The Bear season 2 has outdone itself, beating the sophomore slump. The new season aligns with what was good about the 1st season: how the show takes care of each character. Every single character has a level of talent and complexity that is unexpected. Other shows tend to have a problem where there are too many characters which then become forgettable. The ensemble of The Bear works so well together, and their chemistry is off the charts. They make you believe these charters have been working together for years.
This series caught my attention because of the concept of seeing a toxic workplace environment of a restaurant. Real moments that are stressful and heartwarming simultaneously, which is a strange combination, but it's what makes this show stand out to all tv that's out now. It was gaining a lot of attention from the general public and critics. It is easy to get lost in each episode, with everything moving quickly amid chaos.
Season 2 solidifies that this is one of the best shows out right now. The Bear is so chaotic and anxiety-inducing in the best way because you're seeing all these different people putting in their all to run and maintain the restaurant. In season one, the restaurant we follow, the main character Carmy struggles to run his brother Michael's sub shop called The Beef. At the end of the season, they tore it down and rebranded it into an upscale restaurant called The Bear.
The central conflict of season two are trying to get their shit together to open the restaurant on time. The show gives insight into the trials and tribulations of anyone who runs a restaurant or small business. In addition to how complex managing a business is, it can become much more complicated when it intersects with family. Each of The Bear employees has their moment to shine this season, seeing them in a new light and being able to dissect their emotions and trauma.
(Spoilers ahead!!)
Episode 6, "Fishes'' is the longest and arguably the best episode of the show and a great Christmas episode. "Fishes" has a run time of one hour and connects to a recurring message of the season: "Every second counts." The writers made sure they wasted no time highlighting this dysfunctional family. This episode occurs years prior when Carmy and Sugar's brother Micheal is still alive. From their interactions, we can see how much Camry relies on his brother and the influence Micheal has on Carmy's life.
We also meet the family matriarch Carmy's mom, Donna, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. Donna displays a trip of emotions and shows signs of alcohol addiction, and is verbally abusive to those around her. Jamie Lee's performance was excellent, and she deserves an Emmy nomination at the very least for what she gave in "Fishes." The guest appearances don't stop with Jamie; this episode also featured Bob Odenkirk playing the Uncle, Sarah Paulson playing Cousin Michelle, John Mulaney playing Michelle's boyfriend, and Gillian Jacobs, who plays Richie's ex-wife Tiffany. In this genius episode, the Berzattos knew how to grab each other by the throats and raise anxiety levels to see what the characters do to each other.
The season's standout performances were, of course, Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri. Who deserves all the praise and should be up for all award nominations. In my humble opinion, Hulu and FX did a huge marketing disservice to themselves by not coming out with weekly episodes. Each episode leaves a cliffhanger and jaw-dropping moments where it would have been interesting to see the weekly online discussions. If you love chaos and hot angry chefs, then The Bear is your next watch!
Written by Daniel Rojas