The Bear Season 2 features several guest stars with Uncle Lee, (portrayed by Bob Odenkirk) being amongst the most important.
So, who is Uncle Lee, and what does his cameo mean for the show?
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Who Is Uncle Lee in The Bear and Why Is He Important?
Uncle Lee is a close friend of the Berzatto family who appears in a flashback in Season 2 of The Bear.
He used to be the business partner of the Berzatto siblings' late father, as well as Cicero (also known as Uncle Jimmy).
He was also the on-and-off boyfriend of Donna, Carmy's mother.
Bob Odenkirk's character is a bit of a mystery, as he doesn't affect the plot much in the narrative present.
If The Bear gets another season, however, he could play an important role in the restaurant's financial future.
Season 1 of the TV series ends with Carmy finding out that his late brother had left him a significant sum of money, hidden in tomato cans with the initials "KBL."
In Season 2, we find out that the letters stand for "Kalinowski, Berzatto, and Lane."
The first is the surname of Uncle Jimmy, another one of the family's close friends and partners. The second is, of course, the surname of Carmy's family, while the third is Uncle Lee's surname.
To make matters more complicated, a flashback reveals a tense relationship between Mikey, Carmy's late brother, and Lee.
Lee's financial involvement is currently unclear, but it could come back to haunt the characters later on.
How Are Uncle Lee and Carmy Related?
As it turns out, Uncle Lee isn't a blood relative of Carmy's. He is a family friend who was around when Carmy was growing up.
He and his siblings got used to calling him "uncle," possibly due to their parents' referring to him as such around their children.
This is revealed in a brief discussion between Sugar and Carmy as they and Sydney prepare to meet Uncle Jimmy (also a family friend whom they call "Uncle" without being related by blood).
Sugar reminds Carmy that Lee is "Uncle Lee Lane," to which he irritably replies that Lee isn't really their uncle.
Still, Uncle Lee might have taken a paternal role for the siblings at some point, given that their father is currently absent. This would further explain why he's called "uncle."
Will Uncle Lee Appear in The Bear Season 3?
Although Uncle Lee makes no live appearance in The Bear Season 2, it's safe to assume that he's alive so we might see Bob Odenkirk's character in Season 3 of the show.
This isn't confirmed yet, but we expect Season 3 to further explore the mystery of the tomato cans and Mikey's debts.
If this is the case, Lee's involvement in the Berzatto's business and family life is also likely to be seen in more depth.
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