Though I wasn’t right on the draw when the fourth season of The Bear dropped, I wasn’t too far behind.
Even though I know this series is amazing, after going through three other seasons so far, there is a bit of an emotional dred I felt just before diving into the fourth season. I just know that despite this show being labeled a comedy (false), it is as intense of a drama that I’ve ever seen. I also couldn’t help but to think back to what a slog the premiere episode of season three was. I was really hoping we weren’t going to get another one of those introspective hellscapes for someone else, let alone Carmy. Thankfully, they managed to avoi a whole epsiode dedicated to someone’s dispondency this time around.
The season opens with The Bear gearing up for another shift, but before they can really get into it, Uncle Jimmy and The Computer show up with a timer. They declare this is how much time the restuarant has to turn it around before they have to close their doors for good. In case it wasn’t clear, the reviews they’d been waiting for at the end of season three were tepid at best. They weren’t a total tear-down, but they don’t bode well for the aim of a Michelin Star. I give everyone at The Bear credit for continuing to operate as if they’ve made it because the reviews and that clock would have defeated me mentally.
Not to say everyone is mentally okay over there. Far from it. But they’ve got a real hard-working attitude. And before Sugar starts implementing some serious budget cuts, Richie brings in some fire power from Chef Terry’s brood. They are there to try and make things like the well-oiled machine they need to be. They are calm, but firm, and do result in a marked improvement. Another helping hand? Luca is brought on as a stage to help Marcus with his intricate desserts. As Marcus’ best friend correctly notes, he’s so handsome. Tina is working on her prep time, though I hardly feel like she’s the problem this season. Carmy too starts to make some concessions to his too high demands. He cuts down on ingredients per dish and even agrees on a semi-permanent menu so they can start getting better deals from vendors again.
The big questions of the season loom over Carmy and Sydney’s heads. Yes, they have to worry about the restaurant closing, but the former is trying to decide if this is still something that he loves doing, while the latter is contemplating jumping ship for a very savory offer from a new place. Meanwhile, the beef window is thriving and looking to potentially franchise. Really, that might be the restaurant’s only saving grace by the sounds of it. While the season is filled with more moments that let you marinate, I don’t think it would truly be a season of The Bear if there wasn’t one extremely large and chaotic ensemble episode. And that comes in the form of a wedding. It’s packed to the brim with guests stars, and I couldn’t have been happier watching it. By way of comparison, this gathering was much less stressful than past seasons.
With another season already confirmed, I hope they never stop including one of those chaotic ensemble episodes. They are just too fun! And it’s so interesting to see who they cast. This year they now have two Oscar winners in the mix! This show is certainly not for everyone, especially if you think you’re actually going to get something comical. But for my money, this show is damn-near perfect.