Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Bear season 3, episode 1, “Tomorrow.”

The Bear season 3 opens with a unique episode, jumping around the timeline of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto’s professional career, and it can become disorientating if it’s not given enough focus. The Bear season 2’s ending left various characters in some precarious social situations, so choosing not to resolve those issues for an entire episode of the next season does a brilliant job of building tension. The Bear season 3, episode 1, “Tomorrow,” mixes old clips with new footage to create a sort of clip show episode that tells the audience more about the leader of The Bear season 3’s cast.

“Tomorrow” is accompanied throughout by a haunting score, with dialogue being at a premium in the episode. It’s certainly a new format for the show, but one that’s incredibly compelling to kick off The Bear season 3. It reveals a great deal about Carmy’s journey that’s never been shown before, as well as revisiting familiar faces in scenarios where they’ve not previously been seen in the show. By the end of the episode, Carmy feels like a much more relatable character, given all the physical and psychological stresses he’s endured while following his dream.

The Bear Season 3’s First Episode Uses The Present Day As A Framing Device

Carmy is getting ready for his restaurant to flourish

Not all of “Tomorrow” is set in the past, as the episode does occasionally recenter its audience by returning to Carmy’s current place of work in Chicago. He’s shown preparing ingredients, labeling storage areas, and generally just preparing for the restaurant to open for business. During these scenes, the most salient task undertaken by Carmy is writing down his list of “Non-negotiables.”

All the flashbacks shown in “Tomorrow” inform Carmy’s list in some way, as he delves into his past and compiles the tips and advice he’s received and formulated himself through his years of training as a professional chef. The list looks to be of a more-than-respectable length and includes a mix of coded aphorisms as well as more literal instructions for his team of chefs and other colleagues.

“Tomorrow” Reveals More About His Time Under Chef Terry At Ever

Colman’s character proves instrumental in the earlier stages of Carmy’s career

Olivia Colman returns for The Bear‘s season 3 opener to play the head chef at Ever. Chef Terry first appears in The Bear season 2, episode 7, “Forks,” when Carmy sends Richie to Ever to learn. Carmy’s workload at Ever seemed to consist largely of prep work, but he is eventually shown cooking and plating up intricate dishes too. Ever is based on a real Chicago restaurant.

Colman’s character takes a shine to Carmy’s innate talents, and when she spots him doodling, she suggests working in Copenhagen and presumably sets up his time at Noma for him. This is a retroactive foreshadowing of what Carmy did for Lucas in The Bear season 2, when Carmy sent his pastry chef to Copenhagen to train under Lucas. Seeing as Lucas is also seen training with Carmy at Ever, this particular part of the timeline is very important to the show’s more recent events.

Copenhagen’s Noma And Its Real Head Chef Also Work Their Way Into Carmy’s History

Carmy seemed to find new life at Noma

The Bear solidifies itself even further as a member of the “real world” by including not just another authentic restaurant, but also featuring a cameo from its head chef and co-owner. Copenhagen’s Noma has three Michelin stars and has René Redzepi at the helm. The sequences don’t show much about Carmy’s progression, but the fact he’s managed to snag a position at a restaurant that’s largely considered to be one of the best in the world speaks volumes of his abilities as a chef.

Noma is the restaurant that Carmy sends Marcus to in The Bear season 2, so the restaurant is pivotal in the learning experiences of both chefs. “Tomorrow” even shows Carmy living on the same boat that Marcus eventually took up residence in years later during his European adventure. This had already been implied in season 2, but seeing it onscreen is a rewarding bit of parity.

Natalie’s Conversation With Her Brother Takes Place Immediately Before Carmy Leaves For New York

Sugar tries to get Carmy to stay in Chicago

Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto is being every inch the protective big sister in “Tomorrow,” voicing her concerns to her younger brother as he prepares to set off for the city that never sleeps to further his skill set. However, her desire for him to stay in Chicago seems to be more for her benefit than Carmy’s, as she eventually admits, “I just feel like maybe I’m never gonna see you again.”

Eventually, it’s revealed that Sugar has prepared for the eventuality that she can’t convince her brother to stay, and after Carmy rejects the money she offers him to take with him, she sneaks it into his pocket anyway during their goodbye hug. The moment is very sweet, but Carmy’s determination to leave Chicago suggests that had Mikey not died, Jeremy Allen White’s character may indeed have never returned home on any sort of permanent basis.

Carmy’s Time In New York Is Covered Heavily In “Tomorrow”

Jeremy Allen White’s character is shown learning even more

Much has been mentioned about the earlier stages of Carmy’s career in New York, but The Bear season 3, episode 1, finally provides an extended look at some of the other restaurants he worked in before returning to Chicago. The episode shows a mix of real and fictional chefs, helping to further blur the lines between The Bear and reality. Joel McHale returns to reprise the role of the verbally and emotionally abusive David Fields. McHale’s character has been shown before, but “Tomorrow” doubles down on his cruel nature.

Another New York restaurant shown in “Tomorrow” is Daniel, a real restaurant belonging to French chef Daniel Boulud – who can be seen playing himself in the episode as he trains Carmy. The Bear season 3’s opener also brings back John Mulaney as Steve, Carmy’s brother-in-law from “Fishes” in season 2. Mulaney’s character looks after Carmy well and gives him a place to sleep after his long and grueling shifts.

The Flashbacks In “Tomorrow” Don’t Just Focus On Carmy’s Professional Life

Mikey’s death is paid more attention in The Bear, season 3, episode 1

The Bear season 3’s opening episode uses new and old footage to flesh out Carmy’s timeline even further. Parts of the installment recap Carmy’s past exchanges with his late brother Mikey, as well as adding the odd piece of new footage of Jon Bernthal’s rarely-shown character. The more dramatic moments from “Fishes” also make an appearance, showing the familial turmoil that Carmy has experienced.

Perhaps the most important event in The Bear‘s story, Mikey’s death, also receives a decent amount of attention toward the end of the episode. This is what brought Carmy back to Chicago to run what was then called The Beef, and eventually became the show’s titular restaurant. The sequence is a reminder that all Mikey accomplished is still relevant and that his influence on his family’s lives can still be prominent in The Bear.