by: Alana Brown-Davis
This Wednesday, the fourth season of FX and Hulu original series ‘The Bear’ has premiered following a subdued third season with somber, gripping plot lines. In the fourth season, employees of ‘The Bear’ struggle to recuperate after an awful restaurant review from the Chicago Tribune forcing them to make a paradigm shift in their work and their personal lives.
The show has gained critical acclaim for it’s pensive tone and immaculate storytelling. As viewers venture into the chaotic happenings of a restaurant, the cast communicates tension a perfect way. ‘The Bear’ has won twenty-one Primetime Emmy awards and five Golden Globes. Several actors such as Ayo Edebiri and Liza Colon-Zayas earned their first Emmys from the show.
‘The Bear’ Comes Out of Hibernation
‘The Bear’ has become a staple of pop culture since its release in the summer of 2022. Centered around a drowning Chicago restaurant owned by Carmen ‘Camry’ Berzatto, ‘The Bear’ grapples with messiness in way that’s riveting and transformative. Carmy, a culinary school instructed chef, takes ownership of the restaurant after the death of his brother Mikey by suicide. Although much the plot is focused on Carmy’s internal struggles, the show does well in unpacking the stories of its other characters.
‘The Bear’ takes an unlikely setup and catapults us into a world where the people inhabiting it wrestle with loss, burden, and most importantly their own worth. What viewers and critics alike appreciate about the tension-heavy show, is that it displays humanity in such an incredible manner. It’s safe to say that every character employed at ‘The Bear’ needs it in some way. Sous chef Syd Adamu fights the subconscious urge or practicality with her career. Her relationship with line cook Tina Marrero starts off rocky but turns into one filled with respect. Richie, the de facto manager of ‘The Bear’, often argues with Carmy. However, both characters provide an unspoken support of one another.
“You ever feel like you’re stuck in the same day, like over and over again?” Carmy asks in the aftermath of the Tribune’s review. That line in itself encompasses the state of limbo that the casts emerges out of in this new season. In every episode, we get to see them getting closer and closer to a proverbial promised land. With every “Yes, chef” comes a greater understanding of what’s next.