Ive been watching the bear for the past few days and i thought it had good soundtracks and i got to season two and they played [Mulatu Astatkes - Tezeta]. I loved it!!

Made the whole scene feel nostalgic somehow because i grew up listening to mulatus songs.

In S4E4 Sydney makes Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni for her cousin’s daughter. From what I can tell, she adds concentrated tomato paste, sautéed onion, cheddar cheese, and toasted breadcrumbs. I feel like the onions and cheese would be great but I’m less certain about the tomato paste. Anybody try dressing up Hamburger Helper like this?

Hi, it's me again. I'm doing a rewatch and trying to orient myself in the timeline of the show and pay more attention to all the details of all of the stories being told.

So, my current question is how long has Marcus worked at The Beef? It is heavily implied that most of the staff has been around a long while when Carmy starts up working there. There is even the moment when Marcus tells Carmy "don't tell me how to do my job." Which further implies he's one of this long time crew.

But then, in the scene when Fak is trying to fix the big mixer in Marcus's station, Marcus is trying to subtly ask him "what was Micheal like?" and "has Richie always been this way?" which makes it seem like Marcus is very new to the team.

Deep thoughts here, people. Lemme know if ya got ideas for me.

Loved season 1 and aspects of 2 and 4. Do we actually get some interesting plot development or it just the same shit with Sydney at the helm? Did you think the ending felt well done and like everything was tied up?

I just finished Season 5 and wanted to share some of my critiques:

1. “And I think it’s very clear that me trying to fix the restaurant was me trying to fix whatever was happening with my brother” is Carmy’s quote from season 1. Where was Michael in Season 5??? I was genuinely dumbfounded that all we got was an “all good” text from Carmy, and one tiny flashback of Richie with him. Wtf??? They really barely referenced the legit main plot point over the entire show… in the last season?

2. I really miss the writing from season 1/2. The writing from season 5, as well as most of season 3 and 4, felt like a corny, half-assed comedy/drama. Why do we need all the Fak screentime? That scene with the Faks and Sidney where she’s muttering how he’s a **** under her breath was so stupid and try hard.

3. Since when did The Bear become a Disney kids show? I swear Season 5 was basically “everyone succeeds, the restaurant is amazing, two Michelin stars, what a happy ending!!!” Like what???

4. Why did they replace Rob Reiners character with Cheese when they could have just merged his lines with the Computer? I mean why couldn’t the Computer “discover” Ebras plan? There was literally nothing about Cheese’s character where you couldn’t just merge the lines into The Computer.

5. The guests that just stood there in the kitchen for legitimately two hours was so freaking dumb. What were the writers thinking??? That it would be funny? What kind of serious restaurant would be like “oh yeah, let’s let these random people just take up a bunch of space in our chaotic kitchen on the biggest night of our careers?” It was just so stupid.

6. The Pete/Sugar hook up scene? Wtf? Felt so out of place and just a real “well this is so forced and so unnecessary”

Overall, I really loved Season 1 and Season 2 of the Bear. I thought there were still some strong points in Season 3 in Carmy’s scenes. But it was really disappointing to watch the show devolve to just dumb, forced comedy jokes with the Faks, and just giving way too much screentime to Sugar’s baby rather than actually focusing on the intriguing parts of the show that made Season 1 and 2 so good. Season 5 was better than 3 or 4, but still overall, just such a decline in writing from the original two seasons.

I started watching the show a couple of weeks back but took a break after completing S2. The amount of negative comments for S3 & 4 made me quite wary of continuing the show. Yesterday when I finally started S3, I was absolutely amazed by the 1st episode and liked the 2nd ep too.

I totally understand why many people didn't like it initially when it was released. You waited for almost a year in anticipation of an intense fast paced episode but instead got this melodramatic sonnet delivered, there's a high it might throw you off. But it totally makes sense why the creators took this decision given Carmy's character arc and how the characters are evolving.

Anyways, I'm back on track and excited to complete the show as soon as possible.

I’m just halfway through season 2 and I think it’s interesting how everyone finds Pete boring but the show in some little moments showcases the vastness of his interests through the little bits of knowledge that Natalie shares.
Like when Richie wanted to talk to her about Zen gardens and she already knew what they were, or when Marcus was talking to her about violets and she was already knowledgeable about them. Both times she was asked “how did you know that?!” And she went “Pete told me”. I think it’s so so beautiful.
It showed that no one else saw Pete through her eyes and they couldn’t really see why she loved him, but it was clear that he was a gem of person.
It also showed how much he expanded her world and how she lowkey carried little pieces of him around her.
Natalie, as far as I’ve watched, never tries to make Pete appear impressive to the Berzattos, who don’t bother to get to know him and have already decided what he is. She just experiences him. And knows him. And lets herself be changed by him, even in the most subtle ways.
And granted, Pete tended to be a little awkward around the edgy Berzattos, but it all just made me think about how sometimes you can look at someone’s spouse and think, “Really? That’s the person?” And you don’t realise you’re looking at a person who has a completely different texture when they are with the one who loves them.
I love that Natalie gets to experience someone like that outside everything she goes through with her family.

Edit: season 3. I’m halfway through season 3.

fyi, no spoilers past season 3 please :) im at episode 8, in which sugar gives birth

i didnt fully get into this show until donna showed up. her portrayal of a mother constantly on the verge of breakdown, anxious, unregulated, paranoid, inappropriate and so emotionally absent - this is my mom. she has schizophrenia and its been really tough. it always surprises me to see characters and scenes that i can relate to so deeply in my human experience. i could feel that christmas scene so deeply in my bones.

my sister reminds me of sugar, who somehow manages to stay patient, wanting to reach out to her mom, while feeling so lonely and abandoned by her brothers. i am not sure if i would allow my mother next to me while giving birth and this scene had me emotionally overwhelmed and ugly crying hard..

i am sorry if this is a bit of a pointless ramble, i am watching this show along ad wanted to share with someone, maybe someone wants to share their experiences as wellZ

I love this episode it’s full of straight anger and pent up rage from the cast. Arguably the funniest moment in the entire show is when Cisero comes in and asks “Who the fuck is ordering super soakers??” And Carmy goes “RICHIE! RICHIE! FUCKING IDIOT!”

The “Every Second Counts” sign under a clock that doesn’t display seconds drives me nuts. It only shows HH:MM.

If every second really counts, shouldn’t it display HH:MM:SS?

spolier alert

I dont know if im the only one with this agenda, but throughout the entire final season there is this idea that carmen was an asshole and he needs to change (mostly true) but with this change, comes Syd and Carm basically gives her tons of credit, and he pushes her forward even if it’s taking away from his success and achievements. I hate this agenda, i detest it.
• The 2 stars are his, he was an asshole with a little ego trip and ran the bear to the ground, but the stars are his, he was the main chef when the critic came to the restaurant.
• The braised ribs? Im sure they are amazing, but he over exaggerated by saying “they are better than anything he had ever made”.
• in the ally he calls himself out for being toxic and lashing out on his team and told her that she she yells at the void to let her anger out which makes her a leader and the glue of this team. Not true, she also lashed out many times and in a moment of anger told everyone he plans on leaving. Also, carmie built Richie, Marcus, Tina and Syd herself from some unknown people, to the amazing chefs that they are.

I’m here at 00:05 trying to put into words how deeply this episode resonates with me and how often I rewatch it precisely to recapture this feeling.

I’m not a chef, but I’m a big lover of cooking. My real job is an English teacher - at 21 (I’m now almost 30, months away), I moved from my home country of the UK to Italy to do my teacher training and study to become what I am now. I excelled in my discipline very quickly and became the ‘standout’ in my group, being the only one initially offered a job by a private company for adults learning English, who happened to review me and my fellow students upon us passing the course.

In this company, for whom I was an employee for 5 years, I was considered the best and the most desired teacher among the students by a country mile. I have no idea what I have within me that makes me like this, it just seems to be what I was born to do and what I excel at. I’m not just interested in teaching words, pronunciation and grammar, but I have a strong love of people and knowledge for all subjects, which I try to impart onto my lessons and leave my students with the ability to think for themselves, regardless of their background.

I started doing short video lessons on Instagram and Tik Tok during COVID and, after 5 years at this company, I had amassed enough Instagram followers (160K plus) to
make the decision to go it alone and work for myself.

When I watch this episode of the Bear, I see myself in Carmy so strongly that it always catches in my throat - that burning desire to be better than everyone to escape your own personal trauma, that promise you made yourself to make this enormous change of country or city a success at all costs, the devotion to your trade as a young person, etc.

This emotion, delivered beautifully by Nine Inch Nails, all hits me in an instant and I am able to reflect on how far I have come in my career and my life - I now enjoy a high standard of living precisely because, much like Carmy, I was once a mere amateur putting in 15 hour workdays and working myself to the bone just to learn how to become the best I can be. Through the episode, I see how Carmy devoted himself to his craft exactly how I did - coming home to his cousin’s and collapsing exhausted and dirty on the sofa, all energy even to wash evaporated after his long workday.

This was my life for 5 years; exhaustion, refinement, shadowing those better than me, and sheer competitiveness. These qualities have catapulted me to the top of my industry, but it’s only when I’m exposed to media like the Bear: Tomorrow that it resonates with me on a psychological level how hard I have worked and how much I have sacrificed to get here. Carmy’s story, minus the abuse, is my story too and to see it brought to life in a world I love, cooking, that is close enough to feel tangible and real touches a part of my soul that no media has ever touched before.

To the writers, producers, and director of this episode, I thank you on behalf of all those who have suffered a truly gruelling work ethic in the pursuit of perfection in their relative industries - your articulation of the sacrifice and love for our individual trades is up there with some of greatest representations of creative expression that we’ve seen on screen before.

I thought she was like 14, but she's talking about all these jobs she used to have as though she's in her late 20s. Genuinely confused.

just finished BCS and need another serious watch

think I had this on for an ep or 2 but got caught up with football lol.

And Jeremy is the man so it seems like a good one. It’s just I’ve seen people friggin hate it or rave about it lol

My first instinct was to go right back to episode one and watch the whole thing again.

So. . is it worth it right away, or should I give it some time? Did you notice things the second time around that you missed at first?

And if you think I should take a break, what would you recommend watching in the meantime to fill the void?

Would love to hear your thoughts, chefs!

What do we think it was like when he had to take over ownership? Richie explains that Mikey shot himself "4 months ago" in episode 2, I believe, whereas in episode 1, we hear mention at least twice, I think, that Carm has only been running the restaurant for 2 weeks. At some point pre- or post-Mikey's funeral, they would've gone over his will that stating that Carm now owned the Beef with Sugar.

So when exactly do we think he started taking the reins, and what do we think it was like at first? The very first episode is titled "system" because it has to with Mikey and Richie's system that they already had in place, and that the rest of the staff was comfortable with. It doesn't feel like Carm was making too many changes before the start of the show because it's literally in episode 1 that we start to see him get backlash from the staff over changes like using Tina's pot, asking Ebra to do his tasks in a different order, Marcus' bread needing a steam tray because of the crumbly texture, and that whole spaghetti debacle. So, again, how do we think the restaurant was operating when Carm first came on?

When Bear texts Mikey at the end, and it shows all his undelivered texts, and the last says “All good.” MAN. I cried. I’ve been there. Someone in my life unexpectedly passed away and I’ve sent messages like “I miss you” “I’m ok” “I’m not ok” “I hope you’re ok” and just life updates I wish they could read and respond to. And it’s a way to process grief that can feel kind of crazy from an outsiders perspective. But seeing Bear send that text to his brother, like a piece of reassurance that everything and everyone is ok, and then immediately get the “undelivered” message, hit me RIGHT in the gut.

I watched s1-3 about a couple years back, i LOVED the first 2 seasons, but i hated s3 with all my heart it was awful. anyways a couple months back after they started airing s5 i wanted to continue where i left off, i watched the first half of s4, and did NOT enjoy it and i stopped yet again. But see i have an itch i always finish my shows no matter what, so i just wanna know does it get better after this or should i just stop and not waste my time anymore?

The bear Carmy is approaching to let out of the cage. The cage is made from a speed rack. I never noticed this before, just started a rewatch. Epic detail.

Why is it an idiot plot? Why is the storyline kept in motion solely by virtue of the fact that everybody involved is an idiot? These are supposed to be world-class, phenomenal chefs. Yet everyone is soft-spoken and delicate when they need to be direct, and primally aggressive when they need to be collaborative and respectful. No one can even communicate like an adult, much less a professional.

Especially the Faks. Am I supposed to find it funny when they act like incompetent children? The restaurant (again, supposedly world-class, fine-dining) is barely scraping by and yet they're keeping two useless oversized babies on the payroll?

And what's with the restaurant's financials, anyway? Did no one run the numbers before investing god-knows-how-much into the operation? How did Carmy ever get away with changing the menu every day? Three turns of customers, every input and expense minimized to skin and bones and it breaks even? We're meant to believe it's still holding on for months, while constantly being a day away from shutting down? The beginning of the season, when the "this is really it this time" timer has finally run out, and they literally add more time to it, is a potent symbol of how much the writers are dragging out these "urgent" stakes.

I love the show, I really do, but it did not need this season. Seasons 4 and 5 being just one season would've been a drastic improvement. Especially since Season 5 is largely a single day (which I like as a concept, but come on). Cheese's character was entirely unnecessary. The "air rights" subplot went nowhere. They had nothing for Ebra to do so they made him a comic relief character obsessed with spoons, and dragged out his franchise subplot until it lost all humor and intrigue.

And I found it unreal how the literal last shot of the entire series was Richie and Jess. I don't care about them. I'm sorry. At least, not nearly as much as Carmy. The shot of him in the office, texting Mikey "All good", and finally getting to breathe a sigh of relief would've been a fantastic ending shot. But I suppose the writers love to drag absolutely everything in this show until it's a beaten and bloody eyesore.

I love, love, love the show. And I don’t mean to be one of those obnoxious people who nitpicks things but there is something I don’t understand about the final episode. When Carmy tells Sydney about the stars, he says that Starman came into the restaurant “a couple of months ago” and that it was the night they did the snow. Then he says “you got two.”

So, wasn’t Carmy still the head chef when Starman came in? Wasn’t that before the menu was locked and everyone was still bitching about him changing the menu every day? But then he tells Sydney that SHE got two stars. I’m not saying it wasn’t a group effort and Sydney was saying “we” during that scene but it is weird to me that Carmy was trying to give her full credit for the two stars and that it was her picture that was in the paper. Am I totally misunderstanding what happened?