In my most favorite episode of Bar Rescue ever, Jon takes on the challenge of reviving Kilkenny’s Irish Pub, an ailing establishment on the shores of Redondo Beach, California. Purchased by young and inexperienced sisters Allie and Alexis Speed, the pub’s lack of direction is evident in its filthy, unkempt, shabby, and confusing décor. Complicating matters is the presence of Allie’s ex-boyfriend, Carlos, who, despite being the general manager and later a managing partner, holds no financial responsibility for the bar’s nearly million-dollar debt.

I love this episode because it gives me the opportunity to imagine how Jon would have handled Allie and Carlos if this episode had been recorded in season four instead of season one. Jon is not yet a widely recognized celebrity and bar consultant outside the industry and cannot take full advantage of the latitude being “Jon Taffer of Bar Rescue fame” affords him in confronting bar owners and staff. Make no mistake, Jon still exudes confidence in his ability to rescue the troubled pub, but in his interactions with Allie, he balances a sensitivity to Allie’s emotions that we rarely see with similarly situated owners in later seasons. Carlos openly and frequently challenges Jon’s expertise and even threatens to chase him down across America if he does a bad job. Jon just quietly handles the situation like a quintessential professional. I, on the other hand, laugh my ass off.

When Jon delves into the financial situation with Allie, he questions her about her debt and Carlos’ role at the pub, prompting a moment of self-reflection for Allie when he asks if she is managing Carlos or if Carlos is managing her. Jon, as straight forward as ever, remarks, “If I had a general manager for four years and was losing money, I’d change my general manager.” Jon wants Carlos gone but allows Allie to grapple with the situation with far more patience than I had for it.

Later in the episode, I imagine all the things Jon of 2023 would say to Carlos while I impatiently wait for Jon of 2011 to finally expose Carlos’ shortcomings, which he does when he skillfully challenges Carlos’ bullshit during a meeting with the owners. Carlos lacks awareness of crucial financial details and attempts to maintain control over the bar and his cushy, responsibility-free situation by undermining Jon’s credibility and calling him a joke. Jon stays focused on the facts, exposing Carlos’ manipulation and revealing his astonishment at the unhealthy dependency Carlos has instilled in the owners.

During the soft opening, Carlos’ true colors emerge again as he openly sabotages Jon’s improvements and disparages the mixologist, Michael Tipps, by calling him a douche. Unfazed, Jon labels Carlos as incompetent and the “kiss of death,” expressing his desire to see Carlos removed. However, in a departure from later seasons’ decisive moves, Jon gives Allie and her sister 24 hours to “look into their souls” and make a choice regarding Carlos.

On the night of the relaunch, tensions escalate as Carlos disregards Jon’s instructions and attempts to countermand the changes. In a pivotal moment, Jon reveals to Allie and Alexis that he intervened that morning to prevent the water company from shutting off the water—a task Carlos the GM should have accomplished. Allie, finally recognizing the need for change, demotes Carlos and steps up as the new general manager. She delivers a stirring pep talk, providing clear direction and rules for the employees. With training and Jon’s support, she has developed confidence to stand on her own. Thank God.

At the end, Jon, Allie, and the bar staff are pleased with the new bar and the new Allie. Jon calls this episode a “journey” and seems grateful not only for the improvements he’s ushered in but also the journey’s end. I end the episode by imagining Jon throwing a drink in Carlos’ face and squishing an E.coli colony on his shirt while savagely shouting, “I’d call you a douchebag, but that’s offensive to every douchebag I’ve ever met.”

I invite you to consider and share your answer in the Comments: How do you think Jon would handle Allie and Carlos if they had appeared in a later season?