I work at a company that sells food ingredients. We sell a lot of unique ingredients and a lot of different spice blends from around the world. I don’t have a large spice palette for unique food and the most exotic spices I usually put on food are pepper and sea salt. Working for this company has given me a newfound appreciation for food and what it can bring to the table. I remember specifically the scene in Ratatouille where Anton Ego takes the bite of the dish Remy prepares for him and the power it had, evoking memories of times when the food was used for comfort in times of trouble. It’s in those moments when you find someone that is passionate about food and is looking to showcase what it can do beyond just making someone’s stomach full. I like cooking and baking shows just fine but watching a movie or a show about food or even the restaurant industry is something I find compelling.
Enter The Bear, FX, and Hulu’s new show.
The Bear, created by Christopher Storer, is the story about Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a talented chef who inherits his brother’s neighborhood sandwich shop in Chicago called the Original Beef of Chicagoland after his death. Carmy must then deal with the kitchen staff who don’t know or like him, a restaurant in a rut, and the family issues that come about with him coming back. Carmy has his own demons to deal with as he processes his grief over his brother’s death but also his issues going from a gourmet restaurant to a sandwich shop. The Bear is eight episodes for season one and season two is currently undecided.
For context purposes, I’ve only worked in one kitchen in my entire life. I made pizzas in college and there were things I loved and hated about working in a kitchen. It ultimately left me with a renewed sense of respect for those who work in kitchens. It’s difficult, between managing customers’ expectations and the menu and everything that comes with running a business. I have a number of friends who also work in the restaurant industry and understand how stressful it can be. Perhaps The Bear’s greatest strength is the dynamics of the kitchen staff together. The kitchen staff is comprised of a lot of different people including Marcus (Lionel Boyce) who is the baker, Tina (Liza Colόn-Zayas) who is a legacy line cook, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who works the front and is Carmy’s cousin, and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) who is the new sous chef who knows who Carmy is and wants to work with him. The staff at the restaurant goes from hating Carmy to believing in his vision for the restaurant. It wasn’t always easy. Carmy makes changes that not everyone likes such as switching everyone to blue aprons, cleaning up and organizing the kitchen, and calling everyone chef as a sign of respect. They truly are a family and they eventually fold Carmy into the mix.
I loved this evolution for the team and it goes to show that family (which some of them are) is not always blood but rather the family you choose.
There are a number of great performances in The Bear. First and foremost, Edebiri is a marvel. Many times throughout the course of the show, Sydney is often the only adult who has an objective opinion in the show. She also has a grand ambition that makes her a great asset to Carmy. It wouldn’t surprise me if she ends up with some nominations for her performance. Moss-Bachrach also does a phenomenal job. Richie is a very interesting character. He’s resistant to Carmy because he is so used to how Michael (I’m withholding the actor’s name because it’s a surprise and a rather good one too) runs things. Richie eventually has a few moments where he understands where Carmy is coming from and knows how much he and Carmy need one another. The entire ensemble works well together however these two are the standout.
The show has a genuine heart and a great exploration of grief. Michael’s death is a tragedy because it was unexpected. The Bear handles the grief from multiple angles. Carmy handles his grief by burying it as far as possible. His sister Natalie (Abby Elliott) is trying to do a zillion things at once. Richie is fluctuating between both mad and sad. I loved how this family explores grief and how the restaurant is used as a coping mechanism while also attempting to preserve Michael’s legacy. The show is also funny. The kitchen is a motley crew of misfits but they work together so well with one. All the episodes are great however a special shout-out needs to be given to the penultimate episode entitled Review. There’s so much tension and the continuous shot makes this a standout episode of television. I was nervous the entire episode but I also really loved what they did with the episode. This is a personal preference, but I love that this is set in Chicago.
If I had to nitpick things I didn’t like, there would only really be three things I would say. The ending seemed very easy and very weird. It felt like the ending was something that was chosen by dartboard. It’s an ultimately satisfying story but the conclusion felt off. I also didn’t get enough of Carmy. There’s so much that was left on the table and I’m hoping that they explore more of this, assuming there is a season two. Carmy is a fascinating character, I just wish his past was explored more to give more context.
There is almost no Michael in the show. His moment was amazing and I like the choice they made.
I just hope Michael is explored more as well.
The Bear blends food and family with a great exploration of trauma and how we react to it. It’s a quick watch and is among one of the better shows of 2022. The performances are outstanding and there’s a lot of great heart. You’re rooting for Carmy and company to succeed and we leave season one on a cliffhanger that begs for a season two.
This is one of my higher recommendations of the year so far.
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Score: 8/10
