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TV REVIEW
'The Bear - Season 2' Dives Further Into What Made This Show Special In The First Place
By Sal LoCicero | July 9, 2023
Last year, FX and Hulu released the first season of ‘The Bear’; an anxiety-inducing dark comedy. The show gained popularity from a wide number of viewers within seconds, and received critical praise. What the first season did so successfully is deliver a true depiction of the human experience - especially during Post-Covid. Season 1 managed to be hilarious, intense, and dark when necessary.
Season 2 picks up right where the first one left off, Carmy and all of his friends/family/coworkers are dedicated to changing his late brother’s restaurant into his own, while doing so, he continues to struggle with everything that is around him. He still suffers from panic attacks that only keep increasing as more situations arise, and when Carmy accidentally meets up with a girl from the past, his mental and emotional problems start to affect him even worse.
Nowadays, it is nearly impossible for a show’s second season to reach - or even exceed - its predecessor, but somehow ‘The Bear - Season 2’ accomplishes the challenge, not only by taking the qualities of Season 1 and placing them into this, but by expanding the aspects that make this show as special as it is. While there is no surrealism this time, the director(s) and writers still put in symbolism to convey the themes in certain episodes.
The season starts off with the exact same (comedic) chaos that was present before and it is hilarious to watch it all unfold. The arguments that occur between the characters will have you laughing your ass off. Then, as we get closer to the fourth and fifth episodes, the genre shifts from a comedy-drama to (mainly) a drama. The city montage sequences begin to turn sideways and show less daylight signaling to the viewer, illustrating that the last few episodes won’t exactly provide a “feel-good” ending as before.
Episode 6: “Fishes” is where the show takes a darker turn. With a 1 hour runtime, the entire (Christmas) episode feels like a ticking time bomb that continues to tease the viewer and increase the anxiety. Once that timer hits zero, all hell breaks loose and it is f**king crazy.
Most of the episodes use their potential by focusing on the supporting characters, taking you into their personal lives and revealing what each of them have to wake up and face everyday. This is probably one of the most impactful storytelling decisions ever depicted on screen because of how relatable it is for everyone who watches the show. At times, you feel as if you are looking straight at a mirror and that is where some of the emotional elements can come into play. The character development is phenomenally executed. The season finale is stressful and sad, but also thought provoking. You will be thinking about the finale long after you've viewed it.
‘The Bear - Season 2’ is even better than the first season. Fans of the show will not be disappointed, and for those who still haven't watched yet, it is most highly recommended.
Grade: A
What are your thoughts?
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