Warning! Contains spoilers for The Bear season 4.

There is more to The Bear season 3’s Taylor Swift scene than meets the eye, and its comparison with season 2’s Taylor Swift moments reveals a lot about Richie’s story. Although many factors contribute to The Bear‘s success, a part of the reason it is such a memorable show is its stellar music choices. Throughout its runtime, it features classic tracks from beloved artists like Pearl Jam and R.E.M. that perfectly complement its Chicago visuals.

The Bear‘s seasons 2 and 3 also use Taylor Swift’s songs as the background scores for several scenes, highlighting Richie’s love for the singer. However, a close look at The Bear season 2’s Taylor Swift references and season 3’s subtle nod to a song by the singer reveal a bittersweet truth about Richie’s characterization. Even though The Bear season 3 features only one Taylor Swift track, it seems to hold immense significance in Richie’s journey.

Taylor Swift’s “Long Live” Plays When Richie Visits Frank’s House In The Bear Season 3

The Song Highlights How He Still Connects With His Daughter Through Taylor Swift’s Music

Unlike The Bear season 2, which put Richie, his ex-wife, and his daughter’s love for Taylor Swift on full display, season 3 only features one Taylor Swift song. This song, “Long Live,” can be heard in Richie’s car as he drops his daughter off at Frank’s house. It is an interesting detail because many moments in The Bear season 2 highlight his ex-wife Tiffany’s love for Taylor Swift. Richie, too, listens to her music because it helps him connect with his daughter and ex-wife even when they are not with him.

In The Bear season 2, he even tries to arrange three tickets for a Taylor Swift concert through Uncle Jimmy. However, not long after, his heart is broken when he learns that Tiffany is planning to get married again. When Richie finally turns his life around in The Bear season 2 and finds his true purpose in the service industry after briefly working at Chef Terry’s restaurant, Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” also becomes the soundtrack of his life. Since Taylor Swift has been such a crucial part of Richie’s journey, season 3’s subtle “Long Live” reference must mean something.

Richie’s Taylor Swift Scene In The Bear Season 3 Is Much More Subtle Than Season 2

The Subtle Taylor Swift Reference Symbolizes A Crucial Stage In Richie’s Story

While Richie struggles to deal with his divorce from Tiffany in The Bear season 2, he becomes more accepting towards it in season 3. He even meets Frank and appreciates how nice he is. Owing to this, since he connected with his wife and daughter through their combined love for Taylor Swift’s music, it is hard not to believe that season 3’s subtle reference to “Long Live” represents how Richie is finally moving on. It seems like the more he grows distant from his previous romantic relationship with his ex-wife, the less he listens to Taylor Swift.

As seen in The Bear season 3, he still enjoys listening to Taylor Swift with his daughter. However, his regrets surrounding the divorce are gradually fading as he is learning to embrace his new relationship with his family. However, it would still be interesting to see whether he will gather the courage to attend her wedding in The Bear season 4. If he does, he will, perhaps, get an even better closure for his past, allowing him to commit to his personal growth as a chef and maybe even find new love.