A scene from ‘The Bear’
If nothing else, the first episode of Bear‘The third season is a testament to how much faith show creator Chris Storer has in his creation. The half-hour film, mostly without dialogue – with only Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ moody, atmospheric score “Together” playing in the background – gives a glimpse into Carmie’s (Jeremy Allen White) past and present, revealing what makes him a perfectionist.
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From his stint at Daniel Boulud’s Daniel & Noma in Copenhagen to the development of his skills working with chefs like Luca (Will Poulter) and Terri (Olivia Colman), his stint under the ruthless David (Joel McHale) that left him severely short of breath inside a walk-in freezer, and glimpses of his time with ex-girlfriend Claire (Molly Gordon), it’s a bold choice for a season-opener, just as Carmi aspires to serve food at The Bear and earn a Michelin star.
But there’s barely time to absorb it; by the end of the second episode, we’re fully immersed again in the familiar confrontational chaos of the Barzatos. Carmie’s fractured relationships with cousins ​​Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) are still recovering from the blow-up of friends and family night, he still can’t summon the courage to apologize and reconcile with Claire, pregnant manager Natalie (Abby Elliott) needs to find new staff, and everyone is yelling at each other in the kitchen again. To make matters worse, the make-or-break review for the restaurant is due any day now.
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On top of that, despite the stakes being slightly lower this time around, Carmie still hasn’t figured out how to deal with pressure (mostly self-imposed) and is harder on herself than anyone else. Her list of “non-negotiables” (a set of rules for running The Bear) has her obsessing over fine-tuning the menu, spending money shamelessly, and constantly being one small mistake away from another neurotic breakdown.
Bear (season 3)
the creator: Christopher Storer
Mould: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colon-Zayas, Abby Elliott
Number of episodes: 10
Plot: Chef Carmine Berzatto navigates personal and professional challenges in hopes of earning a Michelin star with her new restaurant The Bear
All these various sub-plots mean the show tries to pack in a little more as opposed to last season’s sole focus – one of the major casualties being Sidney. Edebiri is as terrific as ever, but she doesn’t get the time she deserves to explore Sid’s deteriorating professional relationship and friendship with Carmi, much less the romance fans have been clamouring for. The same goes for pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce) who is mourning the death of his mother, and other members of the excellent supporting cast in the kitchen.
A scene from ‘The Bear’
Claire and Carmi’s relationship – which was really interesting last time – also becomes a bit confusing as the will-they-won’t-they storylines drag on over the course of 10 episodes, while lighter moments involving the Fuck family go on too long and distract us from more pressing issues yet to be resolved. The finale has plenty of celebrity cameos to enjoy and The Bear’s future hangs in the balance, but several unresolved plot points (seasons three and four were filmed back-to-back) leave us feeling like we’ve only seen half the movie, and that anticipation ends up frustrating more than it excites.
But then, there are two brilliant reminders — in the form of two episodes — of why. Bear If it plays its cards right it could reach the pinnacle of television royalty. The first is Bandages (directed by Edebiri) is driven by a brilliant performance from Liza Colon-Zayas, who shows us Tina’s backstory and how she ended up with the Berzatto family in The Beef. Next up Pieces of iceWhere Natalie/Sugar goes into labor and has to turn to none other than her mother Donna (praise God, Jamie Lee Curtis is back!), this is an episode that is an absolute blast and gives us the same anxiety attacks as the second season. fish Did.
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This isn’t Richie’s epic rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” ForksBut season three still has enough to keep us hooked — and even thrilled in bits.
So, back to season four once again around the kitchen counter… Chefs, let it rip.
The third season of The Bear is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
