Richie
Cousin, Richie Jerimovich
Actor/Actress:
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Group/Family:
Original Beef Staff / Front of House
Characteristics:
Loud, loyal, defensive, traditional, evolving, volatile
Backstory
Michael's best friend and surrogate family member. Resistant to change, fiercely protective of restaurant's legacy. Has daughter Eva with ex-wife Tiffany. Former small-time dealer who eventually stages at upscale restaurant, transforming from chaotic manager to professional maître d'.
Recent Events
S3 E09
0:24
Richie and Tiff Playground Heart-to-Heart
Characters:
Richie; Tiffany; Eva
Description:
Tiff asks Richie to RSVP to her wedding, explaining he's family and she wants him there despite how difficult it might be. She apologizes for telling Eva that Richie is alone.
Conclusion:
Richie seems to agree to attend the wedding, showing growth in accepting change and supporting Tiff's happiness.
Location:
Chicago playground
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Richie has been struggling with his divorce and Tiff's engagement to Frank. He's been avoiding the wedding invitation due to his own pain.
Analysis:
This scene shows Richie's emotional maturity and the enduring love between him and Tiff despite their divorce. It demonstrates healthy co-parenting and mutual respect.
S3 E04
0:17
Richie Confronts Frank About Tiff
Characters:
Richie; Frank1; Eva
Description:
After dropping Eva off, Frank attempts to smooth things over with Richie about marrying Tiff. Richie makes clear Frank didn't need his permission but wants things to be civil for Eva's sake.
Conclusion:
Richie maintains his dignity while establishing boundaries with his ex-wife's new fiancé.
Location:
Frank's house/driveway
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Frank is engaged to Richie's ex-wife Tiff, creating an awkward dynamic as he tries to be respectful to Richie while building a relationship with Eva.
Analysis:
This scene shows Richie's maturity and growth. Despite his pain, he prioritizes his daughter's wellbeing and tries to maintain civility in a difficult situation.
S3 E04
0:09
Richie's Tender Moment with Eva
Characters:
Richie; Eva
Description:
Richie shares a sweet father-daughter moment with Eva, discussing what animals they'd be and her concerns about him being alone. Their easy rapport shows his gentler side away from the restaurant chaos.
Conclusion:
Eva expresses worry about her dad being lonely, showing her emotional intelligence and care.
Location:
Car/getting ready for day
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Richie is dealing with his ex-wife Tiff's engagement to Frank while trying to maintain his relationship with his daughter.
Analysis:
This scene reveals Richie's vulnerability and the loving father beneath his aggressive restaurant persona. Eva's concern about his loneliness foreshadows his struggles with change.
S3 E03
0:16
Richie Creates Own Non-Negotiables
Characters:
Richie; Carmy;
Description:
Frustrated with Carmy's rigid kitchen rules, Richie creates his own list of 'non-negotiables' for front of house, including 'open heart,' 'razzle dazzle,' and demanding advance notice for menu changes.
Conclusion:
Richie presents his list as a direct challenge to Carmy's authority and management style.
Location:
The Bear dining room/front of house
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Richie has been struggling with Carmy's daily menu changes that make it impossible to properly serve customers or maintain consistency.
Analysis:
Richie's list represents a rebellion against Carmy's increasingly authoritarian leadership. His inclusion of emotional terms like 'open heart' shows he understands what Carmy has lost.
S3 E03
0:21
Carmy and Richie Physical Fight
Characters:
Carmy; Richie; Marcus
Description:
An argument about mushrooms in a guest's order escalates into a physical altercation between Carmy and Richie. Marcus has to physically separate them, stopping the fight before it gets worse.
Conclusion:
Marcus breaks them apart, showing his quiet authority and the respect he commands from both men.
Location:
The Bear kitchen
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Tension has been building all month between Carmy's perfectionist demands and Richie's customer service focus. Both are stressed and grieving in different ways.
Analysis:
This fight represents the complete breakdown of their partnership. Marcus's intervention shows he's become the emotional center of the restaurant, able to stop what Carmy and Richie cannot.
S3 E02
0:18
Richie's Explosive Confrontation
Characters:
Richie; Carmy; Sydney
Description:
Richie arrives and immediately clashes with Carmy over the non-negotiables list and restaurant changes. The argument escalates into a screaming match with years of resentment spilling out.
Conclusion:
Sydney has to physically intervene to stop the fight, showing how toxic the workplace has become.
Location:
The Bear kitchen
Timeline:
2023 Present - Morning After
Context:
Richie is still furious about Carmy's breakdown during opening night and his harsh words while trapped in the freezer.
Analysis:
This explosion shows the fracturing relationships within The Bear family. Richie's anger represents everyone's frustration with Carmy's increasingly impossible standards.
S2 E08
0:08
Richie Arrives in His New Suit
Characters:
Richie; Carmy; Sydney
Description:
Richie arrives wearing a sleek black suit, completely transformed from his week at Ever. He's professional, composed, and ready to take on his new role with dignity and purpose.
Conclusion:
Everyone notices Richie's dramatic transformation, both in appearance and demeanor.
Location:
The Bear restaurant
Timeline:
2023 Present - Two weeks before opening
Context:
Richie learned the importance of presentation and professionalism at Ever. The suit represents his commitment to service excellence.
Analysis:
The suit is Richie's armor and transformation symbol. It shows he's internalized the lessons from Ever and is ready to bring that standard to The Bear.
S2 E07
0:29
Richie Drives Home to Taylor Swift
Characters:
Richie
Description:
Richie drives home blasting Taylor Swift's 'Love Story (Taylor's Version)' with pure joy and transformation evident on his face. This completes the thread of wanting tickets for his daughter Eva.
Conclusion:
The episode ends with Richie singing along, completely transformed and euphoric about his experience.
Location:
Richie's car driving through Chicago
Timeline:
2023 Present - End of week
Context:
Earlier in the season, Richie mentioned wanting to get Taylor Swift tickets for his daughter Eva, and his ex-wife wore a 1989 shirt during the Christmas episode.
Analysis:
This needle drop is perfect - Richie's love story is with hospitality and his own potential. The Taylor Swift connection ties to his role as a father and his emotional growth.
S2 E07
0:25
Richie Masters Menu Knowledge
Characters:
Richie;
Description:
Richie steps up his game, properly tasting and naming sides and sauces, and being quizzed by wait staff on restaurant trivia. He knocks it out of the park, showing he's absorbed the knowledge and standards.
Conclusion:
The staff acknowledges Richie's improvement and he feels pride in his newfound expertise.
Location:
Ever restaurant dining room
Timeline:
2023 Present - Late week at Ever
Context:
Richie has been studying the menu, wine pairings, and restaurant history with the same intensity he once brought to Chicago sports trivia.
Analysis:
This scene shows Richie's intellectual growth and professional development. He's applying his natural intelligence to something meaningful and worthwhile.
S2 E07
0:05
Richie Assigned Fork Duty
Characters:
Richie; Garrett1
Description:
Garrett assigns Richie to 'forks' - washing and polishing forks and spoons. Richie dreads the menial labor and approaches it with obvious disdain and poor work ethic, doing the bare minimum.
Conclusion:
Richie begins his fork duty with visible frustration and resistance to the task.
Location:
Ever restaurant kitchen
Timeline:
2023 Present - Day 1 at Ever
Context:
Ever is a three-Michelin-star restaurant with exacting standards. Every detail matters, including perfectly polished silverware, but Richie doesn't understand this yet.
Analysis:
The fork assignment is both literal and metaphorical - it's about attention to detail and respect for the craft. Richie must learn humility before growth.
S2 E01
0:07
Richie's Existential Crisis
Characters:
Carmy; Richie
Description:
Carmy finds Richie in the basement discussing purpose and meaning. Richie admits he doesn't know where he fits in the new restaurant, feeling lost without his old role and wearing a misprinted 'BERF' shirt.
Conclusion:
Richie reveals his deep insecurity about his value and future role in the new restaurant.
Location:
The Original Beef basement
Timeline:
2023 Present
Context:
Richie was Michael's best friend and unofficial manager. With the restaurant changing, he's questioning his purpose and dealing with the assault charges from Season 1's finale.
Analysis:
This scene humanizes Richie's resistance to change. His existential crisis reflects the broader theme of identity and purpose when everything familiar is being dismantled.