The Bear Season 4: A Familiar Mistake That Needs Fixing!

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*Warning – contains mild spoilers for The Bear season 4*

Acclaimed kitchen comedy-drama The Bear has been on quite the journey since it debuted in 2022.

The initial season sprung up unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard. Its compact eight-episode span was brimming with humor, poignancy, and an exhilarating pace that set it apart from other television shows during that period.

In the following year, Season 2 hit its stride, demonstrating the series at its pinnacle. A program that started off as an unsuspecting dark horse, gained recognition and became a formidable competitor for prestigious awards. Since its premiere, viewers have been increasingly drawn to the first season, resulting in widespread acclaim.

The episodes were jam-packed with appearances from top-tier celebrities, showcasing the industry’s respect for the show, and fan favorites such as “Fishes and Forks” surpassed all previous achievements.

When they revealed the premiere date for season 3, which coincidentally fell a year after season 2, the program was praised as an exceptional, steadfast, and dependable relic of a series, standing out amidst other shows that often waited two to three years between seasons.

Then, season 3 arrived.

While Season 3 may not have been the best for everyone’s taste, it clearly outshone many other TV shows in terms of acting prowess, emotional depth, humor, and overall quality. Despite debates about its genre classification, it delivered exceptional performances, heartrending scenes, and moments that sparked genuine laughter.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it had a unique, somewhat directionless, even subtly (dare I say) affected quality to it.

Much of the season received criticism due to issues with its rhythm, as several viewers felt that it lacked an engaging, fast-moving narrative.

In Season 2, we can say that it was particularly packed with storylines, making it the most plot-driven. The narrative progressed quite clearly from point A to B during that year. The goal was for Carmy and his team to transform their sandwich shop into a high-end restaurant, and they had a specific timeframe to accomplish this. Ultimately, they managed to achieve their objective, as depicted in the finale where they hosted their first gathering of friends and family.

It seemed like Season 3 lacked some of its usual intensity and purpose. However, I felt there were other factors at play that might have hindered the season more significantly than just a lack of energy or direction.

Now, we’ve reached season 4, and truthfully, the narrative follows much in the footsteps of its previous seasons, especially during the first part. In fact, the initial episodes of this season seem heavy and devoid of humor more than ever. This show doesn’t shy away from critiques suggesting it’s a drama disguised as a comedy for award recognition.

In season 4, some scenes were filmed simultaneously with those in season 3. Although we may never fully understand the specific amount or episodes involved, it seems logical that these concurrently shot scenes would constitute the beginning portion of season 4.

This is due to them sharing the same issue, and in reality, they bring clarity to it. It’s a mistake that The Bear isn’t unique in committing, but it offers a striking illustration of it.

That is that the episodes fail to live up to their title – they are not nearly episodic enough.

It’s quite possible that this statement could spark debate. Historically, numerous programs have presented compelling standalone episodes that don’t necessarily progress the main storyline but serve to deepen character development, offer unique visual or thematic experiences, and function independently. Unfortunately, these episodes are often disparagingly referred to as “filler.

Instead of delving into lengthy debates about the overuse and often unnecessary use of the term “filler,” it highlights a fixation that many people seem to share regarding storylines centered around plot development and sequential storytelling.

Some series employ narratives that follow this pattern, and for such shows, this methodology and reasoning hold true. For example, in a detective drama where a single case is explored over an entire season, it would be unusual if the structure altered every episode, and viewers might not feel compelled to delineate each installment too sharply.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that while some might perceive Season 2 of “The Bear” as swaying from the traditional narrative arc, it has always been about exploring deep, multi-layered characters rather than following a predictable plotline. And yes, this character-centric approach is what makes each episode stand out on its own, offering a fresh perspective with every viewing.

Viewers generally prefer watching characters who have a clear purpose or growth rather than aimlessly wandering without significant progression. However, occasional deviations from this norm, such as exploring fresh themes, locations, or unique stories, can keep the audience engaged.

Atlanta serves as an outstanding illustration of its immense effectiveness. Each installment of this FX production might initially seem like mere filler, not contributing significantly to a broader narrative arc in the conventional sense.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that each series I watched kept me guessing and intrigued. Every episode was a unique rollercoaster ride, offering unpredictable twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat.

The problem with “The Bear” isn’t primarily about a lack of individual plots or a grand narrative arc, but rather the episodes tend to blend together and can be hard to tell apart at times.

In season 2, there were numerous episodes where you could quickly provide a concise summary, although this might not fully capture all the events that transpired within the episode itself.

1. In the meeting, the team discussed their new restaurant with Cicero, marking the beginning of it (Beef).

2. Marcus traveled to Copenhagen on his own (Honeydew).

3. Carmy and Claire attended a party together (Pop).

4. A Christmas dinner was held where a car collided into a wall (Fishes).

5. Richie’s training session occurred, complete with an impressive Taylor Swift soundtrack (Forks).

As a devoted fan, let me reminisce on some captivating moments from seasons 3 and 4. In season 3, I recall episodes like Doors, Violet, Children, Legacy, and Apologies that left quite an impression. Moving onto season 4, Soubise, Scallop, and Replicants were standout episodes for me. These moments have truly enriched my viewing experience!

Many of these episodes feature numerous interwoven narratives that build upon past installments, taking place in recognizable settings. However, they seem to lack significant advancement in terms of plot or character development.

In other words, there’s no unique vibe, setting, progression, or plot – it all seems repetitive and similar to the monotonous pattern that The Bear has been following for the past two years.

It’s even clearer when the series is presented as a binge-watching option, where all episodes are made available simultaneously.

Organizing episodes in such a manner could potentially maintain audience engagement by leaving several endings on a suspenseful note, seamlessly transitioning to the next without a clear break, almost as if they’re part of the same continuous story. However, this approach also risks making each episode seem less unique and the overall season feel repetitive or monotonous.

It’s encouraging to see that The Bear season 4 has managed to buck the usual trend, suggesting that other shows may also be able to do the same.

In the second part of Season 4, several characters truly shone, among them, Bears was particularly noteworthy. Additionally, Tonnato offered a remarkable moment between Carmy and Donna that really stood out, as well as the final episode, titled “Goodbye.

It might have been more effective if the showrunners, Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo, had decided earlier on whether this was to be the final season or not, allowing them to fully commit to that choice in the finale.

A possible rephrased version: “Goodbye would have made an excellent ending if it had been more clearly established as the final episode, with some stronger hints suggesting finality.

On the other hand, it featured a clear arrangement of its three main characters engaging in conflict, as well as a unique setting that distinguished it from numerous others.

Should The Bear come back again, we can only hope that it will regain its previous strength, having taken valuable lessons from the challenging fourth season it experienced.

To maintain its success from season 1, it would simply require injecting more humor into the storyline. While it might not strictly fall under the category of a comedy series, some argue that this could be a valid classification.

But that’s a debate for another day.

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2025-06-30 15:06