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TV REVIEW
'The Bear' Is An Anxiety Inducing Dark Comedy That Hits All The Right Notes
By Sal LoCicero | August 6, 2022
‘The Bear’ is a new original series from FX and Hulu, and stars Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) as Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto, a chief from Chicago who is trying to deal with the loss of his brother, who died of a drug overdose, after his brother leaves Carmy with his Italian restaurant, it’s all up to Carmy on how he will be able keep the restaurant and its highly dysfunctional chefs from collapsing. This is a show that has a lot going for it, and it manages to hit every spot near perfection. A dramedy/dark comedy that pulls you into the madness right from the first scene when the main character wakes up.
Take ‘Uncut Gems’ and ‘Kitchen Nightmare’ mix the two together, and you get ‘The Bear’. Most of the characters either from behind the restaurant or apart from it struggle with their own personal issues, and what worsens it for them is their behavior to every situation they come across. Carmy’s goal is to continue what his brother started, but with all the chaos around him, including his behavior and the choices he makes, it only worsens his days even more. Richard ‘Richie’ Jerimovich, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is an intolerant loud mouth, who deals with his own problems by using aggression. He takes everything and anything out on his co-chefs, making the kitchen an unhealthy working environment for the chefs, as well as himself.
The directing, the writing and the editing are all spot on. It takes the viewer through this nightmare that is both surreal and accurate. For some, Carmy might be the most relatable character when it comes down to his position at the job. He is frustrated, infuriated, upset, confused, and desperate, yet he never gives up.
As mentioned before, this is also a comedy, a dark one. But, it is really funny. The restaurant’s chaotic atmosphere is what increases the humor, especially the relationship between Carmy and his cousin Richie. Sometimes when bickering, they start to lose control of themselves to the point where they also lose a part of their sanity, and that is where dark humor comes into play.
The performances are great, especially from Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ayo Edebiri. Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, is a young woman, who lives with her father in an apartment, and her presence gives Carmy some hope for things to get better, even though he’s uninterested in listening to Sydney’s plans at first. Tina, played by Liza Colón-Zayas, is a chef who’s worked in the kitchen for years, and experienced working for Carmy’s brother. There is a part of her that is broken, and later on, we get a better understanding of what is hurting her. Even the other chefs, who don’t receive much character development, still have a role that leaves you interested.
Since it’s already been confirmed that ‘The Bear’ will return for season two, hopefully the creators will continue with their hard work. The season finale teases more to come, although its final scene gives the impression that the story is officially over - which is not the case. ‘The Bear’ is an anxiety inducing, darkly comedic character study with an intriguing story that most should enjoy watching.
Grade: A
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