People who "save themselves" in a "dangerous" place

It's a story of reconciliation and redemption.

The mysterious death of Michael brought about this encounter. The protagonist, Carmy, takes over the restaurant, The Beef, left behind by his brother, Michael.

If you have visited or worked in the kitchen, you would understand how "dangerous" a place it is - this setting is truly brilliant.

Smooth and shiny sauces, richly browned meat cuts, brightly colored vegetables and herbs - close-up shots of food constantly stimulate the pupils and appetite. Sharp knives, soaring flames, hot ovens, boiling soups - deadly weapons fill the eyes, and emotional triggers are everywhere. The editing involuntarily speeds up, with rapidly changing scenes that dazzle the eyes. I held my breath, tense all over.

Carmy is no exception. He demonstrates the professional habits of a formal restaurant chef, finds ways to solve lingering billing issues, and deals with the damn broken machines. Can he do otherwise? He can only do this - he doesn't understand why his brother, Michael, shot himself, why the two brothers gradually lost contact, why Michelin-starred restaurants have water boys delicately arranging dishes... These questions are like the giant bear locked in a cage, constantly pulling at him, but they can never be easily released.

Let's also talk about the supporting characters. "Cousin" Richard, whose marriage failed and is seen as the "bearer of bad news" by his wife. He frequently curses, is quick to grab a gun, and almost daily finds faults and troubles Carmy. Sydney, a skillful chef, experienced business failures and mounting debts. When she joins forces with Carmy to implement a new management approach, she is repeatedly challenged by colleagues. Everyone's lives seem like leaky and dilapidated boats, taking on water and on the verge of sinking.

The surface chaos and difficulties are evident. You can gradually feel that Richard's madness seems to be related to Michael's death - he was his best friend, how can he accept the fact of his death and lay to rest the memories of the past? Sydney, without Carmy explicitly stating it, knows in her heart that her desperate desire for victory and lack of patience have exacted a heavy toll on herself.

Until the moment the explosive takeout order appears. The conflict cannot escalate any further - the kitchen "explodes" and people scatter.

And then comes the repair. Carmy slowly recounts his lifelong connections and experiences with Michael at the support group, simply describing without attempting analysis. After narrowly escaping imprisonment, Richard tells Carmy, who paid his bail, "You're all I get." Sydney accepts Carmy's apology and returns to the restaurant.

Thanks to the solid groundwork laid earlier, the final reconciliation doesn't feel abrupt - a group of people with an inherent inclination for self-preservation finally find solace and acceptance in each other.

Everything flows so smoothly.

It's worth mentioning that the state of food/kitchen in the series is closely related to the characters' psychological states. A burning stove, a spilled sauce bottle, broken eggs, piled-up kitchen waste in the corner - in contrast, evenly sliced mushrooms, appropriately sized flames, clean and tidy workstations. The internal chaos and order of the characters are on full display.

This is also why the kitchen setting is brilliant - it can be both chaotic and extremely dangerous, as well as passionate and orderly, just like our own lives.