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creator and host of the podcast I've Been Meaning to Watch That / tiktoker / youtuber / ATL baddie
The Bear is a beloved comedy series on Hulu via FX that follows the story of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) as he takes over his brother’s restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. The story has been recognized for its realistic representation of the struggles faced by everyday working-class people. Spearheaded by Christopher Storer, the show has received overwhelming praise from the audience and critics alike in regards to performances and the storyline, especially from service workers in the restaurant industry and servers who have had their hearts broken by line cooks who look exactly like Jeremy Allen White. The series’ third season is set to premiere in June of this year and is expected to continue the success of the previous seasons.
The success from the first season seemed to compound in the second season. I was a huge fan of the show from the jump because I have been a fan of Ayo Edebiri for a long time. I am also a huge fan of Shameless so I was happy to see Jeremy Allen White in a leading role. With the aforementioned duo and their hilarious family of actors, this show has become one of the most-watched shows for a reason.
As fans of the show already know, The Bear is very intense and anxiety-inducing so they will maintain the binge format for the show. Weekly releases do have the potential to bring more success to the show, but FX boss John Landgraf mentioned to Deadline that it is important to stay true to the original format. The Bear expertly raises the stakes in every single episode, and this narrative structure benefits from the binging habit of those who grew up on streaming releases.
Exploring FX’s The Bear Season 2: Highlights and Memorable Moments
The Bear Season 1 did an amazing job establishing of the characters we know and love. Season 2 capitalized on that with many minor characters getting standalone episodes. Viewers saw Marcus Brooks (Lionel Boyce) go on a trip to Copenhagen where he trains under a pastry chef (guest star Will Poulter). It was definitely a fan favorite, as well as Richard “Richie” Jerimovich’s (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) episode. I loved that episode as well because I kind of hated his character in the beginning. I loved seeing his journey and how he began to understand the purpose and significance of his work. Honestly, I’m hoping that we get more episodes like that for Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson), Gary “Sweeps” Woods (Corey Hendrix), and Tina Marrero (Liza Colón-Zayas). I think we can all agree that we need more Tina, and I am waiting both patiently and impatiently for her standalone episode.
Critical Acclaim: Awards and Recognition for The Bear
There is no debate that The Bear is one of the most beloved shows from 2022. The Season 2 premiere was FX’s most-watched premiere, ranked second as the most-watched program and the most-streamed series in the US during 2023. Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and the cast alike have received Emmy wins for their performances in the show. The series has also received nominations for the 2023 SAG Awards and Gotham Awards and won the TCA Award for Outstanding New Program and Outstanding Achievement in Comedy in 2023. Overall, I’m excited to watch the new season of The Bear. I’m excited about what new challenges will arise with the reopening of the restaurant. Things mostly aren’t getting better, but they will be getting more interesting.
Looking Ahead to Season 3: Predictions and Expectations
New details have yet to be released about The Bear Season 3, but we can speculate that things are definitely getting hot in the kitchen with a successful opening night at the end of Season 2. Even though there hasn’t been any news as to whether or not Molly Gordon will be returning for Season 3, White and Edebiri have emphasized in interviews that both of their characters have a platonic relationship. I know this will be a disappointment to many Sydney+Carmy shippers, but that doesn’t mean that romance is completely out of the picture. In all fairness, any news about upcoming guest stars on the show has not been revealed. Although, surely we will see Joel McHale lurking in a corner silently taunting Carmy.
The Bear is available exclusively on Hulu and Disney Plus.
creator and host of the podcast I've Been Meaning to Watch That / tiktoker / youtuber / ATL baddie
This article was edited by John Tangalin.