The Bear‘s newest season has seen a reversal of its first, as well as some familiarity and the well-seasoned drama you’d expect after bingeing season one. Whilst the first season followed the drama of the professional Chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) taking over his late brother’s sandwich shop ‘The Beef’ (and even usurping their day-to-day operations), this season takes a turn.
★★★★☆
Season two follows the lead up to opening the space up as a fully-fledged restaurant ‘The Bear’. And if that’s not a big enough aim as it is, they are also reaching for a literal star—a Michelin one to be precise. Though, with Carmy at the helm, each chef going through their own learning curve, and Natalie (Abby Elliott) taking on a project manager role, there’s some hope to go around. Rather than Carmy being the outsider, he is the glue that knits these up-and-coming chefs together. But regardless of those community dynamics, drama continues to ensue, along with consistent shouts of “Chef”, and those boiling moments of personal tension that overflow into the intense workspace.
The Bear captivates audiences from day one, regardless of your interest in the restaurant industry. It evolves as each episode goes on, focusing on an individual, and these narrative journeys will inevitably link back to the ongoing renovation of The Bear—the focal point of the season. Altogether, each episode is able to showcase each character in action. As a result, they feel they’ve had lives beyond the screen that have continued in motion and we only catch glimpses of how they’ve become the human they are now. Though on the surface it may feel like you don’t get enough screen time with any characters, it’s the complete characterisation and confidence in their identities (and astounding performances to go with it) that offers these characters realism and makes every scene feel intentional. You truly don’t know where the narrative is going for each individual and, though a lot of the behind-the-scenes we gain of each life are normal challenges and insecurities, The Bear is truly an individual in a swarm of reboots. This mix of overt realism and an orchestrated chaos means the rush of Emmy nominations (13) that came The Bear‘s way after their season one launch was also unsurprising.
Like its first season, it’s a slow-burn series. At first you don’t feel like you’ve got to the grit and meat of the story, but by the mid-season point you can feel the tension heating up. It is paced expertly. However, amid a series that grew in interest as it went on, some episodes shone, regardless of their placement in the wider narrative: episode seven, eight, and nine. Without spoiling the absolute fun and drama these are to watch, it’s safe to say the Berzatto family are more star-studded than expected and Cousin Richard (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) finally gets his chance to shine and to appreciate Michelin star service in action—of which even convinced me of the worth of a fine-dining experience. Though the cast boasts a host of famed guest stars, it’s their performances that capitalise on the shock factor generated—a feat in itself.
After The Bear’s casting of Mike as Jon Bernthal, where he features in passing sequences, it’s no surprise showrunners decided to go big or go home for some guest spots. With household names around the Berzatto Christmas dinner table to subtle pop-ins from the likes of Will Poulter as Chef Luca and Olivia Coleman as Chef Terry, The Bear managed to impress with performances away from the ensemble.
However, The Bear‘s most underrated element lies with the subtlety of the soundtrack, though occasionally overt—I’m talking about you, Richie. A perfect balance of chaotic musical beats and quiet moments of reflection captures The Bear‘s simultaneous intensity and mundane-narrative—after all, it’s a blend of the unknown and real, a contemporary series that works within a relatively closeted world (the high-brow nature of the Michelin-star restaurant scene). And with a classic like Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ dominating a scene, it shows The Bear isn’t scared to lose that intensity for a light-hearted tune. Like much of the series, these features offer unexpected funniness, when character arcs are taking a serious turn.
Richard (better known as Cousin or Mikey’s best friend) exhibits a growth this season you wouldn’t feel possible. Showcasing a mix of vulnerability with a comical side, whilst leaning on his ignorance for a lot of the humour, Richard is multi-faceted—though familiar in his big energy and sometimes small-minded taunts. Although Cousin generates a lot of cackles, its Fak Attack’s (Matty Matheson) consistent reappearance that adds some much needed elevation to the tension of a pro-kitchen. Though few would guess the comic handyman who dominates scenes with the renovations going haywire is a chef in real life—just another Easter egg which The Bear offers is this incredibly unique show.
Ayo Edebiri as Sydney offers a great counterpart to the silent, in-his-head Carmy, though similarly stressed through the season. Emotive and more vocal, it’s no wonder Sydney’s and Carmy’s partnership feels authentic and compelling throughout. I for one am glad the showrunners decided against making it romantic and instead brought in an outer love interest—Molly Gordon as Claire. Considering Natalie is the only one in a healthy romantic relationship, it’s nice to see some more normalcy outside of the workplace and some calmness injected into a chaotic narrative with an ensemble cast.
Though I enjoyed having a bit more of Marcus’ (Lionel Boyce) backstory, ultimately it fell to the wayside in favour of more interesting dynamics like Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), Cousin, and Natalie, who developed a larger role this season (as the sister of the lead, Carmy). And with a weird, potentially-unrequited romantic dynamic brewing between Sydney and Marcus, I’m glad the series focused on what it does best: familiar chaos, individual character growth, and chaotic kitchen scenes. Though Molly Gordon’s acting credentials speak for herself, and her recent producing and starring credit in Theater Camp showcases her diverse array of talents and compelling character, Claire’s character fell short. Perhap next season, she’ll be given the opportunity to sink her teeth into some material but now she remains securely as an emotional pillar for Carmy without much of her own character to stand on.
As well as crazy family dynamics, I’m looking forward to hearing more from Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim. Though their storyline was touched upon, his endearing friendship with Tina is a narrative arc I’d love to see continue—especially as they’ve been workplace partners since the very beginnings of The Beef.
The Verdict
All in all, The Bear continued their sizzling tension, drama, whilst exploring the characters and the restaurant dynamic in a new and deeper way—exactly what you want from a second season. And with of an expansion on Richard and the Berzatto family, The Bear is just now hotting up.
The Bear‘s two seasons are available to stream on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the US.
Words by Annabel Smith
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