Warning: SPOILERS ahead for season 3 of The Bear.

Olivia Colman’s Chef Terry has become one of The Bear‘s most popular guest stars, but despite her skills and talent, she surprisingly revealed she was closing her restaurant during season 3’s finale. Terry first appeared in season 2 where she helped Richie find a deeper purpose in the restaurant industry and discover a far more fitting role. Despite her season 2 appearance being relatively small, she played a massive part in Richie’s character development, making her cameos in The Bear season 3 a welcome surprise. However, her reveal during the final episode was certainly a bit of a shock.

Terry also helped Carmy grow as a chef and was once an important mentor to him, but despite all she achieved in the restaurant industry, she decided to close her business. Given how successful her career has been, the decision to leave the industry behind is unexpected, especially after seeing the struggles the main cast has gone through. With a thriving restaurant and years of experience, stepping away may seem like a mistake, but Chef Terry’s return in The Bear season 3 offered a perfect explanation as to why she left the industry behind.

Chef Terry Has Sacrificed Her Happiness, Family & Personal Life For Her Restaurant

The Restaurant Industry Had A Big Impact On Chef Terry’s Personal Life

During The Bear‘s season 3 finale, Terry explained to Carmy why she decided to close her restaurant, citing the reason as a more personal one. She told Carmy that she wanted to sleep more often and party frequently while also having intentions of visiting London regularly, proving that she made big sacrifices for her restaurant. Despite being proud of her career, Terry expressed her desire to simply live her life, as the industry had forced her away from her family and loved ones. By closing her restaurant, she will be able to make up for lost time.

Although she often comes across as warm and upbeat, Terry clearly jeopardized some of her happiness in order to make her career work, and by giving up so much to become a top chef, now seems to be the time for her to reconnect with the things she loves. Her appearance in The Bear season 3’s ending is a reminder to Carmy that professional success isn’t everything, and while Terry did manage to live her dreams, she proved there’s more to life than being a chef.

This is symbolized by her shutting down such an acclaimed business to gain a new sense of freedom. The realization that running a restaurant isn’t making her happy anymore is a perfect illustration of how much it has impacted her personal life, and having the strength to put an end to her creation shows how strong and inspiring her character is.

Chef Terry Has Already Accomplished Huge Feats In The Culinary World

Colman’s Character Has Achieved Massive Success Throughout Her Career

Despite Chef Terry seemingly putting her career behind her, she has accomplished some incredible things in the culinary world. Given she was a mentor figure to Carmy, she has clearly influenced many young chefs to reach their potential. Carmy even acknowledged this in season 3 by telling Terry he’d learned a lot from her. Alongside this, Terry’s restaurant appeared to be a huge success and even gained Michelin stars, signifying how popular it was while also demonstrating her skills as a chef.

Given Colman has a guest role, The Bear never explores the full extent of what Terry has achieved throughout her career, but based on what the series has shown, there’s no doubt she has an impressive resume. According to Time, Colman’s character was inspired by Alice Waters and Marcella Hazan who are icons of the culinary world. Even if Terry’s career wasn’t as successful as the duo’s, this detail indicates how skillful she is, and while there are no updates on whether Colman will appear in The Bear season 4, Terry is clearly one of the show’s best chefs.

Chef Terry’s Storyline Represents A Self-Destructive Aspect Of The Restaurant Industry

The Bear Perfectly Illustrates The Huge Impact The Restaurant Industry Can Have On Chefs

The Bear‘s Chef Terry storyline visualizes some of the self-destructive aspects of the restaurant industry in a more subtle way. Carmy’s stressed nature shows the mental impact that being a chef can have on someone, but his character is a more extreme example. While the main group has plenty of flaws between them, Terry seems like a more mature and settled character, yet even she is affected by the culinary lifestyle. Her limited time with loved ones and the necessity to dedicate herself to her restaurant seem to have caught up with her by the finale.

While being a chef offers plenty of benefits and is a rewarding career, it also has its drawbacks and is far from easy. Like many industries, working in a restaurant seems fun on paper, but without dedication and sacrifices, it is hard to truly make it. Even Richie’s story shows that this isn’t restricted to the kitchen, as his role in the front of house also causes plenty of stress, but Terry’s story is the perfect demonstration of how self-destructive the industry can be for even the most experienced chefs, which is what makes The Bear so compelling and relatable.

Source: Time