It’s been a few weeks since The Bear Season 3 aired on Hulu and FX, and various critics have shared their opinions. Most viewers appear to be on the negative side of the spectrum regarding the series as a whole. Although impressed with the visual cinematography and excellent acting, the story has skewed away from the original impression of Seasons 1 and 2. Where did it all go wrong?
Comparing Seasons 1 and 2’s Episode 1 to Season 3 Episode 1, there is a clear shift in purpose. Audiences enjoyed the series because of the natural anxiety that flowed in the scenes, accompanied by character development. Season 1 was all about setting the scene and understanding Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) as a character. Season 2 furthered and continued that journey, developing key characters such as Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Ritchie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Marcus (Lionel Boyce), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), and others. Instead of continuing this trend of evolving, Season 3 took a turn for the worse, as it appeared that showrunner Christopher Storer decided to step on the brakes by slowing down the narrative and halting the character development of all characters.
Many of “The Bear” Episodes Felt Like Filler Episodes
Namely, the first episode of Season 3 dragged on a bit too much with the storytelling style. Viewers are inside Carmy’s mind, going back and forth between past and present. This was an interesting approach; however, many of the scenes were reused throughout the episode and the entirety of Season 3 as a reminder of where Carmy is. It wouldn’t have been a problem had the first episode not gone overboard and used the entirety of the run-time. Instead, it would have been a perfect opportunity to visit all the characters in the aftermath of Season 2’s finale.
Another filler episode that should be criticized is “Napkins” (Season 3, Episode 6), which happens to be a Tina-centric episode. Many praised the acting, writing, and direction, as it gave similar sentiments to Seasons 1 and 2. Yet, it came at the wrong time. This episode would have been perfect if it had been presented in Season 2, as it was more relevant. Instead, it breaks the flow of Season 3. The only way to rectify this blemish is if we had more screen time with Tina’s family in the present day, showing where she was in the past versus now. That would only enhance the storytelling. For instance, Fishes (Season 2, Episode 6) had a similar sentiment. It breaks away from the main storyline and gives context to Carmy and Sugar’s (Abby Elliott) mother and more context to Michael’s (Jon Bernthal) death. Their mother reappears in the finale, and it would not have been as impactful if viewers weren’t introduced previously. If Tina’s husband had appeared in an episode of Season 3 outside the one he was in, it would have tied that episode more closely together. Instead, it makes “Napkins” a filler episode.
Carmy Becomes the Villain of The Bear
Carmy is not a linear character, nor is he a perfect one. He’s a flawed individual with a lot of unresolved issues, and instead of facing them, he buries them with work. In doing so, he lashes out by yelling and screaming at everyone around him during service. As viewers, we know who Carmy is, but instead of expanding on this through his actions, we are bombarded with flashbacks and screaming. In Season 1 and Season 2, Carmy’s arc worked due to the quiet moments, the moments in which we were able to understand Carmy in his natural state—times when there is no music or unique filming, but rather when he’s home eating basic food and cooking in his sleep.
Or the moments when he reads Michael’s note in the back alley while he’s shopping for groceries and bumping into Clare (Molly Gordon). He’s a human with flaws that should be shown in waves rather than forced, which brings me back to the filler storytelling. During the finale, real-life chefs sit around a table sharing their stories, which is a fun sight, but it stays too long. It does, in fact, display that Carmy is the monster in the kitchen, badgering Sydney, but it drags far too long. Yet it does signify he’s the problem of The Bear restaurant.
This is not to say the main character can’t become the bad guy or villain of the story. Still, rather, it should hone in and focus on Carmy a bit more than the meaningless screaming matches with Ritchie that fans have seen so many times and numerous flashbacks, and focus on the moments in which he’s alone.
The Bear Season 3 Had Good Moments
There were still great moments in Season 3, with Sydney’s anxiety attack, Sugar going into labor and having to ask her mom for help, and Ritchie and his daughter’s relationship solidifying that The Bear has the angle, with the ideas of family dynamics woven into the storytelling. Yet, it needs to remember where it began. Though dysfunctional and dirty, the Beef’s qualms were shown in “Napkins” with Ritchie and Michael running it. The Bear must adapt this ambiance in some caliber to continue the series’ shelf life on TV.