Drama The Bear (HULU/FX)

[Drizzle]

I watched the first three episodes (how do you guys blow through them so quickly?)

When I re-upped Hulu I splurged and got the package without ads for 1 month so I was able to breeze through them even quicker. Plus it also helped that Thursday was a slower work day for me.

 

[DKDetective]

Spoiler

Yeah I think he wanted to get a star as quickly as possible and Syd was kinda going with it even though I think she did call out on his BS. Also, I think Carmy only knows how to maintain a star but has no clue about how to get one or is in no shape to do so with his condition.

It's kinda like how DC was trying to quickly compete with Marvel by getting the Justice League up and going with BvS. You can't microwave success overnight and that's what he thought he could get away with.

Yeah, I just thought Storer might have kinda made the stuff I mentioned clearer for the less knowledgeable viewers. In the past, he has done a great job of explaining this stuff to viewers who don't know a ton about the restaurant industry.

Spoiler

It's also interesting because the way Carmy has tried to revamp The Bear this season is going backwards. The concept for the restaurant that he and Syd discussed at the end of season 1 (family style, etc.) and the depiction of the restaurant and its menu at the Family and Friends soft opening is much more consistent with the current leading trends in gastronomy. The big thing now is gastronomic bistros. More relaxed casual atmospheres with less pretention in the food.

The extreme fine dining restaurants serving expansive tasting course menus are a dying breed. Noma is actually closing this year because Redzepi says its business model is not sustainable and he can no longer in good conscience continue its very dubious labour practices (eg. reliance on unpaid stage labour). This season obliquely reflects that with the closing of Ever, but it is portrayed as a personal choice by Chef Terry rather than any sort of structural flaw.

Basically, Carmy is leading The Bear in completely the wrong direction this season. I thought it was a great moment when Syd ran into Chef Adam and he made a point of complimenting her for a dish that felt "new" rather than "the usual Carmy".

In essence, I can see why some reviews are criticizing the show's narrative focus this season and clarity of storytelling.

 

[antsman41]

I get that, Carmy is still very inexperienced business wise.

 

[DKDetective]

I get that, Carmy is still very inexperienced business wise.

I disagree. I don't think that is the issue this season at all. You don't get to be CDC at a major restaurant without a good amount of business acumen. The role involves a lot of training and skill development in managing food costs, etc. In terms of restaurant operations, the core problems and dysfunctions that The Bear is dealing with this season are very much the same as those that the Beef had in season one and Carmy very effectively dealt with those. He know the problems and he knows the solutions. The issue is

Spoiler

that he has basically had a breakdown since breaking up with Claire last season and his thinking is completely ****ed as a result. He is making bad decisions in some sort of messed up attempt to rush the Bear's success in order to fill the hole in his heart left by the loss of Claire. He is trying to replace the happiness and feeling of human connection with the external validation through the restaurant, which is never going to work.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Just wrapped up Season 3, I mean it had two very strong standout episodes, but gotta admit, this wasn't my favorite season.

Someone on reddit said alot of the episodes played out like AmEx commercials, and now I can't unsee it.

 

[Drizzle]

Just wrapped up Season 3, I mean it had two very strong standout episodes, but gotta admit, this wasn't my favorite season.

Someone on reddit said alot of the episodes played out like AmEx commercials, and now I can't unsee it.

Yeah, I don't think anyone out there is ranking this above the first two seasons but it was still very good. Obviously it's early to tell but I feel like this might flow better if watched right before season 4.

 

[antsman41]

I watch this for characters, emotions, and the technical aspects… Not the overall plot. To me, Midnight Boys were on point when they said this is actually White-Atlanta unlike Dave.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Yeah, I don't think anyone out there is ranking this above the first two seasons but it was still very good. Obviously it's early to tell but I feel like this might flow better if watched right before season 4.

I think my biggest issue with it, is that for all the story it told, most of the characters ultimately didn't progress much and the plot didn't really move.

Spoiler

For all the hard work that he and his team put in, Carmy still got a negative review for his restaurant and he didn't really grow as a character this season; Syd is too busy having panic attacks to choose between The Bear or working that other restaurant; the only real progress made was between Sugar and her mom.

I just feel like by the end of the season, they should be in a different position from where they started. Feels like they're in limbo.

 

[Drizzle]

I think my biggest issue with it, is that for all the story it told, most of the characters ultimately didn't progress much and the plot didn't really move.

Spoiler

For all the hard work that he and his team put in, Carmy still got a negative review for his restaurant and he didn't really grow as a character this season; Syd is too busy having panic attacks to choose between The Bear or working that other restaurant; the only real progress made was between Sugar and her mom.

I just feel like by the end of the season, they should be in a different position from where they started. Feels like they're in limbo.

Yeah, it overall felt like "Part 1" of a split season. Especially with the "To Be Continued" at the end of E10.

 

[antsman41]

Have any of you worked in a restaurant? Nothing changes day to day, month to month…

Other than endless arguments over nothing, boring days otherwise, insular dating issues, outside family drama, and dealing with ****ty customers.

It sucks, but it’s also great.

 

[Kane52630]

I watch this for characters, emotions, and the technical aspects… Not the overall plot. To me, Midnight Boys were on point when they said this is actually White-Atlanta unlike Dave.

Yeah not that I give a sh** about rottentomatoes but seeing it get a bad audience rating just tells me this is The Bear's Atlanta season 3 which I also love to death.

 

[antsman41]

Yeah not that I give a sh** about rottentomatoes but seeing it get a bad audience rating just tells me this is The Bear's Atlanta season 3 which I also love to death.

I also think all of the humans who didn’t follow this show before the premier of the first season, bandwagoners last year and have overblown expectations (or ideas like Carmy dating Syd) as with most shows that level up to the general public after being more niche.

 

[Kane52630]

Also there's this whole Carmy/Syd ship that people grabbed onto and thought was happening even though it's never been their dynamic.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Hot take, but Carmy/Syd have more chemistry than Carmy/Claire Bear.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Kane52630]

I really want to know what Francie Fak did to Nat and I really want to know who should play her in the next season.

 

[Drizzle]

Hot take, but Carmy/Syd have more chemistry than Carmy/Claire Bear.

View attachment 95509

Eh, I thought they have more of a teacher/student dynamic. And not the kind of teacher/student dynamic you'd see in adult movies either.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Eh, I thought they have more of a teacher/student dynamic. And not the kind of teacher/student dynamic you'd see in adult movies either.

So THOSE are the kind of adult movies you watch friendo?

 

[Drizzle]

So THOSE are the kind of adult movies you watch friendo?

View attachment 95519

I'm not allowed to go online without a parent's permission, so that's a no.

 

[antsman41]

I really want to know what Francie Fak did to Nat and I really want to know who should play her in the next season.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

View attachment 95583

Or

 

[Kane52630]

I'm thinking...

 

[antsman41]

Nah, we need that Chicago blood.

 

[Kane52630]

I mean John Cena isn't necessarily from Chi Town. He's as Boston as they come.

I could see Kat Dennings or Aidy Bryant play Francie.

 

[squeekness]

Hot take, but Carmy/Syd have more chemistry than Carmy/Claire Bear.

View attachment 95509

Agreed!