Summary
The Bear continues to shine and prove why this story deserves investment.
All eyes are on The Bear. It deserves the limelight: not only has it achieved perfect television at times, but it’s slowly earned its respect. But I believe that Season 3 is its fundamental test, especially after confirmation that Season 4 was already filmed. Now that everyone is eagerly awaiting the continuation of these dysfunctional (and sometimes batshit) characters, there’s a curiosity to see how Christopher Storer, and the crew, handle the pressure like a real chef.
Season 3 feels more mature. The casual sandwich shop with sweaty hands and expletives with added banter is gone. This is an authentic restaurant. As the end of Season 2 confirmed, Carmy and his colleagues have managed to put Uncle Jimmy’s money to good use and opened a fine-dining restaurant that thankfully still serves sandwiches with a side window during the day.
But I have to admit, I did feel some sadness that it’s all gone completely, despite Season 2 allowing that grieving process. The journey often feels greater than the destination. Now that we are in the third season, it’s easy to reminisce about how things were with these characters; they were raw, unhinged, full of potential, and harboring deep personal issues.
However, Season 3 puts you at ease with a contextual first episode, showing Carmy’s journey from a training chef to one of the world’s greats. It also highlights his journey, from dealing with his brother’s death to leaving and returning home to finding a crisis with his one true love, Claire. I’m not entirely sure what the first episode is for, but if I had to guess, the writers wanted to showcase Carmy’s life revolving around food so far so you can sniff out the gaps and shortfalls in his relationships and leadership.
And after that, the chaos begins, which will come as a relief for some viewers who expect plenty of stress from a chef show. Carmy wants Michelin stars for the restaurant, so he introduces “non-negotiables” to his staff through Sydney and Richie. The personal grievances are still present, with Carmy and Richie constantly arguing over these “non-negotiables” while saying “fuck you” until they are blue in the face. That’s when I realized that The Bear Season 3 would be good — it had not lost its chaos despite the rise in food quality. And that’s good.
I fear some audiences will lose patience after the first few chapters. It’s always good to have non-stop action from the kitchen to the front of the house, but those scenes, for me, at least, are a bonus. The Bear will always be about character development and great script-writing. It’s prided itself on long-winded conversations that can go anywhere, and I’m sure some of them are off-the-cuff. But if there’s talent to be shown off, this series is the place.
Season 3 explores further backstories, including Tina, who’s always had an air of mystery surrounding her. You learn how she reached The Original Beef of Chicagoland, with a tale that will emotionally provoke most viewers.
(Be Warned – Minor Spoilers Ahead)
There’s Always a Stand-Out Episode In Each Season
Sugar (played by Abby Elliott) has a special episode in ‘The Bear’ Season 3 (Credit – FX)
Every time a season of The Bear comes out, there’s always a particular chapter that everyone talks about. In Season 1, it was Episode 7, “Review,” where the Sandwich Shop erupts into absolute chaos as the chefs lose their minds. Season 2 was Episode 6, “Fishes,” a flashback chapter showing the chaos that exists in Carmy’s family, including the frailties of his mother, Donna, and his deceased brother, Michael.
Season 3 may be the first time there is no specific episode, but if there was, then I feel it should be Episode 8, “Ice Chips.” It shows Sugar as the main character in the show for the first time, and she’s delivering a baby. The only person she could contact at the time she had heavy contractions was her mother, who had no idea she was pregnant. Abby Elliot and Jamie Lee Curtis make one of The Bear’s best episodes as mother and daughter trying to navigate the pains of childbirth while facing the challenges of their broken relationship. Jamie Lee Curtis superbly adjusts to a mother who needs to support her daughter through the breathing of painful contractions while feeling burdened by guilt.
It’s a mix of comedy, brilliant drama, and exhilarating chemistry.
Final Thoughts
The third season is usually when series are questioned, but Christopher Storer and the team behind The Bear justifies its need to stay. It may not be event television or cinematic, but it’s consistently fantastic filmmaking and drama. Season 3 secures the series as a must-watch TV show.
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