# Worms (The Bear)
**"Worms"** is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama series *The Bear*, written by series stars [Ayo Edebiri](https://www.edgepedia.org/ayo-edebiri) and Lionel Boyce and directed by [Janicza Bravo](https://www.edgepedia.org/janicza-bravo), first released in June 2025.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269) It is the first episode of the series focused solely on [Sydney Adamu](https://www.edgepedia.org/sydney-adamu) (Ayo Edebiri), the chef de cuisine of the Chicago restaurant at the show's center, and follows her over a single day off as she weighs a job offer from another chef against staying at The Bear.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) • [3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position | Season 4, Episode 4 of *The Bear*; logline listed as "Decisions"[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269) |
| Release | June 25, 2025 per Apple TV; Rotten Tomatoes lists June 24, 2025[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s04/e04) |
| Credits | Written by Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce; directed by Janicza Bravo; IMDb additionally credits Catherine Schetina[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36943992/) |
| Guest stars | Danielle Deadwyler as Chantel, Sydney's hairdresser cousin; Arion King as TJ, Chantel's 11-year-old daughter[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) |
| Title | Named for Sydney and TJ's shared love of gummy worms[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) |
| Creative team | The first episode in the series' history from an all-Black creative team[7](https://www.avclub.com/the-bear-recap-season-4-episode-4-worms) |
| Audience score | IMDb user rating of 7.5/10 from about 4.8K votes; rated TV-MA[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36943992/) |
## Synopsis
The episode opens with Sydney at home on her day off, watching [Whoopi Goldberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/whoopi-goldberg)'s 1986 film *[Jumpin' Jack Flash](https://www.edgepedia.org/jumpin-jack-flash-film)* and taking out her braids, with her career decision hanging over the day.[8](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/) Chef Adam Shapiro (Adam Shapiro) has offered her a job, and he calls to invite her to tour his new restaurant; Sydney shuffles her hair-appointment schedule to fit the visit in.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) • [8](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/)
The day's centerpiece is her appointment with her cousin Chantel ([Danielle Deadwyler](https://www.edgepedia.org/danielle-deadwyler)), who redoes her braids. Sydney also babysits TJ (Arion King), Chantel's 11-year-old daughter, and the two bond during a grocery-store walk over their respective dilemmas; Sydney compares the chefs Adam and Carmy to a dad with a "pizza house" and a big brother with a "stinky house," respectively.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) Across the day she weighs Shapiro's offer of stability, resources, and equal partnership against her chosen family at The Bear.[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
## Production
**Origin.** Seasons 3 and 4 of *The Bear* were shot in tandem, and during editing of season 4 footage series creator Christopher Storer called Edebiri to say there appeared to be space for a Sydney-focused detour. She pitched him the idea of a chaotic, day-long hair appointment.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) Edebiri and Boyce, who plays pastry chef Marcus but does not appear in the episode, wrote the script at Edebiri's home in Los Angeles toward the end of 2024.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) • [2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) Janicza Bravo, the director and co-writer of *[Zola](https://www.edgepedia.org/zola-film)*, agreed to direct.[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
[The A.V. Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-a-v-club) noted that for the first time in the series' history the episode came from an all-Black creative team.[7](https://www.avclub.com/the-bear-recap-season-4-episode-4-worms) To sketch Sydney's world outside the restaurant, Edebiri and Boyce consulted castmate [Corey Hendrix](https://www.edgepedia.org/corey-hendrix), the Chicago native who plays sommelier Gary, and other Black locals in the cast and crew.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) The episode showcases the historically Black Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html)
## Title and themes
The title refers to Sydney and TJ's shared love of gummy worms.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) Structurally the episode is a day-in-the-life piece, and its themes include self-worth. Slate's critic observed that TJ shows Sydney how valuable she is, but that her sense of self-worth "is only felt when dictated by someone else."[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html) The episode is also a celebration of [Black hair](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-hair) and Black family, centered on the braiding appointment.[8](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/) • [3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
## Cast and characters
Ayo Edebiri leads as Sydney Adamu. The guest cast is Danielle Deadwyler as Chantel, Sydney's hairdresser cousin, and Arion King as TJ, Chantel's 11-year-old daughter.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) Rotten Tomatoes' cast listing for the episode includes the series regulars [Jeremy Allen White](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-allen-white) (Carmy), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie), and [Abby Elliott](https://www.edgepedia.org/abby-elliott) (Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto) alongside Edebiri.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s04/e04)
## Reception
Critics hailed "Worms" as one of the best, if not the best, episodes of *The Bear*'s fourth season, though some viewers criticized it as filler.[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html) Decider called it a hall-of-fame entry in the show's tradition of quiet single-character episodes, praising its set details, direction, celebration of Black hair, and smart focus on food.[8](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/) Rotten Tomatoes describes the episode as following Sydney's struggle to decide whether to stay at The Bear or jump ship, calling it "both a classic entry and a departure"; its Tomatometer for the episode is based on 4 reviews.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s04/e04) Slate's critic argued that although the episode's events may have opened Sydney's eyes to how chaotic The Bear is, they do not end up mattering in her final decision.[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
## By the numbers
Apple TV lists the episode at 31 minutes, released June 25, 2025; IMDb lists 32 minutes and an air date of June 25, 2025, while Rotten Tomatoes lists June 24, 2025.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36943992/) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s04/e04) The episode is rated TV-MA and holds an IMDb user rating of 7.5/10 from about 4.8K votes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36943992/) It is available on Apple TV and also listed on Disney+ and Hulu.[1](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269)
## How it compares with other single-focus episodes
Decider places "Worms" in *The Bear*'s tradition of quiet, single-character episodes: "Honeydew" sent Marcus on a culinary excursion to Copenhagen, "Forks" showed Richie finding renewed purpose in the kitchen, "[Ice Chips](https://www.edgepedia.org/ice-chips-the-bear)" gave Sugar and her mother Donna space to reconnect, and "Napkins," Edebiri's directorial debut, followed Tina's journey to The Beef. "Worms," the reviewer wrote, joins that hall of fame.[8](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/) Variety compared the episode's effect to the series *[Atlanta](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-tv-series)*, in the way it reveals Sydney's personal life and how she processes her choice.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) Slate likewise called it a beautiful exploration of Black family and culture echoing the style of *Atlanta*.[3](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
## Legacy and Sydney's arc
The writers deliberately had Sydney decide to leave. Edebiri said she knew Sydney would stay at The Bear ultimately, but that in creating tension and a choice, "She should choose to leave."[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html) Boyce said the writers wanted Syd to make a decision in the episode even if it was the wrong one, and that what Shapiro is presenting is "ultimately really good," a person who means well even if he is sometimes off the mark.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/) Director Janicza Bravo said she treated the possibility of Sydney leaving as real but suspected "it probably wouldn't" happen.[2](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/)
As the season continues, Sydney's decision to work for Adam does not hold; she stays at The Bear, where Carmy ultimately offers her an ownership stake.[6](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html)
## References
1. [Worms – The Bear (Season 4, Episode 4), Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/worms/umc.cmc.2m17buvwcu8fypg01alhf9269)
2. ['The Bear': Ayo Edebiri and Lionel Boyce on Writing Sydney's Episode, Variety](https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/the-bear-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce-sydney-episode-1236451642/)
3. [The Bear Season 4 Episode 4 finally focuses on Sydney, Slate](https://slate.com/culture/2025/07/the-bear-season-4-episode-4-worms-sydney-ayo-edebiri.html)
4. [The Bear: Season 4, Episode 4 "Worms", Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_bear/s04/e04)
5. ["The Bear" Worms (TV Episode 2025), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36943992/)
6. [How 'The Bear' Made 'Worms,' Got Danielle Deadwyler, Vulture](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-bear-worms-behind-the-scenes-danielle-deadwyler-janicza-bravo.html)
7. [The Bear recap: season 4, episode 4, "Worms", The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/the-bear-recap-season-4-episode-4-worms)
8. [The Bear Season 4 Episode 4 'Worms', Decider](https://decider.com/2025/06/27/the-bear-worms-season-4-episode-4-ayo-edebiri-lionel-boyce/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Seasons, episodes, and installments › Episodes and serial chapters › Individual episode articles › General episode articles › Comedy and comedy-drama episodes*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license