A year has passed since The Bear concluded its third season, leaving fans confused and polarized. Some were disappointed with the slow-paced, anti-climactic “filler” season while others praised the artistry of the shooting styles and the philosophical and psychological approach to driving the narratives forward to set things up for season four. That season is finally here and it marks a slight return to form for the show that many (present company included) once named among the best shows on television.
Before diving into my season four review, let’s look back at the key moments in season three.
What Happened in Season 3 of The Bear?
Carmy learned a lot from the two most influential Michelin star chefs he trained with, Chef Andrea Terry (Olivia Colman) and Chef David Fields (Joel McHale). But his approach to leadership is emulating the wrong one. He berates employees, become obsessively exacting in his standards, and causes friction with everyone in his desperate quest for a Michelin Star. He might not be as bad as David, but he has captured the essence of his former mentor’s negative energy that he just can’t shake, and everyone else feeds on it.
Nonetheless, everyone steps up to the plate to do their best to make The Bear the new hotspot in town. With rising debt and financial strife, however, it won’t be easy. Natalie (Abby Elliott) is trying her best to reconcile everything. But Jimmy “Cicero” Kalinowski (Oliver Platt) wants to see a return on his investment or else, uncle or not, he’s out.
It doesn’t help that Carmy inadvertently pushes Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) away. He constantly undercuts her authority in the kitchen. She begins to wonder whether this is really a partnership or not. Getting a too-good-to-be-true offer from Chef Adam Shapiro (playing himself) tempts Sydney to jump this sinking ship, and she is seriously considering it. It comes to a head on the night of the big closing dinner party for Ever.
Carmy confronts David after an uncomfortable staring contest across tables. But it doesn’t turn into the blowout he expected. David takes no accountability for the way he treated Carmy. In fact, he argues that his abuse made him a better chef. Disappointed, Carmy is either now resigned to be forever tortured by David stomping on his self-worth or finally come to the realization that he needs to break that cycle.
Whatever he’s thinking, we don’t know because as he walks outside to get some air, Carmy checks his phone and sees missed calls from Cicero and Nicholas “The Computer” Marshall (Brian Koppelman). There’s also a notification for the Tribune review he has been eagerly waiting to read. His expression suggests it’s not good. This could be the end unless he can pull a rabbit out of his hat.
Meanwhile, Sydney has a panic attack when the stress of the decision begins to weigh too heavily on her. Does she leave the people who have become such good friends, arguably family, and do what is presumably best for her career? Or does she remain loyal and hope that things will change?
The Bear Season 4 Review
The season is framed by a literal ticking clock. The team has limited time to pull out a Hail Mary if there’s any chance of keeping the restaurant open. Who would think that a man going by the name Computer would be the voice of logic and reason?
The hope was that The Bear’s fourth season would return to the same messy energy as seasons one and two. It delivered in some way, though this time, the loud arguments with friends (and foes) talking over one another became oddly frustrating, the restlessness out of place amidst the quiet calm that the show brought in season three. Perhaps we as viewers have started to grow out of that just as the characters have (or at least are trying to do).
An awakening comes for Carmy when Sydney tells him that he needs chaos, even craves dysfunction, to be good at his job. It’s no surprise, then, that much of the season focuses on Carmy’s personal journey of self-reflection. After that awful stuck-in-a-freezer moment that drove a massive wedge between he and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and caused Carmy to lose Claire (Molly Gordon), he became an even worse version of himself.
Now, Carmy is on a path to correcting that, and it seems like others want to do the same, both with him and in their own lives. Carmy still has his passion, his drive. But he, and everyone else, is living in a hellish Groundhog’s Day, circling life and ending up back in the same spot every time, making the same mistakes over and over. Wake up at 6 a.m., pass some time, head to the restaurant to prep, go through service, clean-up until the wee hours of the morning, lather, rinse, repeat. To get out of that rut requires patching up the wounds that caused the self-sabotage and pain in the first place. As Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) tells Carmy, he doesn’t need to prove himself anymore. Yet he continues to try and do so, putting undue pressure on himself and everyone else around him. For the restaurant to succeed, he needs to let go of some of that pressure.
The first move to help save the restaurant ironically adds to the overhead costs with a fantastic Rocky-like “bring in the Dream Team” montage. It will have you certain they’ll be able to figure it out. This is television, after all. But it’s fiction in its rawest form. The Bear isn’t about happy endings tied together with pretty, red ribbons. It sets out to show real trauma, real heartache, real strife in running a business with bad decisions and hard work that sometimes pays off, but often also doesn’t.
You’ll love the return of fan favourite guests stars (yes, this includes Bob Odenkirk, Will Poulter, John Mulaney, and Josh Hartnett, who all bring refreshing perspective to their characers). There are also new ones, including Rob Reiner as Albert Schnurr, Ebraheim’s (Edin Lee Gibson) mentor who could play a pivotal role in a potential fifth season.
Brie Larson is a surprise addition as well as Natalie’s former friend Francine Fak (and sister to Matty Matheson’s Neil, Ricky Staffieri’s Teddy, and according to season three, John Cena’s Sammy). But her characters is nothing more than a plot device to offer an unnecessary layer to Natalie’s story. Natalie already has enough material to work with as the glue holding the entire team together (a role Elliott plays brilliantly). So, while Larson was a welcome addition, she also seemed unnecessary.
The season flips from a series of painfully long and uncomfortable conversations (you’ll feel like you’re in a group therapy session at times) to fantastic food montages displaying vivid colours and sumptuous dishes alongside a slick soundtrack. If you’ve ever wondered how to elevate Hamburger Helper with simple pantry ingredients, take notes.
This season of The Bear has some of the most clever, compelling writing when it comes to drawn-out emotional monologues that’ll leave you in tears or at least heaving huge sighs. Those with short attention spans might have trouble staying focused without grabbing for their phones to scroll since some of these lengthy speeches really do go on for quite a long time. These are thankfully broken up by witty one-liners, often courtesy of Richie (“I blame it on my elegance” is a favourite that will leave you chuckling.) These words balance out the draining scenes with much needed light humor. (A highlight is when the entire group ends up under a table at a wedding to help soothe Richie’s daughter Eva who is afraid to dance in front of everyone.) No matter the situation, it’s about coming together when it matters the most.
That said, the show really is, in the end, all about family in all its forms. Family doesn’t always mean the people to whom you’re biologically related. These are the people who would jump in front of a fire for you, and you for them. They’re the people with whom you’ll argue until you’re blue in the face, who you’ll criticize and neglect, yet who you won’t ever let feel alone. They’re the people who, no matter how hard you try, won’t let you push them away.
The Bear did deliver some scenes with loud and intense energ of season four to rival the inaugural season. But it was in a way that cuts painfully deep because now, we have gotten to know these characters. The show pulled a Ted Lasso and shifted both the tone and the narrative to something more subdued, more driven by trauma, realism, mental health, and the need to face demons instead of running from them. It moves slowly in a way that feels like another set-up season. But upon further reflection, this has simply become the nature of the show. It’s not about cliffhanger endings, major plot moves, and massive blowouts (though you get your fair share of those this season). It’s a show that will make you stop, feel deeply, and gain important perspective.
Should You Watch The Bear Season 4?
The ending of The Bear season 4 suggests that there should be another season, though there’s no confirmation just yet. If there isn’t, would you be left feeling satisfied? Probably not. The story saw all the main characters make strides in their personal journeys, namely Carmy, Sydney, Richie, Lucas (Lionel Boyce), and even Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis). But it also left the door open for unfinished business.
Will Markus ever decide to see his father? Is there a future for Carmy and Claire? Can Donna continue on the right path and maintain a healthy relationship with Carmy? Will Richie and Jessica (Sarah Ramos) ever just get together, already? The big question left unanswered at the end is the main one that could change the trajectory of the show, or maybe just result in more of the same. And that might be OK.
As long as you understand that The Bear is a heavy watch, you’ll enjoy this season. It’s emotionally draining with conversations that make you feel like you’re awkwardly sitting in the corner of the room at a friend’s house while the family bickers about their troubled past you know nothing about. In a real-life situation, you’d want nothing more than to will your smartphone to ring so you could excuse yourself for an important call. In some scenes of the show, you might feel the same desire to just leave the room until it’s over.
The bottom line is that The Bear isn’t the same show it used to be. It’s aging, maybe not in a bad way, but more like a fine wine. There are changes in its properties, flavour, aroma, texture, even transparency. Whether or not the show is evolving in a good way or or oxidizing and going “off” is tough to tell. First, you need to decant the bottle that is the show’s fourth season and give a (hopeful) season five another taste when it, and we, have had time to breathe.
Much like Sydney described the vibe at the restaurant, this season of The Bear is “energetically musty.” Give the season a swirl, a sniff, and a taste, and you might find that while it doesn’t pack a powerful punch, in retrospect, it goes down smooth.