Contains spoilers for The Bear Season 4, episode 1.
The Bear Season 4 explores further the connection between Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and his late brother, Mikey (Jon Bernthal), commencing with an emotional flashback of them envisioning launching a restaurant together.
Episode 1 provides additional details. Following the flashback, there’s a brief yet impactful moment where Carmy sends a text to his deceased brother’s phone while heading to work, indicating it’s not the first message he’s dispatched.
What messages has Carmy sent to Mikey since his death, and what do they indicate about their bond?
What texts has Carmy sent to Mikey since he passed away?
Here are the undelivered messages visible on Carmy’s phone in Season 4, episode 1:
Miss you bro
Sat., Jan. 21
Found the tomato cans
Wed., Apr. 18
You were right about Claire Bear
Fri., May 26
Thinking of you today
Today
The restaurant was called Kerrigan’s
These messages relate to occurrences in the series. “Found the tomato cans” alludes to the conclusion of Season 1, when Carmy uncovers the $300,000 Mikey concealed in the tomato cans referenced in his recipe. “You were right about Claire Bear” pertains to Season 2’s “Fishes” episode, where Mikey describes Claire (Molly Gordon) as “the love of your fucking life.”
The “thinking of you today” message aligns with the inaugural day of The Bear, the restaurant Mikey assisted in naming and financing. The concluding message, “The restaurant was called Kerrigan’s,” connects to the initial flashback in episode 1, presumably referencing the Irish eatery their father cherished.
What do the messages reveal?
Carmy is portrayed as emotionally reserved, frequently shying away from challenging subjects and emotions. Nonetheless, flashbacks and infrequent dialogues unveil his affection for his brother.
The undelivered messages illustrate how often Carmy reflects on Mikey. During crucial instances in Carmy’s life—discovering the money, rekindling his relationship with Claire, and launching his dream restaurant—Mikey occupies his thoughts. Sending texts to his brother’s former phone is likely Carmy’s means of feeling connected to him.
The Bear Season 4 is available for streaming now on FX.