Weekend Read: 'The Bear' S3 Mid-Season Review: Episodes 1-5

Heavy is the head that wears the toque

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Spoilers ahead for Episodes 1–5 of Season 3 of The Bear

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The Bear dropped its third season this past week, riding a rare and heady high of critical and cultural goodwill. It has bucked the trend of shows taking years off between seasons, gracing our screens with quaint (and appreciated) yearly consistency. It is minting stars, sweeping Emmys, entering our lexicon, and rearranging our wardrobes. 

Its first season shot out of the gates like a bucking bronco, electrifying us out of any lingering COVID stupor, making us laugh and feel, and reminding us how special a TV family could be, however dysfunctional. Season 2 was an even more thrilling roller coaster ride, deepening the series’ relationships, experimenting, and giving us stand-out episodes that we actually remember the names of (like Forks, Fishes) the way we remember the titles of Sopranos, Atlanta, or Breaking Bad episodes. 

As I thought about what I wanted out of this new season—more boundary-pushing experimentation, a cutthroat Carmy villain arc—I realized, oddly, that my “non negotiables” revolved more around form more than content. The success of the restaurant and the contentment of the characters were hardly on my mind. 

Jeremy Allen White

Which I think speaks to a blessing and curse for the series; its demonstrated genius has raised its floor so much that this plucky, underdog comedy series (if, genre-wise, it ever was one) has been elevated to a plane and pantheon of “Great TV,” the big leagues that include the aforementioned series and more. To put it in the show’s parlance, The Bear picked up 3 Michelin stars—was it going to keep its cred or buckle under the extreme weight of its own lofty expectations?…

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