by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
In May 2023, TV lost some of the most prestigious shows and awards contenders. Succession, Ted Lasso, Barry, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, all ending simultaneously, left a giant void in television that hasn’t been wholly filled since. Prestige TV is still looking for a group to take the medium to a new level. Currently, The Bearis holding down this group well, with many wild cards and prospects looking to get into it.
The Bear is one of those TV shows that has gone on a truly incredible run for two seasons. As a show on a streaming service like Hulu, and having all the episodes dropped at once, it’s impressive to know that it has not only gotten critical praise, but also fan devotion, which we haven’t seen for a long time. I’m one of those fans who loved the first two seasons, putting them at the top of my rankings for the years they came out. It’s been a while since I’ve been this anxious to start a show at its release, and Season Three is the first in a long time that I’ve binged all in one sitting.
I must credit FX for taking a chance on shows like The Bear. Only a few studios would look at it and give it the runway it received. FX is putting out the best shows right now, and The Bear is a testament to the type they zero in on. They’re looking for solid stories, excellent performances, and trust to let creative individuals create the show they want. It still bugs me that FX, and by extension Hulu, sometimes still puts out all the episodes at once, but that is one of the few nitpicks I have about this most recent season of The Bear.
No other show on television can create and hold tension like The Bear. You are on the edge of your seat for each episode, wondering what will happen. Tension in The Bear is created in two significant ways. First, it’s created because the performers know how to deliver their lines in ways that make the audience feel uncomfortable. Whether it’s the loudness of the lines being delivered, or the chemistry between all the performers bringing the most out of the moment, each scene can give you anxiety yet immediately whiplash you to a different emotion. Secondly, the writing on The Bear might be the best Hollywood has to offer right now. Every single writer on this show knows these characters inside and out, and knows how to tell a gripping story.
The Bear also excels due to patience. In the two seasons since the show started, it’s taken its time to tell a story with an enormous payoff for people who love and stick with it until the end. The writers know that some stories are worth pointing out to give extra context, some stories need to be said to make the audience feel something, and some stories don’t pay off until the conclusion of the whole narrative. Sometimes that means certain arcs aren’t explored until the following season, and sometimes that means leaving more questions even as the credits roll during the final episode.
Season Three of The Bear feels chaotic and choppy, but not severely so. The story picks up only a short time after the events of Season Two, where The Bear opens up, and a rough first night causes several relationships to be fractured. Since Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) lets his frustration and anxiety get the best of him during the final moments of Season Two, the question becomes how he recovers from it. In truth, this season doesn’t let Carmy off the hook for what happened, and it doesn’t resolve all the problems he caused when he got trapped in that walk-in fridge. I would go so far as to say that it warps his perception to a point where he becomes more focused, but further away from the person, partner, and leader he should be for his crew.
White’s performance is outstanding, as I’ve come to expect from him after two seasons. His command of the screen is evident, with his ability to both remain calm and explode at a moment’s notice. He and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) get into an epic fight at the end of Season Two, and Season Three is dedicated to watching the fallout. Carmy has conflict with nearly everyone in this season, as he wants them to achieve excellence. His decision-making regarding the restaurant is erratic, and he’s pushing everyone to their breaking point, including himself. Season Three provides a lot of context that helps put together pieces to show how Carmy became the chef we know today. His immense talent and desire to be the best are revealed through flashbacks of several bosses he had that shaped him into the person he is today, for better and worse. As always, White delivers a performance for the ages, and shows he’s television’s best performer right now.
The Bear also wouldn’t work without a strong performance from Ayo Edebiri as Sydney. This season, she and Carmy spend most of their time at odds. At first, this looks like growing pains and the struggles that any new business has to create a reputation. Later, Sydney realizes it’s more than growing pains; it might be how Carmy is usually. She’s stern with the staff, but in a way that continues to allow people to keep their dignity. This focus for the season, how people in authority treat their subordinates, shows how Sydney differs from Carmy. She doesn’t want to create a space that is toxic and disruptive. Edebiri is faced with several challenging situations and is given some rigid material regarding how to handle her new role at The Bear.
Aside from our leads, there are two standout supporting characters this season. First is Natalie (Abby Elliott). She has spent the last two seasons as Carmy’s sister, helping him with finances at the restaurant. She’s also been pregnant. This season, she finally gets an episode dedicated to her character, and Elliott is magnificent. The episode brings back a guest star from Season Two, making the whole episode better. I’m looking forward to more of Natalie’s story, focusing on what’s next for her with her family and the restaurant.
In reality, the MVP of this season is Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas). Her episode, where we learn how she got her job at the original Italian beef shop, is among the best of the whole series. It also gives us a glimpse into how Michael (Jon Bernthal) took a chance on her during a challenging time in her life. We haven’t see Tina this vulnerable ever, nor do we get to see Michael interact with people outside of his family very often. Colón-Zayas is brilliant, and I hope she will be considered for Best Supporting Actress once she is eligible for the Emmys and Golden Globes this season.
Season Three brings back many guest stars who help explore how people in power treat those who report to them. Four guests start, three from the culinary world and one family member, helping the audience understand how Carmy became the way he is. Two of them have a positive impact, showing Carmy what it’s like to appreciate the little things and that every second counts. Conversely, the other two are where Carmy gets some of his worst tendencies, like expecting perfection each time, being stubborn and unrelenting, and making people feel inferior. All of these guest stars pack a punch with the time they’re given this season, and I hope we get to see more of them in the future.
The end of this season will be divisive. It’s the only season that ends on a complete cliffhanger (my only other real nitpick) amid the struggle for Carmy to get noticed in the Chicago restaurant scene. Throughout the episode, Carmy encounters an old boss who destroys his sense of self and ultimately harms his mental state. Their confrontation is devastating, because even though Carmy has the guts to confront him, he doesn’t get the answers he hoped for. Contrasting that with the other person he interacts with during this episode shows him that nothing lasts forever in the restaurant business.
The characters, writing, story, and performances in The Bear are incredible, and the ending leaves us with a definitive path forward. Many characters are in situations where decisions need to be made, and what each of these people does will forever alter the show moving forward. The Bear is still one of television’s best shows and is now entering the conversation for one of the best shows ever.
Rating: Loved It
The Bear is currently streaming on Hulu
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd