The Bear Season 3 finally graced screens on June 26, 2024, as viewers tuned into it with palpable enthusiasm and raging excitement. Anticipation and expectations were soaring sky-high for the return of the popular TV series, starring Jeremy Allen White. So, imagine the disappointment when the new season hit viewers with unexpected downers, confusing character arcs, and bizarre episode structuring. As a whole, Season 3 wasn’t so bad — it just wasn’t as mind-blowing as the previous installments. A certain standard had been set by the show, and audiences expected it to deliver the same, if not a higher level of cinematic prowess with every season. Several events and one specific character left fans scratching their heads and going, “Huh?”
The Bear is a critically acclaimed comedy-drama that follows the turbulent journey of an award-winning chef de cuisine, Carmy Berzatto (White), who returns to his hometown, Chicago, to manage his family’s sandwich shop left to him by his deceased brother. Created by Christopher Storer, the anxiety-inducing series boasts three seasons, each with ten episodes. The show had also been renewed for a fourth season ahead of the premiere of Season 3, with both seasons being filmed back-to-back. The Bear has won four Golden Globe Awards and garnered a massive fan following. Let’s sink our teeth into why The Bear Season 3 held fans back from exclaiming, “Yes, Chef! ” Tread with caution, for there are spoilers ahead!
The Bear Season 3 Was Off to a Great Start
The Bear Season 3 began with the promising first episode, “Tomorrow,” a poetic work of art. The episode dove deep into showcasing Carmy’s journey as a chef at the various places he worked until he finally emerged as a famous CDC. Some flashes explore the root of his mental distress, which is plagued by his childhood trauma and his experiences in toxic workplaces. The episode and screenplay set the tone for the rest of the season with minimal dialogue and a chilling, nostalgic aura. The breathtaking cinematography tactfully captures the nuances of the fine dining world, and allows viewers to have a newfound appreciation of certain aspects discussed on the show.
Switching between Carmy’s past and present makes the viewing experience impactful, and despite the episode being tonally sound, it manages to induce a different kind of anxiety. There are also snippets of actors who’ve previously made cameos, like Will Poulter and Olivia Colman, who become relevant as the season progresses. What makes the first episode hit close to home is showcasing all the people who contributed to shaping Carmy’s journey and how he shared that part of himself with the family at The Bear in Seasons 1 and 2.
Spotlighting of Side Characters Was a Stroke of Genius
The dedication to expand on the journeys of side characters was a welcome touch. Tina’s (Liza Colón-Zayas) story, which was showcased in the episode “Napkins,” gave viewers insight into the kind of dynamic she shared with Mikey (Jon Bernthal) and the importance the restaurant holds for her. It shows us how Mikey extended a helping hand when she was at the lowest point in her life and justifies her prevalent hostility and resistance to change in the previous seasons. The fact that Ayo Edebiri, who played sous chef Sydney, directed the episode made it a more wholesome and memorable watch. It was refreshing to see Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) turn into a composed individual who had his shit together, most of the time. The adorable relationship he shared with his daughter and healthy dynamic with his ex-wife is sweet and heart-touching. Ebra’s (Edwin Lee Gibson) conundrum with handling the sandwich window on his own, and then cutting to his happiness and relief when he gets a helping hand were little moments that left strong impacts. There was a lot of screen time dedicated to Sugar (Abby Elliott) this season as the pregnant goddess who tries to keep the ship from sinking – more power to her!
The introduction of Computer (Brian Koppelman) was unexpected and left audiences with mixed feelings. The sensitive portrayal of how Marcus (L-Boy) decided to deal with the loss of his mother and the surprising backstory of Sweeps (Corey Hendrix) being an ex-athlete added layers and depth to the plot of The Bear Season 3. All the Faks — new and old — got a little too much on-screen time, and despite being extremely fun and entertaining, their inclusion started to feel like fluff.
The Storyline Got Progressively Messy and Chaotic
Although the screenplay proved confusing and chaotic occasionally, things were smooth sailing until Episode 5, “Legacy.” The dialogues, in particular, lack seamless flow and have little to no profound effect on the scenes. The Bear Season 3 struggled with drawing focus to the fundamental aspects and objectives of the season. A mumbo jumbo of characters, plot lines, and events was thrown around tastelessly. There was also an unnecessary dedication of full-fledged episodes to themes that could’ve been portrayed by utilizing far less screen time. As the season progressed, viewers were caught in an inner battle to convince themselves that the show was just as good as they remembered it and hadn’t succumbed to the pressure of its fame.
Lingering Questions Were Barely Addressed
Viewers waited all this while to know the state of Carmy and Claire’s (Molly Gordon) relationship, so obviously, it’s unimaginably frustrating that they don’t even come face-to-face the whole season! She’s mentioned like a ghost that is forbidden to speak about. The season finale left viewers with an additional set of lingering questions. The sheer idea of Sydney leaving has viewers sitting on the edge of their seats, mixed with the stress of Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) possibly pulling the plug on The Bear if it receives a negative review. Sydney had an anxiety attack, and her stress-hurling at the end of Season 2 wasn’t even addressed. Here’s hoping The Bear Season 4 brings some clarity and much-needed answers!
Carmy Needs a Hug — Literally and Figuratively
Ah… Carmy, Carmy, Carmy — where do we even start? If there was one word to describe Carmy this season, it’s unhinged. The responsibility of being captain of the ship got to his head as he projected his anxiety, struggles, and expectations on the family at The Bear. It felt like a dictatorship at some point, with Sydney’s position being slighted and challenged multiple times. The passive-aggressive dynamic between the culinary duo proved problematic since they’re supposed to be in this together, and take away from the core of the table scene. Although viewers felt their hearts sink as Sydney debates potentially leaving The Bear, Carmy’s actions only add fuel to the fire.
Right from his rigid list of non-negotiables to unrealistic expectations from the staff to the toxic environment he planted in the kitchen, every single moment left viewers cocking their heads in utter disappointment. In The Bear Seasons 1 and 2, despite the cuss words, anxiety, and expectations, Carmy is still inherently a great boss because he listens and learns. But after being trapped in the refrigerator at the end of Season 2, something inside him has snapped as he pushes the laundry list of his issues to the back of his mind. Whether it was intended to be this way or not, he seemed disconnected and lost as he struggled to gain perspective on his priorities throughout the season.
It almost seemed like he was a teenager having a nervous breakdown just because his heart was broken, and he despised being held accountable for his actions. Having said that, it’s not like he’s trying to reach out and communicate with Claire, or calm down and take a chill pill on his continual bastardization of the environment at The Bear. The depiction of Carmy’s character proved problematic to viewers since the writing takes away from the likable aspects of his endearing personality.
Episode Structuring Was Intensely Problematic
The Bear is known for its concise episode structuring and impactful storytelling style. This season, however, felt like somewhat of a drag. Though well-intended, the episodes “Ice Chips” and “Apologies” were uncharacteristically random and drawn out. While specific instances were supposed to have impact value, the dialogues and overtly lengthy screen time dedicated to each scene took away from the show’s essence.
Notably, the episode “Ice Chips,” when Sugar goes into labor and reflects on her relationship with her mother, Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis), is a difficult watch. Although the episode is multi-faceted, the pace was unsettling, and it was hard to get through without skipping a bit. The thought of getting potentially bored while watching The Bear may have sounded ridiculous in the past, but unfortunately, the show has fallen victim to lazy writing and over-dependence on its star power. Fans of the show sincerely hope the setbacks of Season 3 don’t reflect in the upcoming installment as it strives to redeem itself as one of the greatest TV shows to have ever existed. Don’t forget to check out these 15 must-watch kitchen dramas!