Over the last week, I watched the new season of The Bear (F/X and Hulu) with hesitation. Like most of the world, I have loved the first two seasons, set in a Chicago restaurant. But there seemed to be a growing cloud over this new season, which was decided to release in one installment perfect for mass consumption. People were not happy with the storylines that were given and how the season was told. Look, every show, no matter how good, has a season that is not up to the usual standard of excellence (looking at you, season 4 of Fargo). So I went in expecting to not have the reaction I had with the earlier offerings. Turns out, I had nothing to be worried about.
Season 3 of The Bear fucking rules, you guys.
This third season, with Christopher Storer returning as lead showrunner, shows the calamity of The Bear, the kitchen being run by Carmine (Jeremy Allen White) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). After a massive blow-up, Carmine is still fighting with, well, everyone as he demands perfection and has created a series of “non-negotiables” as he attempts to get the recipe a Michelin star. Money is running out, the staff is burned out, and Sydney’s patience is dying out as what was once a family restaurant is now becoming a dictatorship.
But that is not what this season is about. This season is all about Carmy.
The focus on this season is basically showing you how he came to be the way he is. Flashbacks often take you to the two biggest influences in his culinary career. On one shoulder, there is Terry (Olivia Colman), who led her team with a loving but firm hand, showing support and care while also holding her expectations sky high. On the other, there is David (Joel McHale), a man whose leadership style is more of J.K. Simmons’ in Whiplash, choosing to bully and berate his subordinates to break them down so he can rebuild them in his image. In every episode, you see the influence both of these chefs have had on Carmine, trying to be loving and supportive but also letting the cruel monster explode out of him. This season isn’t just a struggle to keep a gourmet restaurant afloat, it shows the very struggle of a man’s soul.
Of course, the show gives us a lot more than that. We get an episode showing how Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) came to work at the restaurant. We also get an episode focusing on what happens when a pregnant Natalie (Abby Elliott) cannot get a hold of anyone and needs to turn to her last possible option. Much like the episodes in season 2 that focused on Richie and pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce), these episodes help expand the universe and allow us to become much more emotionally invested in not just the characters, but the whole story. But, make no mistake, this season is all about the lead Bear.
Jeremy Allen White is absolutely fucking perfect this season. You want to just hug and punch him at the same time and every line on his face shows every conflict having in his body. Even when his face seems still and calm, you can see the eight million thoughts and feelings going through him. He may be the Bear, but you have to think Carmine feels like a shark; if he would stay still for a moment and deal with his feelings, he would simply explode.
I’m not sure The Bear should have been released in one massive course. I needed a little time after each episode to process and deal with what I saw, and I think if I had an episode a week, I would have been salivating for more. The first episode of this season, “Tomorrow”, was an almost dialogue-free episode showing how Richie came to be where he was. It is a perfectly designed and executed product, but I also understand how it would have left some people yearning for the screaming and stress we got from the other seasons. But it’s an episode about a man struggling to grow and improve, much like his restaurant.
And this season.
And this show.
Fancy Boys Club 