The Bear completes its last shift after five seasons and one surprise flashback episode. It’s all a melting pot of everything I love and sort of dislike about the FX show.
Breaking from series tradition, most of this final season covers the span of one day. Beginning the morning after Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) tells Syd (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Natalie “Sugar” (Abby Elliott) that he is quitting the business, The Bear, the restaurant, has run out of time and money. Their business partner Jimmy is going to sell the building, their food storage is low, their credit cards have been declined, and Pastry Chef Luca is going back to Copenhagen. That’s not even mentioning the torrential downpour halting traffic and, even worse, potentially canceling reservations for the evening.
The Bear has always been great for individual character moments. Richie’s arc is easily the best in the series, beginning as someone I wanted fired to a man worthy of redemption. Carmy’s trajectory is far messier but still rewarding. He wanted to be a chief to be close to his brother, Mikey, but after working in an abusive environment in New York City, Mikey’s suicide, and being saddled with The Beef, predecessor to The Bear, Carmy feels like the burden of manning a restaurant isn’t worth his sanity. And Syd has gone from working under Carmy to now leading the charge in what they believe is their “last supper.”
What’s been less enjoyable is how much the show constantly reminds us that these people are a “family.” When someone tells Syd that the universe is trying to tell her something, she replies, “I don’t listen to the universe. I listen to my chefs.” The shots of food being prepped and faces deep in thought make some of it feel self-indulgent. Richie’s speech to rally everyone before opening was wonderful, though. Starting with a prepared, manufactured lecture, he instead launches into a humorous, inspiring rally direct from the heart. It’s yet another standout moment for a man who’s come so far and is a highlight of the series overall.
The cinematography is different compared to past seasons. Before, we felt part of the tense, panic-inducing experience of running a restaurant. The camera was up close inside the kitchen and outside the dining area. Now, when the doors open, we feel like just an observer. The camera is farther away from everyone, like what happens from here on out is out of our control.
The music feels more synth-heavy than ever before. It brings that sense of urgency that permeates this final season.
What I’ve come to realize about The Bear, both the restaurant and the show, is that you have to take the good with the not as good, and thankfully it’s mostly really good through to the end. I went into this final season wanting to just get it over with, but once the kitchen closed, I found myself missing these characters. I missed seeing them scramble and bicker and coming out the other side battered and bruised but heading back to work to do it all over again. Life sure is a bear.
The Bear
Created by Christopher Storer. Starring Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ayo Edebiri.
TV-MA
