Award-winning comedy series The Bear, aired on FX, is wrapping up with its fifth and final season. However, before the curtain falls, Carmy (portrayed by Jeremy Allen White) has some unfinished business—like picking up his phone when it rings.
Warning: Spoilers for Season 5 of The Bear are ahead.
As the final eight episodes of The Bear unfold, viewers are eager to uncover answers to pressing questions: Will the restaurant earn that coveted Michelin star? Is Carmy going to abandon his culinary career? Will Unc choose to expand the business into a franchise? And importantly, will Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Jess (Sarah Ramos) finally share a kiss? Curiosity only grew with the emergence of unexpected inquiries, such as the mystery of the missing spoons—and most intriguingly, who’s persistently calling Carmy?
In the season’s opening episode, Carmy receives a call from an Unknown Caller while he chats with Sydney (played by Ayo Edebiri) in the kitchen. Noticing him ignore the call, Sydney quips, “Wish I had the courage to not answer my phone.” (Let’s not forget she was a master at dodging Adam Shapiro’s calls in the previous season!)
Carmy responds to Sydney’s comment with, “I wouldn’t call it courage.” When pressed on what he means, he simply says, “The opposite,” implying cowardice. The mysterious caller tries again in Episode 4 and then later during a touching moment in Episode 7 with Sugar (Abby Elliott) and Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis). Still, Carmy doesn’t answer. However, by the series finale of The Bear, the identity of the Unknown Caller finally comes to light.
Major finale spoilers lie ahead. So major. Don’t read on if you aren’t OK with being spoiled!
So who’s calling Carmy in The Bear Season 5? Who’s the Unknown Caller? Who is Peter Clark? And what does he want? Read on for answers from The Bear Season 5, Episode 8, “The Original Beef of Chicagoland.”
Who’s Calling Carmy In The Bear Season 5? Who’s The Unknown Caller In The Bear?
When Sugar finds Carmy outside the restaurant in the finale, she tells him someone named Peter Clark left her a message saying he’s been trying to reach him. Carm says he doesn’t know who he is, and he’s telling the truth! But detail-oriented fans of The Bear may connect the dots…
When the Unknown Caller Carmy’s been dodging all season rings again, Carmy answers and Peter Clark, says, “You’re a hard guy to get a hold of. I called you seven times.” Still confused, Carmy asks, “Sorry, what is this about?” and we finally learn who Peter Clark is.
Turns out, those who watched The Bear Season 4 you already met Peter Clark! We just knew him as Mr. Clark, aka the Star Man who visited The Bear on the magical fake snow night.
If you need a detailed refresher on Gary Janetti’s character, Decider’s got you covered. But in Season 4, Episode 3, a seemingly minor character named Mr. Clark cane into the picture. It was the only time we saw him all season, but those who were listening attentively knew he had the potential to make a major impact on the series — and he did!
Mr. Clark dined at The Bear the night of Richie’s epic beef sandwich/fake snow and hot chocolate surprise for a family whose daughter had been cancer-free for six months. He sat next to the family’s table and gushed over the “extraordinary” scallop dish and “excellent” service. Richie got Mr. Clark his own sandwich and on his way out he caught a glimpse of the manufactured winter wonderland. When he got in his car and viewers finally learned his name, however, we realized he was a Michelin inspector.
How’d we know?! Earlier in Season 4 we learned, “They use a weird last name — like a street in the city they’re visiting,” and there’s a major street called Clark Street in Chicago with ties to the city’s history, music, sports, restaurants, and more. So what did Peter Clark want with Carmy?
Does The Bear Earn A Michelin Star?
While we don’t hear Peter and Carmy’s conversation, after he hangs up, Sydney catches him heavily breathing in the hall and asks what’s wrong. He tells her that Star Man from the night before (Mr. Dearborn, also a Chicago street!) was just a regular guest, but Peter Clark visited a couple months ago, adored her scallop dish, the culinary creativity, the undeniable talent, and The Bears ambiance.
When Sydney asks if they got a star, Carm shakes his head no then reveals THEY GOT TWO. Let’s go, Peter Clark! That’s our MAN right there. If you want a full breakdown of The Bear‘s Season 5 finale and Sydney and Carmy’s reaction to the life-changing news, be sure to read our The Bear Season 5 Ending Explained article.
Stay tuned for more The Bear Season 5 coverage from Decider.