Why should I watch a series about cooking when I can barely cook an egg myself? That kept me from starting The Bear earlier. However, yesterday I suddenly realized that I’m not a Power Ranger either, and I recently gave that special a high rating. So, I kicked my feet up and started the first episode of The Bear. The counter only stopped after 6 consecutive episodes. As the Irish say, “laughter is brightest where food is best.” The same holds true for The Bear.
Comedy-drama series The Bear follows young James Beard Award-winning chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White). Before the events of the series, Carmy used to work at a Michelin-starred top restaurant, but he returns to Chicago after the suicide of his brother Michael. There, he manages the rundown sandwich shop, The Original Beef, which he inherits from his brother.
Carmy attempts to bring the professionalism from his previous workplace into this venture, leading to hilarity and a whole lot of chaos. Well, you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, and the chef knows that all too well.
Hustle and Bustle
The few times I do find myself in the kitchen, I often spontaneously stress over all the things that need to be kept in check. Get this pan on the stove in time, add the first ingredients after a few minutes, put another pan on after five minutes. Take one off the heat after ten minutes, the other one needs a bit more time.
So, I can’t even imagine being in a professional kitchen (and believe me, nobody would be pleased with that). In my younger years, I used to see my mother watching cooking shows, and they often seemed very intense and stressful. The Bear captures this feeling brilliantly. After the first few minutes, I could almost feel the sweat on my own forehead as Carmy manages his new, somewhat unprofessional colleagues. The camerawork, background music, and actors convey the intensity so realistically that the tone is set immediately.
Intensity and Trauma
That intensity also contributes to the drama aspect of the series. Viewers quickly catch glimpses of Carmy’s activities at the Michelin restaurant he used to work at, where he had a true drill sergeant as a boss. Gordon Ramsay, eat your heart out.
This painful past, combined with the dramatic loss of his brother, obviously takes a heavy toll on Carmy. The Bear doesn’t shy away from the topic of trauma, which creates an interesting combination with the numerous humorous scenes that the series serves up like hotcakes.
The Crew
Despite the much lower status of The Original Beef, Carmy isn’t entirely free from intense personalities here either. The staff consists of diverse characters, with Michael’s best friend Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) standing out. Richie is especially loud, is a walking disaster and it’s clear that he’s mostly tolerated due to his history with the Berzatto brothers.
Newcomer Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) is a talented and ambitious chef who, along with Carmy, tries to professionalize things. Her enthusiasm and recognition of Carmy’s exceptional skills amusingly contrast with the rest of the crew, who have less experience in the culinary realm.
Besides these two, it’s mostly the laid-back baker Marcus (Lionel Boyce) and the somewhat rebellious old-school cook, Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), who take the spotlight in this first season.
The interplay among the diverse crew members is intriguing and gives rise to the necessary chaos, confrontations, but at times also to endearing and emotional moments that shape The Bear into what it is.
The Acting, Especially by Jeremy Allen White, Is Impressive
Jeremy Allen White portrays the role of the tormented, passionate, and above all talented head chef Carmy fantastically. He conveys his goal to his staff in a motivational matter, but also captivates the viewer in the process. There were times when I felt as if I was in that kitchen myself, and that’s largely due to how White presents himself. The actor invests so much energy into his role that it instantly pulled me into the chaotic world.
With his tousled hair, general presence, and tattoos, he even looks as if he was directly pulled from a top-notch kitchen. However, what completely sealed the deal for me was his performance in the final episode of the first season. I won’t spill the beans, as Carmy would scold me, but it involves a very long, uncut scene that left a profound impression on me. If you decide to start this series based on this review, you will probably know exactly what I’m referring to once you reach the last episode of the first season.
Conclusion
The Bear is an incredibly binge-worthy series. The reasonably short episodes, around 30 minutes each, chew down as easily as a world-class steak. The first season offers humor, drama, and suspense; ingredients that compel me to award it with nothing less than 3 Michelin stars.
One tip: don’t watch this series on an empty stomach. The swift shots of the most delectable-looking dishes will undoubtedly make your stomach rumble. There’s no better excuse to have a meal in front of the TV, with the plate in your lap.
Alright, one more tip. Play a drinking game and take a shot every time you hear the word ‘chef.’ I dare you.
