How The Bear’s “Worms” Episode Changes Everything You Thought About Sydney

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Warning: Spoilers for Episode 4 of The Bear’s current season lie ahead! You can watch the entire new season by subscribing to Hulu.

Before the fourth season debut of “The Bear” in 2025, it was announced that Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce, who portray Sydney and Marcus, had written an episode titled “Worms.” This episode primarily focuses on Sydney’s storyline. During a conversation with Boyce, I asked him about writing the script for this episode, and he explained how single-focus episodes like this offer viewers a unique perspective to appreciate one of FX and Hulu’s top shows from a fresh angle.

In “Worms,” we catch a peek into Sydney’s world beyond The Bear. During this episode, she visits her cousin Chantel, portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler, to get her hair braided. Throughout its duration, Sydney ponders the decision of either joining forces with Adam or staying at The Bear with Carmy. This episode offers a fresh and honest perspective on Sydney’s life, which was the intention, as Boyce explained to me – to provide an authentic and new insight into Sydney’s personal journey.

This particular episode, known as a “bottle episode,” offers a unique and enlightening viewpoint on the series. These episodes are special because after viewing them, you can rewatch the entire show with a renewed understanding of the character at the forefront – in this case, Sydney. This installment provides insights about her that may not have been apparent in previous seasons. Essentially, it offers a fresh perspective on our beloved show.

In The Bear’s second and third seasons, bottle episodes have been a recurring feature. For instance, in Season 2, the episode “Forks” showcased Richie’s growth, while Marcus ventured to Copenhagen in “Honeydew.” Season 3 provided insights into Tina’s personal life in “Napkins,” and we followed Sugar through her hospital experience during childbirth in “Ice Chips.” Each of these episodes added depth to the characters, and this trend continued in Season 3 with the episode “Worms” as well.

The game “Worms” stands out more due to its direct connection to the actress who portrays Sydney and Lionel Boyce, who not only shares the screen but also enjoys a close friendship with Edebiri off-screen.

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In support of Boyce’s argument, their narrative offered a glimpse into Sydney’s family, introducing us to Chantel and her adolescent daughter, TJ. We witness Sydney engaging with them, and when Sydney is left with TJ, we uncover a gentler, more exposed side of the chef as she deliberates over which restaurant to work at, using a sleepover analogy for comparison.

For the very first time, we had an opportunity to listen to Sydney express all her thoughts about this career choice, revealing the profound internal conflict she’s been grappling with. As Boyce remarked, looking back, this insight significantly alters my perspective on her actions, and it undeniably deepens my comprehension of why Sydney decided to persist in her job at The Bear during Season 4.

When I inquired from the actor portraying Marcus about collaborating with the actress from Sydney on this particular episode, he expressed that it was an “extraordinarily engaging encounter.” This interaction also aided him in recognizing his profound understanding of the series and its characters. To put it simply, the opportunity to contribute to the show in an entirely novel manner was truly exhilarating, as he articulated.

I found it intriguing to switch seats, and it became evident that I knew just as much as everyone else in the show because I read every script and had a unique viewpoint. Since I have previously written my own content, following someone else’s guidelines was enjoyable.

I can’t help but mention that collaborating with Ayo Edebiri has been truly meaningful for me. We’ve developed a wonderful friendship, and I hope to continue working with her throughout my professional journey.

In conclusion, two cast members from The Bear created an extraordinary television episode. As Boyce put it, this gives us all a chance to reevaluate both Sydney and the entire show with “fresh perspectives.” To check if this is indeed the case for you, feel free to stream the full series on Hulu, which requires a subscription.

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2025-06-28 02:08