I’m sorry for getting the main dish out to you late. I have no kitchen staff. They all work for a fictitious restaurant. The Bear, the critically acclaimed FX on Hulu show is back for a third season, and it is a show that has grown on me. Admittedly, I wanted to throw things at people who lavished so much praise on the first season. i thought it was a mess, and thanks to Hulu’s asinine rollout of audio description for The Bear, i had to watch this twice, though I technically didn’t finish my first time through due to the annoying lack of audio description upon release. Still, Season 1 was fine. i think there are stronger shows, stronger seasons, and the Bear proved that by getting infinitely better in its second season. Eben moss Baccharat really took huge strides in taking Richie from being my least favorite thing about the show, to my most favorite. His screen time in Season 2 is so purposeful, and allows for so much maturity and growth, I was impressed just by him. But, it didn’t stop there. Ayo Edebiri stole the show from Jeremy Alan White. You could feel her presence in season 1, almost like she could breakout at any moment, and she’s done that. Ayo has gone on to get offered more and more roles, and likely because of her amazing portrayal as Sydney, which season 2 arguably put her front and center, even above Carmine (Jeremy Alan White), who seemed to take a step back so hard he lost himself in the walk in freezer. And I can’t leave my praise for season 2 without some truly exceptional guest performances from Jamie Lee Curtis (who must win the Emmy this year), and Jon Bernthal. that seven Fishes episode is one of the best written hours of television, and still the best episode of the series.
So in Season 3, what did we get? Well, Jeremy Alan White is given a bit more to do as carmine, so it feels less like his entire Emmy nomination is due to a well-acted panic attack, Sydney’s chracter continues to be explored as new opportunities are presented to her in surprising ways, and Ritchie has the most adorable moments with his daughter. he has come such a long way. What season 3 did, was really find the voices for a few more characters.
Marcus (Lionel Boyce), who had a really solid and underrated season 2 featured episode, is expanded on emotionally through the death of his mother, which happened during the finale last season. He’s seemingly older and wiser, and takes this opportunity to be a professional chef seriously. He’ll likely earn nominations for Season 2 and 3. Tina (Liza Colons-Zayas) has my favorite episode of this season in an episode all about her, that explores where she came from before entering The Bear, and before ever working in a kitchen. So many people will relate to the story of someone who is qualified for the work they are applying for, but somehow they are now too old, and their positions are being filled by people with no job experience, but more education. tina, is grateful that she came in and got a sandwich one day, and in an episode that really gives Jon Bernthal a chance to be nominated for a Season 3 guest performance.
But, of course, everyone is going to talk about Natalie’s (Abby Elliot) episode,where she is in the hospital close to giving birth, and her husband isn’t there. she’s trying to follow her birth plan, but that plan didn’t initially include her mother (Curtis) being her only line of support. These two ladies do such sublime work, I can’t imagine this didn’t lock in Emmy nominations for them next season. Elliot has never truthfully been better, fully shedding any preconceived notions people have about her too short time on SNL, or being the daughter of the never serious Chris Elliot. Abby might hear her name called next year, unless Hacks rushes its next season.
I even found moments with Oliver Platt, who I thought had been a bit over praised for his lack of screentime. I love Platt, and arguably he feels like someone who should be nominated for more awards, but he’s not really integral to this dynamic. he does have some good moments, and he’s more memorable.
What I didn’t like, and I know was intentional, is a bit of a spoiler, so I’ll soften it as much as possible. This season ended exactly like the second, but with a different character. I think it takes away from Season 2, and we can’t just end every season with panic attacks now because people respond to them. changing it up by putting that panic attack on someone else, just wasted an otherwise excellent finale. And yeah, it is an ambiguous ending, but rumors were that this cast already shot Season 4, as Hulu recognized that they are busy with film projects, and shot 3 and 4 back to back.
In the end, another solid season, though my favorite episode lies in Season 2. Season 2 really changed the game for me, and opened these characters up to more layers. if The Bear ends up being like one of those fancy meals, I guess my compliments to the chef on the second course, and basically the third as well. There’s nothing wrong with the third, it just doesn’t have seven fishes. But, I have a feeling in season 4, we will get to know even more of the cast in greater detail, and this ensemble will continue to shine.
the audio description is fine, except perhaps for the unavoidable final episode. the season finale features a lot of real life Chef’s as themselves, and they talk in rapid succession about what drew them to food, or their relationship to being a Chef, and the special gravity is lost due to the inability to describe that scene. What I might have done, if I were Hulu, was mention every Chef by name in the audio description in the credits of that episode, so we know who showed up.
For season 2, I support the Emmy love for Eben, and i think Jeremy benefits from lack of competition. Ayo and any supporting actresses have to contend with the two main ladies from Hacks, who I think will win this year. However, Hacks doesn’t shoot as fast, and likely won’t be eligible next year, possibly leaving the door open for a Bear sweep.
Final grade: A-
