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Why are people hating on the romantic element here? It brings a lot of depth, we get to see the very real dynamic of Carm trying to balance the intensity of the restaurant with something that actually makes him feel good. It's all most like watching him free himself from an abusive relationship (his work), certainly he's starting to realise what he's missing out on due to his all consuming passion. Maybe his identity doesn't need to be entirely tied up in what he does. This is a concept that will chime with many creatives, and I'm glad it's being explored.

Its also so wholesome to see him find a kindred spirit in Claire, but still in keeping with the slightly dark realist vibe of the show because you know Claire has the exact same almost toxic relationship with work. It's full of potential but still dark and real. It's great tv and art. I can't help but wonder if the negative reviews about Claire here are founded on something other than what the show presents.

Firstly, as much as I appreciated Syd and Marcus' episodes, it was nice to get back to an outing that deals with almost all of the main players.

Carm is still the heartbeat of this show and placing Claire into the mix has worked wonders. Her presence reveals a somewhat juxtaposition between the life that Carmine could have, one in which he overcomes his lonerism, his anxiety, his stresses, and the life he currently has by staying put within the environment that seems to cause all these problems.

The sequence at the end, when the tone shifts from the somewhat calm, fun atmosphere at the party, back into the claustrophobic tension of the restaurant, then back to Carmine's candy-sweet interactions with Claire - it's a brilliant move that illustrates the two sides of his life. Now Carm is hanging directly in the balance and I'm looking forward to seeing how this develops.

In other moments, Tina had a particularly heartwarming sequence, the opening with Uncle J was hilarious, and Richie was brilliant as per usual. That man's comedic timing is wonderful, and you cannot help but like him despite all his shortcomings.

Great episode. Now onto the big ones that everybody is raving about.

Another sweet episode ruined. This really had a soft and heartwarming feel to it, however....

So, you know like, what I like, really like can't stand? Is when like, you know like, some unitellegible teenager, is all like, talking like an uneducated teenager, and like freaking wind chimes, okaaaaaaay?

Yet another perfect example of how terribly wrong the casting was. Within the first two minutes they have the unbearable Ms. Ayo trying to pass herself off as.... God knows what. She sounds like an annoying teenage girl (I wonder why *that* is?) Horrible, horrible casting.

Then, also within the first 2 minutes of hell, they shamelessly (get it?) Obviously use the tune of the television series "Shameless" starring Jeremy Allen White, when they are doing the stopwatch scene.

This just keeps getting more and more pathetic.

What truly annoys me, this show was made for Gen-X'ers. Let me be absolutely clear: Gen X are NOT millenials. Not by a bloody longshot. Yet this show seems to shamelessly drag itself down to millenial standards.

This entire season so far has been ruined because the writers can't get out of their own way. The constant arguing in the series is basically the same frustration i feel trying to endure most of this convoluted mess.

How can you destroy something that started off so well? Utterly disgusting and yes, shameless.

If they think this is cute, the writers must be sociopaths.

Another 8/10, maybe even a 9/10, taken down to a 5/10 because of lazy writing, editing and casting.

Pathetic.

Get rid of Ayo, she is hopeless, and hopelessly out of place and in over her head. Its not her fault, but she needs to go!

Season so far is going in the direction of prioritizing its characters and their development. This episode pretty much offers that.

It tackles the insecurities of these characters as we get to see them dealing with some heavy handed situations on their own. Episode purposely side tracks itself for the sake of growing these characters.

They are flawed individuals who we see actively make mistakes. It doesn't make it any better that their lives outside of work isn't all that well either too. But that is just to show that life doesn't come without its hardships and sometimes a struggle will come for us all and we have no choice but to deal with it.

Although it might have been one of the weaker episodes this season it doesn't fail at sustaining some good moments to it.

I don't know why the episode is rated 8 !!. It was nothing but a masterpiece. Most people were upset with the romantic scenario and its addition to the story. I don't know why. Carmy relationship with his girlfriend added a deep, dramatic and extensive building to carmy character. The bear still gives me that magical feeling. And the distinctive vibe... literally throughout the episode I was smiling and tense... from the visual aspect, the music, the dialogues and the narrative depth, the camera, photography and cinematography aspect... It's Just So carefully crafted... for those idiots who did not like the episode because the series moved away from the kitchen events a little bit. I'm sure they didn't understand that the restaurant had 6 weeks left until it opened.. and their journey of building and planning the restaurant and their problems was so interesting and funny.. the best episode of the season so far for me.. just 10/10.