In The Bear season 3, episode 4, “Violet,” Richie Jerimovich hangs a picture of a Zen garden in the back office. There are several factors leading up to this moment, starting as early as season 2, episode 7, “Forks,” when Richie’s ex-wife Tiffany tells him that her now fiancé, Frank, has proposed. The Bear season 2 does not end well for Richie, despite his significant character development during his stage. He truly learns what it means to serve people, but everything comes crashing down in season 2, episode 10, “The Bear,” when Richie and Carmy have an explosive fight – a crucial factor in Richie hanging his Zen garden.

The fight lasts throughout season 3, and they cannot speak to each other without screaming. Sydney has to mediate between Carmy and Richie constantly, and they avoid each other as much as possible. Carmy says many awful things to Richie that cut open some of Richie’s most profound insecurities. The ongoing fight puts Richie’s entire life into perspective, which eventually leads to Richie’s Zen garden moment. While Carmy and Richie’s fight is not the only thing that pushes Richie to post a photo of a Zen garden, it sends Richie down a particular path that makes him question his life choices.

The Meaning Behind Richie’s Zen Garden Picture In The Bear Season 3

Richie’s Loneliness Spiraling From Tiff, Frank, and Carmy

Several events in Richie’s life lead him to put up the Zen garden photo. Throughout The Bear season 3, episode 4, “Violet,” Richie ponders his loneliness that he fears he will not overcome. Besides his altercation with Carmy, which is not ending soon, Richie’s ex-wife, Tiffany, is engaged, and he feels he is being pushed out of the picture. Other than his daughter, Eva, Richie feels more alone than ever. He puts up the Zen garden photo because it portrays human nature, reminding Richie that although he is lonely, he is not alone. Millions of people feel just like him.

How Richie’s Zen Garden Connects To William Friedkin

The Bear Pays Homage To William Friedkin’s Career

Richie did not take a picture of the Zen garden, nor did he make up the concept — instead, movie director William Friedkin stumbled upon this particular garden in Japan. Hollywood director William Friedkin died at 87 in August 2023, a little more than half a year before production began for The Bear season 3. The show was able to pay homage to William Friedkin and his work by featuring a photo of the Zen garden. In The Bear, Richie explains the Zen garden to Sugar, only to discover she already knew about it because her husband, Pete, is also a big William Friedkin fan.

“And that this garden is, in fact, an illustration of human nature, and how we are, all of us, alone in this world.”

– Richie talking about the Zen garden in The Bear, season 3, episode 4, “Violet”

Richie plans to visit the garden someday, located in Kyoto, Japan, along a site named The Philosopher’s Path. The interaction between Richie and Sugar takes just over two minutes of an action-packed episode, but it is still easily the highlight. It is a brief, passing moment, but it is enough to impact the audience and remind them of the effect William Friedkin made in cinema and around the world. This scene is a great way to honor Friedkin’s work while simultaneously developing Richie’s character.

How The Zen Garden Picture Helps Richie In The Bear Season 3

The Zen Garden Puts Everything Into Perspective For Richie

The Zen garden puts Richie’s life into perspective. He feels lost, alone, and unsure of what will happen next. His ex-wife is getting married, he is on bad terms with Carmy, and he does not have a big life outside of work and his daughter, Eva. Richie feels more alone than ever, but the Zen garden photo reminds him that despite his loneliness, he is not alone because millions of other people are just like him. He even says it himself: humans are “separated,” which is part of their nature. Even William Friedkin was in Richie’s shoes at one point.

Richie must keep pushing forward, knowing loneliness is not an estranged feeling. Richie is unsure where his life is going, but he does know a few things. He enjoys serving people for a living; it gives him purpose. Although he feels ostracized, Tiffany and her fiancé, Frank, try to be as inclusive as possible. His daughter adores him, and Richie helps to raise her. He is on bad terms with Carmy, but it is only temporary. He has a family who loves him. Richie’s loneliness is a bump in the road; it is human nature but will not last forever.

By the end of The Bear season 3, Richie begins to move forward with his life and do something about his loneliness. Now that he has acknowledged it, he is in a much better place and doing his best. In season 3, episode 10, “Forever,” Richie and Jess, a co-worker when he staged in season 2, have a meaningful conversation that fulfills his arc this season. However, the show is not over yet, and The Bear season 4 has many questions to answer, some of which include Richie. Viewers must wait and see where his life will take him next and whether the Zen garden continues to be a source of comfort.