If nothing else, the first episode of The Bear’s third season is a testament to just how astonishingly confident of his creation showrunner Chris Storer is. The mostly dialogue-less half hour — punctuated only with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ moody, atmospheric score ‘Together’ playing in the background — offers fleeting flashes into Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) past and present, a visceral look at what makes him the perfectionist that he is.
The opening episode dives deep into Carmy’s formative experiences, from his stints at Daniel Boulud’s Daniel and Noma in Copenhagen, to developing his skills working with chefs like Luca (Will Poulter) and Terry (Olivia Colman). It also touches upon his mentorship under the brutal David (Joel McHale) which led to his hyperventilating breakdown inside the walk-in freezer. Additional glimpses are provided into his time with ex-girlfriend Claire (Molly Gordon). It’s an audacious season-opener, much like the ambitious culinary feats Carmy aims to serve at The Bear in pursuit of a Michelin star.
However, there’s barely time to soak it all in; by the end of the second episode, viewers are fully submerged in the familiar confrontational chaos surrounding the Berzattos. Carmy’s fractured relationships with Cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) are still recovering from the aftershocks of friends and family night. Carmy remains unable to muster up the nerve to apologize and reconcile with Claire. Meanwhile, pregnant manager Natalie (Abby Elliott) needs to find new staff, and everyone in the kitchen is once again yelling at each other.
To add to the tension, a make-or-break review for the restaurant is due any day now, piling up the pressure on Carmy. Despite the stakes being lower this season, Carmy still hasn’t figured out how to handle the high stress (most of it self-inflicted). He remains harder on himself than anyone else. His list of “non-negotiables” — a stringent set of rules to run The Bear — has him obsessively fine-tuning the menu, brazenly spending money, and teetering on the edge of yet another neurotic breakdown.
These multifaceted sub-plots mean that the show tries to pack in a bit too much, as opposed to the more singular focus of previous seasons. One of the major casualties of this approach is Sydney.
. While Edebiri’s performance is outstanding as always, her character doesn’t get the time she deserves to fully explore her deteriorating professional relationship and friendship with Carmy, much less the romance that fans were eagerly anticipating. The same goes for pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce), who is grieving the death of his mother, and other members of the stellar supporting cast in the kitchen.
Claire and Carmy’s relationship, so genuinely immersive last season, gets a bit too muddled as the will-they-won’t-they dynamic stretches thin over ten episodes. Meanwhile, the lighter moments involving the Fak family go on for far too long, distracting viewers from more pressing plot points waiting to be resolved. The finale winds down with a string of celebrity cameos that feel somewhat indulgent. With the restaurant’s future hanging in the balance and numerous unresolved plot points, it feels like only half the story has been told, leading to more frustration than anticipation for what’s next.
Nevertheless, there are two magnificent episodes that serve as a reminder of why The Bear can be peak television when it gets things right. The first is “Napkins” (directed by Edebiri) featuring a show-stealing performance from Liza Colón-Zayas. It delves into Tina’s backstory, unveiling how she ended up with the Berzatto family at The Beef. The second is “Ice Chips,” where Natalie/Sugar’s labor turmoil leads her to turn to her mother Donna (played by the phenomenal Jamie Lee Curtis), resulting in an episode that delivers an emotional sucker-punch, reminiscent of season two’s “Fishes.”
Though it may not have an epic moment like Richie’s rendition of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” from Forks, season three still packs enough of a punch to keep viewers invested and even enthralled at times.
As the third season of The Bear ends, it’s clear that the stakes and emotions are still running high. Onto season four for another nerve-racking run around the kitchen counters. Until then, chefs, let it rip.
The third season of The Bear is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
