I'LL ADMIT it: after Season 1 of The Bear, despite many of the internet's finest posters thirsting over the tattooed and emotionally unavailable Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), I didn't really think of him as a character with much space for a love interest. We spend much of that first season with him reeling following the unexpected suicide of his beloved, albeit flawed, older brother; even before that, just about every fiber of his being has gone into becoming one of the greatest gourmet chefs in the country. He's as hard on himself as anyone in the world. Just because people are thirsty for Carmy doesn't mean he's primed for any kind of on-screen romance.
That's what I thought, at least. As soon as I saw Carmy share a scene with Claire (Molly Gordon) in "Pasta," the second episode of The Bear Season 2, I was pretty willing to admit I was wrong. That's a testament to the brilliant chemistry shared between White and Gordon from just about their first instant on screen together, even in moments where nothing is spoken aloud and all that's shared is looks. It's made clear from context within the episode that Claire has been a significant figure in Carmy's past (their mutual connection these days is Neil Fak, played by Matty Matheson).
This is further confirmed in Episode 6, "Fishes," when Claire actually doesn't even appear on screen. Set about five years in the past, we see a moment during the Berzatto family Christmas when Michael (Jon Bernthal) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bacharach) tell Carmy that they saw Claire—and that she's looking good. Carmy clearly is interested, but is a bit embarrassed at the same time.
In the present, it's clear that Carmy and Claire like each other, and like each other a lot. That much is abundantly clear just from the charged energy in every scene between them. But the context that "Fishes" adds is that a relationship with Claire is even extra important to Carmy, because it's something that the late Michael was encouraging him to do; something he wanted him to do for his own betterment and happiness.
And that wouldn't work nearly as well if Claire wasn't played by Gordon with such an undeniable charm. If Gordon looks familiar to you, there's good reason why—you've probably seen her in one of several major projects over the last few years. And chances are strong that you'll be seeing her again in the near future.
Molly Gordon plays Claire in Season 2 of The Bear.
Before she landed the role of Claire in Season 2 of The Bear, Gordon worked with showrunner Christopher Storer on two episodes of Hulu's Ramy, and, according to Variety, told her at the time that they would work together again in the future. He followed through, giving her a call while she was finishing her upcoming movie Theater Camp and asking if she would want to join the show for Season 2.
Gordon compared working with The Bear's cast to being in a Shakespeare company and also a ballet. "I felt very, very lucky. I would have played a napkin," she said. "So playing opposite Jeremy was a dream."
Her breakout film role came in Booksmart, but you don't want to miss Shiva Baby either.
Gordon started in the industry from a young age, with her first roles coming in the Sean Penn-led I Am Sam and the Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell-led Bewitched as a trick-or-treater.
Her breakthrough roles, though, came in a pair of 2019 comedies: she played "Triple A" in Olivia Wilde's excellent teen comedy Booksmart, and Hannah in the underrated comedy Good Boys.
Her talent is fully on display in 2021's Shiva Baby too; she co-stars with Rachel Sennott (another actress currently on a major come-up) in a movie that feels like a mash-up of Uncut Gems and A Serious Man.
She's had major roles on TV before too.
Before entering the high-stress culinary world of The Bear, Gordon has been part of a few other shows as well. She previously worked with The Bear showrunner Christopher Storer on Ramy, and had a guest spot on Orange is the New Black back in 2015.
She was also a main cast member in TNT's TV version of the Australian film Animal Kingdom, playing Nicky Belmont for three seasons. She also currently stars on Winning Time, playing Linda Zafrani as a member of the show's main cast.
She'll next be seen in Theater Camp—which she also co-wrote and co-directed.
In 2020, Gordon, along with Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Nick Lieberman, starred, co-wrote and co-produced a Wet Hot American Summer-esque short film called Theater Camp; now, in 2023, it's been turned into a feature film that's being released on July 14 by Searchlight Pictures. Gordon once again co-wrote, co-produced, and co-directed the film, which seems like it could be the biggest on-screen project of her career so far.
Gordon, Platt, and Galvin all star in the movie, along with fellow The Bear cast member Ayo Edebiri.
FAQs
Don't get me wrong—Gordon, who is a captivating, scene-stealing presence in everything from Booksmart to Shiva Baby, is brilliant here, too, but there's no escaping the fact that Claire is a prototypical Manic Pixie Dream Girl from the moment she bumps into Carmy at the supermarket.
Did Carmy actually love Claire? ›
In the few short episodes they were together, it became clear that Carmy liked the idea of being with Claire a lot more than he actually liked being with her. She was always very open and honest and supportive in the relationship, but Carmy closed himself off.
Did people like Claire in The Bear? ›
There's only one negative aspect to the season that everyone seems to agree on: nobody likes Carmy's love interest Claire, played by Theater Camp's Molly Gordon.
Does Carmy end up with Claire? ›
Molly Gordon reveals that she is happy Claire and Carmy broke up at the end of The Bear season 2. The series returned to Hulu in June and this time, followed its young chef (Jeremy Allen White) as he attempted to turn The Original Beef of Chicagoland into a new restaurant.
What is a manic fairy pixie dream girl? ›
What is a manic pixie dream girl? This term refers to a female supporting character who solely exists in a story as a catalyst for growth in the male lead. The MPDG tends to enter the narrative just as his life falls apart; her only mission is to help him evolve as a person.
How old is Carmy supposed to be in The Bear? ›
Carmy is 26 years old in The Bear season 2. The original screenplay for the pilot episode of The Bear indicates that Carmy was 25 years old at the start of the series, making Carmy 26 in the show's second season which premiered one year after the first.
How does everyone know Claire in The Bear? ›
Known as "Claire Bear" to Carmy and his family, she was his childhood sweetheart and their relationship when they were younger was seen as cute and juvenile by their families.
Why is Carmy called a bear? ›
Carmy, Michael, and Natalie's (their sister) last name is Berzatto, pronounced “bear-zaa-tow.” In the series, both Michael and Carmy are affectionately called “bear” by their friends. To homage to his late brother, Carmy opted to close the old family restaurant, The Beef, and open a new one called The Bear.
Are Richie and Carmy really cousins? ›
Although Michael and Carmy commonly refer to Richie as 'cousin', he is not actually related to them. He is an only child. In Richie's speech to the staff, he says 'We're gonna be streets ahead tonight'. The phrase "streets ahead" is a reference to the catchphrase of Pierce Hawthorne from the NBC sitcom Community.
Why did Carmy give her the wrong number? ›
Carmy runs into the old friend, a clear spark between them. He gives her the wrong phone number for fear of where it could lead, but Fak (Matty Matheson) gives Claire Carmy's real one and she calls him. The usually laser-focused Carmy is finally paying attention to something beyond work, and he's falling in love.
Claire is a fantasy of Carmy's, and her character actually enhances the show's narrative (albeit in an annoying way). Carmy uses her as a distraction, and to scratch his itch for being seen as 'fun'. But, in reality, he wants to focus on the restaurant.
Who is Carmy's girlfriend in The Bear? ›
Claire, played by 27-year-old actress Molly Gordon, is The Bear's secret weapon. She's introduced in Episode Two as a lost love from Carmy's past—making her one of the few individuals who truly know him.
What happened with Claire at the end of The Bear? ›
Claire breaks up with him, and later, when he hears Claire's unopened voicemail revealing her love for him, it is heartbreaking. Hulu has confirmed that The Bear season 3 will premiere some time in 2024.
What happened to Carmy's dad in The Bear? ›
Summary. Carmy's father may have died before the events of The Bear, as he hasn't spoken to him in over two decades. Another theory is that Carmy's father abandoned his family, explaining his absence in the show. It's possible that Carmy's father is in prison, given the criminal activities surrounding Carmy's life.
Is Luca on The Bear a real chef? ›
Poulter's mother went to culinary school, so he grew up with a passion for cooking and food. When he landed the role on “The Bear,” he only had a few weeks before he had to be in Chicago, so he began cooking with the show's culinary producer, Courtney Storer, and worked in three restaurants in London: St.
Who is the most famous manic pixie dream girl? ›
2005 - Elizabethtown (2005) - Claire Colburn
Claire is #1 on the list because she started the whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl phenomenon.
Who is an example of a manic pixie dream girl? ›
Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is another excellent example of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. Not only does Scott (Michael Cera) pursue Ramona (being that she's recently gotten over a breakup), but she is also defined by her seven evil exes, whom Scott must defeat to win her.
How do you tell if a character is a manic pixie dream girl? ›
The manic pixie dream girl tends to be someone with some form of trauma in their life, such as the death of a close family member or personal trauma, that is vaguely mentioned but rarely explored in depth. They usually have colorful hair and whimsical philosophies about life, death, or their purpose in life.
Who plays Manic Pixie Dream Girl? ›
Kirsten Caroline Dunst is an American actress, who also holds German citizenship. She was born on April 30, 1982 in Point Pleasant, New Jersey, to parents Inez (née Rupprecht), who owned an art gallery, and Klaus Dunst, a medical services executive.
