot of the reasons why and then we get another 33 minutes to reinforce the same concept.
To that end, it almost felt like episode 9 should have been the “fishes” of season 3 and the funeral episode 10 wouldn’t need to change. Because.
The confrontation leaving Carmy bewildered would have hit just as hard if not harder.
Very well said and matches my experience from Season 3. Still looking forward to Season 4, because I know they have the game to put something special together.
The only episodes that were flashbacks were “Next” and “Napkins”.
TYFYS
A few more thoughts:
Marcus losing his mother, Carmy losing Claire and his focus, Ritchie losing all hope of getting back together with his ex, Syd losing faith in Carmy, Syd losing her ability to stand up for herself / speak directly to Carmy, Cisero losing money, even Tina losing her job in the flashback.
This results in a colder, more stagnant, less vibrant, less focussed and engaging season. Yes, it was intentional, but it was overdone. I almost reached for the fast forward button.
You gonna have Fak’s on standby in the kitchen at 1, 2, 3am to eat those R&D dishes?
Hot take: JLC can act.
Didn’t need the Brian Koppelman (Computer) guest role this season. One of the all time fart sniffers in Hollywood. If you want your ears to bleed, listen to any of his guest appearances on The Rewatchables.
I knew that voice sounded familiar!
They’re not there 24/7?
Watching S2 for a second time with my girls who are seeing it for the first time before we dig into S3.
Just finished Forks. Thought I would keep to together. Nope. We are all sobbing messes.
Best. Fucking. Episode. Of. TV. Ever.
We wrapped up the season last night. As somebody who is a big fan of the first two seasons, season 3 is a big step down, bordering on bad.
What a strange and meandering season. S1 and S2 had clear through lines and goals, but S3 never had that. A couple of things were introduced but had no payoff - i.e. Sid’s will they/won’t they decision and the restaurant review. We’re exactly where we started with Carmy - he hasn’t talked to Claire and he and Richie still aren’t on speaking terms. This is a big sin for TV.
I understand exploring the trauma of these characters, but the first two seasons did a better job of balancing this with light-hearted moments that gave the show color. S3’s comic relief almost solely relied on the Fak’s, who were exhausting and overexposed (btw, John Cena’s cameo was an awful decision - took me right out of the show. Honestly, Josh Harnett had a similar effect for me too).
Maybe a hot take, but Jamie Lee Curtis is not good. Ep 8 was a slog. She’s overreacting to hell. I’d love to see a world where Michelle Pfeiffer took the part.
Lastly, I think the chef cameos - especially somebody like Thomas Keller - are lame. The show serves as a critique of the fine dining industry, and you’re going to give a sympathetic cameo to somebody responsible for the state of high-end dining as much as anybody? A guy who absolutely doesn’t need the exposure? It’s just showing off at this point.
It wasn’t all bad - there are some wonderful moments - Tina’s episode is fantastic. But this season was overly punishing and left me cold.
I don’t think this is true. Or at least isn’t what they’re trying to do
what are you talking about, there was a whole season arc about being haunted /s
Then I guess I have a different interpretation - I think much of it is, especially including somebody like Joel McHale’s character.
A critique? Dude, this is a love letter.
I think it’s both, personally.
Either way, I don’t like the “Look at we can do!” aspect of these cameos. You’re a TV show - make up new characters. Olivia Coleman and Will Poulter’s characters intermingling with real-life chefs is strange and lazy to me.
Right. It’s a critique of people like McHale’s character and that type of militant, abuse kitchen that causes burnout and people with a ton of potential to lose their minds. Throughout the season we see these contrasts of Carmy being happy and looking fulfilled while working at these calm, nurturing kitchens like Daniel, FL, Ever, and Noma, where he’s allowed some freedom and guided toward greatness with soft hands. But Carmy doesn’t know how to be happy long term, and that’s likely what drew him to McHale’s kitchen. He knew he’d suffer and be abused, and he probably feels like he can’t be the best chef he can be without that, because of what his life has been like up to that point. His experience at that place turns him from being the up and coming chef everyone loves to being this rage monster who no longer enjoys cooking. In the final episode, they say McHale “used to be the best” but he isn’t anymore, despite still being younger than all the other premiere chefs in the episode. That’s a really pointed statement. Most of that final episode is some of the best chefs in the world talking about their love and passion for food and cooking, but also recounting their horrible experiences working in bad kitchens under bad chefs. That’s the point. Not that fine dining is bad, but that greatness doesn’t mean anything if you can’t be happy while achieving it. So much of this show is a love letter to fine dining and the people involved in it, but it’s clearly also a rebuke of that toxic aspect of the industry.
I don’t think I’m going to hop aboard the “JLC is bad” train that you’re rolling on. But I really don’t understand the love for that episode. It’s a complete bottle episode that did no character development to speak of.
“Last resort option had to be selected, worst fears about that last resort option come to pass, redeeming ending for last resort option” is so formulaic that it doesn’t mean anything for the characters. It surprised me that the same people who gush over that episode are the same that are praising the season for being purposefully meandering and unfocused.