Warning: spoilers below for The Bear season 4.
I remember how I felt the first time I ever watched The Bear. Adrenaline pumping, sweat beading on my brow, my heart racing at a near-feverish pace… it was like I was one of the chefs in Carmy’s kitchen.
It was stressful, but exhilarating. Upsetting, yet hopeful. One could imagine the sense of loneliness that can stem from working in such a high-pressure environment, while also feeling boosted by the sense of camaraderie.
The Bear still has a semblance of that feeling four seasons in. But for me, the fire that fuels the show now feels like more of a gentle flame than a blaze. Enough to warm my heart, but not enough to give me that feeling of satisfaction I so sorely crave.
The fourth season of the Disney Plus series picks up following the review published by Chicago Tribune about the restaurant, a piece that appeared as though it could trigger a make-or-break moment. It’s not a disastrous takedown, but it’s not glowing either.
The main message of the review – inconsistency and chaos. Which should come as no surprise given how increasingly frenetic Carmen Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) has become as a boss. Especially after he self-sabotaged his relationship with Claire (Molly Gordon).
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Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt), the main investor in The Bear, delivers an ultimatum – a short window of time in which the restaurant has to succeed, otherwise they’ll have to close for good.
The purse strings are tight, forcing The Bear’s employees to make tough calls to keep costs down while also serving dishes and experiences to their patrons that could make them Michelin-star worthy.
Carmy has some big decisions to make – will he continue to lead with impulsivity for the sake of trying to achieve greatness as quickly as possible, or take a moment to stop and think more long-term about what The Bear could become with enough care?
Meanwhile, Sydney (Ayo Edibiri) is harbouring a secret – that chef Adam Shapiro (played by the actor Adam Shapiro) has offered her an opportunity to join him in launching a brand new restaurant. A tempting move, but one that would require her to step away from Carmy and everyone else at The Bear whom she cares about so dearly, despite the bedlam that they face on a near-daily basis.
Episode number four, which Ayo co-wrote, is a particular highlight of the whole season, as Syd spends the day with her cousin’s young daughter, teaching her to cook while voicing the inner conflict that she’s facing about whether to stay at The Bear or quit.
Pastry chef Marcus (Lionel Boyce) has become very subdued following the death of his mother in season three, having been working in the kitchen when she died. His father reaches out regularly in an attempt to spend time with him, but Marcus isn’t sure whether he wants to invest time in their relationship.
Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) is putting immense pressure on herself trying to make a pasta dish within a three-minute time limit, a feat that appears pretty much impossible despite her best efforts.
Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) decides to bring in some old comrades to help smooth out the kinks of The Bear’s workflow, including Jessica (Sarah Ramos), the efficient maître d’ who worked with him during his stint of work experience at the fine dining restaurant Ever.
He’s also struggling with the prospect of his ex Tiff (Gillian Jacobs) getting married, fearing that her new husband Frank (Josh Hartnett) will replace him as the father figure in his daughter Eva’s life.
There are plenty of moments in season four that are beautifully heartfelt, including the incomparable Jamie Lee Curtis doing everything in her power as the Berzatto matriarch Donna to try and mend the fractured relationship that she has with her son Carmy.
As usual, Jamie knocks every millisecond that she spends playing Donna out of the mark. Casting her in The Bear was an utter stroke of genius.
Carmy and Claire are both still hurting sorely from their break-up, initially making it feel uncertain whether they can repair what was broken, despite how much they both still clearly care about one another.
But one of my favourite scenes of season four comes when most of the main characters find themselves sitting underneath a table at a family function with Richie’s daughter, and they all proceed to share their greatest fears in a sweet moment of sincere vulnerability.
The Bear boasts many guest stars, but fortunately, they’re woven into the story so smoothly that they don’t distract from the plot. I would’ve never guessed that Brie Larson would be cast as the Fak sister Francine, but boy did I enjoy watching her lock horns with Carmy’s sister Sugar (Abby Elliott).
Bob Odenkirk also returns as the explosive Uncle Lee, sharing an unexpectedly moving interaction with Carmy after his season two debut, when he and Carmy’s brother Michael almost launched into a full-fledged fight at their Christmas dinner.
I am still invested in The Bear and the characters who I’ve followed since the series first launched in 2022. However, despite the fourth season boasting 10 episodes, I was left wanting more. Or at least, more fire.
I’m glad Carmy is reaching a point of finding greater peace – it’s what he needs, and he deserves more balance in his life. But the chaos of The Bear is one of the reasons why people around the world fell in love with the show. And even with a literal ticking clock looming in the kitchen of the restaurant, I feel as though season four could have picked up the pace.
The Bear season 4 and the three previous seasons are available to stream on Disney Plus.
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