The Bear

[Johnny Utah]

By far my favourite show this year just landed on Disney Plus in the UK and Ireland.

Some of the best performances I've ever seen, amazing writing and one hell of a soundtrack. I binged it during the summer. Anyone else watch it?

 

[Rotfish]

By far my favourite show this year

Ditto, so glad it was picked up for a second season. Can't imagine where they'll go after the last episode, though. They'll need to find a way to keep up the tension.

This reminded me somewhat of my favorite seasons of Shameless. Jeremy Allen White is great in these types of roles, people wrestling with personal demons and their own integrity as they try to keep their world from tumbling down. Rest of the cast is brilliant as well, hope to see all of them in more stuff.

How amazing was Episode 7?

 

[Johnny Utah]

The whole season was amazing but it was Carmy’s monologue in 8 and the last scene that really got me.

 

[ArtDamage]

Fantastic show. I've been recommending it to everyone. The story and how you learn what's going on with each character a little bit at time happens so organically. Great writing and performances all around.

Too bad it was so good I blew through it so quickly

This show and Severance are probably two of the best shows I've seen this year.

 

[Lejuan]

I found the opening episode a bit tough… I get it, kitchen’s are noisy and chaotic… but Richie in amongst it all did my head in.

After the first episode it settled down a bit, I got to know the characters, and it was hard not to binge the whole show in one sitting.

Carmy’s monologue was epic, I believed every second of it.

I’m not worried about S2, there’s plenty of character backstorying to be tapped. I need to rewatch it before then tho ‘cause I’m sure I missed some detail around those smaller cans of tomatoes.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I started it again last night. When you know the ending, there are little things all over the place to signpost what Mikey did.

Jon Bernthal is one hell of an actor. Pops in and out of all these shows and movies and always leaves an impression.

 

[Rotfish]

Started Season 2 yesterday. Five episodes down, five to go.

I adore this show. Love the way they're expanding the characters' worlds.

 

[Otomofan]

I thought the "guest-star" episode was a bit much. Just too over-the-top for me to take seriously. Everyone flexing so hard trying to win that "best guest performance" emmy. It was OK, but it would have been a lot better if they toned it down a notch.

Still, absolutely stellar season of television. I think it actually topped the first! Richie's episode was my favorite.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I watched the Christmas episode last night. Very extreme. Jon Bernthal though is a powerhouse of an actor, I still get a kick out of seeing him on screen with Richie after their Punisher days.

The season so far is amazing. Scenes with Carmy and Claire are magic, and Will Poulter's part training Marcus was so great.

 

[Rotfish]

I watched the Christmas episode last night. Very extreme. Jon Bernthal though is a powerhouse of an actor, I still get a kick out of seeing him on screen with Richie after their Punisher days.

The season so far is amazing. Scenes with Carmy and Claire are magic, and Will Poulter's part training Marcus was so great.

Poulter's really come up in the last few years. The first thing I ever saw him in was We're the Millers, had no idea the dude was capable of the kind of work he's done lately.

Spoiler:

I actually thought Jamie Lee Curtis did a fantastic job on the Christmas episode. I've known people like that (and not necessarily due to alcoholism like her character), so it was especially uncomfortable to watch. That episode shed a lot of light on the Berzatto kids: why Mikey did what he did, why Carmen rejects love, and why Sugar is attracted to the "annoyingly" nice Pete. It's interesting to see the different ways all three children internalized and responded to their parents' behavior.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Finished it last night. Carmy, what did you do

 

[Rotfish]

Finished it last night. Carmy, what did you do

Spoiler:

Rewatched the second season and I have a different read of the ending now, though it might've been obvious the first time for others.

I previously thought Carmen's usual anxieties got the better of him, causing him to lash out from inside the freezer. Now I think he's missed the biggest night of his life (or what he thought would be the biggest night of his life) and knowing everyone else was able to continue without him gave him an identity crisis. Up until this point, moving far away and becoming extremely skilled at something was how he coped with family trauma. It was how he defined himself. But if being Super Chef is no longer required of him, what's left? It's possible he still has some passion for it, but that's not what's been driving him lately. And he hasn't taken the time to get comfortable with any other outlet or connection, so even something good like Claire feels like a problem when he's at his lowest.

Respect to Richie for responding with love when Carmen was saying all those terrible things to him just because he knew it would push his buttons. I hope Richie doesn't abandon his path. And I hope the rest of the crew gets comfortable with success. If there's one thing the last episode shows, it's that even success can hit people hard if they have the wrong relationship with their work or themselves.

 

[Rotfish]

Season 3 is up tonight!

Just watched the first three episodes, not popping back in here until the whole thing is in the bag.

 

[Otomofan]

I'm about halfway through season 3....and I'm not loving it. Something just feels off about it. Maybe they rushed it out too fast.

I'm not terribly interested in the backstories of the side characters, especially Carmy's sister. Episode 6: lady looks for a job. It's not thrilling television. I think the success went to their heads.

And who is the painfully unfunny guy they added to trade insults with the fat guy? He sucks. Every time he's onscreen it just sucks all the energy out.

And one thing that's really bugging me...Carmy's obsession with plating these little delicate foods with colorful sauces and flowers all over them. If that's really "fine dining"....does anyone actually LIKE that? I'd take one of the original beef sandwiches over that artsy crap any day of the week. Are we as viewers supposed to consider a single scallop or fried cauliflower really superior to a delicious loaded Italian beef sandwich??

 

[Otomofan]

Finished it. Man. That really wasn't very good was it?

I even skipped the episode

Spoiler:

about Carmy's sister and mom cause I simply don't care about their story. They're just filler.

The quality just took a nosedive. Wasting time on boring characters, "artsy" close-ups, the story didn't progress at all.

The first two seasons were really innovative and stylish. Definitely earned the hype and accolades.

This was just.....blah.

Also

Spoiler:

ending the season with the chefs just waxing poetic about how important and wonderful they all are. What a load of narcissistic crap. If all the "fine dining" establishments closed, we as a society would probably be just fine. The real places that matter in out lives are the local pizza joints, the Mexican places, the sandwich shops like The Bear was.

 

[Rotfish]

Finished it today.

Spoiler:

I actually thought the Ice Chips (Sugar going into labor) episode was the best, followed by the backstory of Tina arriving at The Beef. Those were by far the most interesting, dramatic, and character-focused episodes of the season. They give insight into why the situations and people are how they are.

You want to talk filler, I'd sooner accuse the first episode of that. And as much as I love Neil Fak, he and his brother were painfully overused. The guy is like a cherry on top - a fun single bite, but too many and you get an upset stomach. The "haunting" bit shouldn't have lasted more than half an episode. In the first two seasons, it would've been a one-off throwaway gag.

Most of this felt lackluster, I agree. Seems like the creators are trying to stretch this chapter over multiple seasons. I enjoyed watching every episode in the moment, but upon finishing the whole thing and realizing how little the plot actually moved, I can now spot the filler. When you don't stick the landing, the rough takeoff becomes obvious and less forgiveable.

I'm most curious to see what Sydney decides as that's a potential powder keg, given where Carmy is mentally. As for the review of the restaurant, which seemed like a huge pivot point this season, I really could not be bothered.

So all in all, I'm torn. It was enjoyable while watching, but the ending (or lack thereof) renders it ultimately unsatisfying. And I do fear that the creators are getting more concerned with atmospherics than actual substance.

As for what the chefs were saying in the last episode... they're just sharing what the work means to them. If no one cared at that level, fine dining wouldn't exist at all. Maybe that's not a big deal to most folks, but this is a show using chefs as a vehicle for its themes. And high-end chefs don't do what they do because, what the hell, someone's gotta do it. There are more stable, less stressful jobs you can take if that's your modus operandi. They do it because, like most artists, they care an inordinate amount about it.

Pizza and tacos are a bigger part of my life than fine dining will ever be, but every now and then it's cool to eat somewhere that's completely different, with unusual flavors and presentations. That's what those spaces exist for - special, rare occasions. And the folks working there want the experience to live up to that. In The Bear's case, Carmy is using the high-end side of the business to escape or overcome his past. But they still keep the sandwich service open during the day because it's important to the neighborhood and, let's be honest, probably keeps the high-end side afloat.

Now, Carmen obsessing over mere millimeters while plating food... I think that's more of a Carmen problem. Though I'm sure there are people like his old NY boss who think that does matter. The movie Whiplash comes to mind.