Sheridan (The Bear)

Sheridan

Company type	Television episode
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	June 23, 2022 (2022-06-23)
Founder	Christopher Storer (writer), Joanna Calo (director)
Parent	The Bear (TV series)

Sheridan represents the fifth installment in the debut season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. This episode, penned by series creator Christopher Storer and directed by Joanna Calo, debuted on Hulu on June 23, 2022.

The narrative centers on Carmy Berzatto, an acclaimed New York chef who returns to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment.

Plot

In an effort to increase revenue, Carmy collaborates with Sydney to create a new dinner menu. Prior to the lunch rush, a plumbing issue arises when a toilet clogs; Carmy contacts Fak, a friend of Richie’s, to address the problem. Fak expresses interest in employment but quickly conflicts with Richie during an informal interview, prompting Carmy to step in. Fak discloses that Richie has been involved in selling cocaine behind the restaurant; Richie confesses this activity helped sustain the business through the COVID-19 crisis but agrees to cease. Meanwhile, Marcus experiments with fermentation techniques, neglecting his baking responsibilities and causing a mixer overload that results in a power outage. The team scrambles to preserve perishable items during the blackout. Fak informs Carmy that repairing the damaged condenser will exceed $5,000; Carmy then asks Richie to conduct one final drug sale to cover these costs. Sydney rescues lunch service by organizing an outdoor barbecue, reflecting on her unsuccessful catering business venture.

Context

Marcus’s fermentation trials draw inspiration from the Noma Guide to Fermentation; actor Lionel Boyce received training from Noma pastry chef Malcolm Livingston II, who later made an appearance in the season-three finale.

The expression "Say mattae" alludes to the 1988 Jean-Claude Van Damme movie Bloodsport.

Tape

In "Sheridan," Carmy is shown cutting tape rather than tearing it for the first time. Food & Wine highlighted Carmy's fixation on achieving perfect tape edges, comparing it to chef Sean Brock's meticulousness. An article from Eater proposed that Carmy uses 3M painter's tape, favoring green over the more typical blue—a preference likely passed down from his previous mentor Chef David Fields (Joel McHale). Carmy's own mentor Thomas Keller, known for the French Laundry, Bouchon, and Per Se, also opts for neon green tape. According to Food52, professional kitchens often enforce strict tape protocols requiring scissors-cut straight lines, folded tabs for easy removal, and labels indicating product name, date, and packer initials. This level of precision aids mental focus and reinforces attention to detail in both kitchen management and dish execution.

Writing

BuzzFeed spotlighted a significant scene where Carmy assists Sydney in straining shrimp stock, planting early hints of a possible romantic connection that resonated strongly with viewers.

Filming

The episode begins with a "hip-hop montage" storytelling style that received praise from Collider. It rapidly intercuts scenes of Sydney waking up, beef roasting intensely, chicken demi-glace simmering, woodfire grilling, seafood preparations, and an email rejection from Greater Chicago Banking. This montage succinctly conveys Sydney’s character and motivations without relying on voiceover or extensive exposition. Sydney's catering business name, Sheridan Road Catering, references a prominent Chicago artery extending into Wisconsin, named after U.S. Army general Philip Sheridan. The episode concludes with a similar montage depicting Sydney’s creative process as she develops her cola-braised short ribs recipe.

Costume Design

Sydney sports the "Peekaboo" headscarf from Mur by Ayca, featuring a distinctive "hands" motif.

Soundtrack

The episode's musical selections include "Wish I Was" by Kim Deal, the classic "Da Doo Ron Ron" performed by the Crystals, "Sisyphus" by Andrew Bird, and "Impossible Germany" from Wilco’s album Sky Blue Sky.

Culinary Elements

Upon arriving in the kitchen, Sydney quickly joins Carmy, who is analyzing her COGS (cost of goods sold). While Carmy discusses updates to the menu, Sydney begins tenderizing chicken breasts. Carmy proceeds to prepare lemon chicken piccata, a recipe originally introduced by Sugar in episode two. He applies the culinary technique monter (derived from beurre monté), which involves thickening a sauce by incorporating butter through whisking. The term piccata denotes a thinly sliced and flattened piece of meat or fish, historically veal and later chicken.

Sydney also requests Carmy's assistance in straining an étouffée stock intended for her forthcoming risotto dish. Étouffée is a hearty, spicy stew rooted in Creole or Cajun cuisine, commonly prepared with crayfish and vegetables and served atop rice.

Critical Reception

The website Vulture awarded the episode "Sheridan" a rating of four stars out of five.

Retrospective Analysis

In 2024, the Hollywood Reporter positioned "Sheridan" at 25th place among 28 episodes, describing it as "a solid installment overshadowed by stronger, comparable episodes, similar to 'Pop.'" ScreenRant ranked it 19th out of 28 episodes spanning through season three, noting it as "one of the most humorous" entries from season one with a significant focus on Sydney’s background.

By 2025, Vulture placed "Sheridan," characterized as the series’ "first somewhat Sydney-focused episode," at number 30 within a list of 38 The Bear episodes.

See also

• Comprehensive episode list for The Bear
• Season one of The Bear
• Preceding episode: "Dogs"
• Following episode: "Ceres"