TV fans were torn this weekend between bingeing two of the biggest dramas in recent years, which returned with new seasons within a day of each other.
These two shows happen to be particularly gut-wrenching – and so people who watched them back to back were left in an extremely emotional state.
On Thursday, the fourth season of The Bear dropped on Disney Plus, following the plight of the restaurant run by Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) in Chicago, an environment that’s frequently buzzing with heightened levels of stress.
Then 24 hours later, the third and final season of Squid Game launched on Netflix, revealing the fate of protagonist Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after he entered the deadly game for a second time.
If people were on the lookout for two shows that would elevate their anxiety levels, they couldn’t have made a better selection.
Get personalised updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
‘Getting heartbroken back to back with The Bear and Squid Game’s new seasons isn’t fun,’ one viewer called @FiveHargreeves wrote on X.
‘Squid Game and The Bear dropped? Man my weekend is jam packed,’ @MoBetterEats added, while @gltrlvr also wrote that they binge-watched both seasons in the ‘past two days’.
Several people admitted that they had no idea that both shows were returning with new seasons in the same week, and so they were overwhelmed by the choice of what to watch first.
‘Me dodging The Bear and Squid Game spoilers this weekend,’ @anchorless stated, as @cherrykissjoon remarked: ‘The Bear spoilers, Squid Game spoilers, SO MANY SPOILERS ON THE TL.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Despite the mixture of elation and devastation over the experience of bingeing The Bear and Squid Game in one go, some viewers were also concerned that the TV releases could hinder the chances of another series that launched last week – Marvel’s Ironheart.
‘Releasing this the same week as The Bear and Squid Game? Yeah, not a great choice,’ @JimmyTurtlewrote.
Metro recently spoke to the creator of Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk, about the future of the franchise, and he revealed where the story could go following the conclusion of season three.
‘This is just some ideas that I’ve been throwing around during production. But there’s a three-year gap between season one and two, since Gi-hun turns away from the plane,’ he said.
‘So I’d like to maybe look into the lives of those behind the mask, the Front Man, the Recruiter and Captain Park. How did they meet? What did they do during the three years?
‘How did they stay on top of Gi-hun and whatnot? So that’s something that I’m thinking about. I have to make it!’
As for season four of The Bear – well, maybe Metro‘s Sabrina Barr might turn you towards Squid Game this weekend after saying the series ‘still whets my appetite, but season four isn’t searing hot’.
The Bear still contains ‘enough to warm my heart, but not enough to give me that feeling of satisfaction I so sorely crave’, the TV Editor wrote.
This article was originally published on Friday June 27.
Watch Squid Game on Netflix. Watch The Bear on Disney Plus.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.