If you’re looking to feel anxious, claustrophobic, horny, and wholesome, then The Bear is the show for you. In Hulu’s newest hit, a chef from the world of fine dining returns home to run his family’s messy Italian beef sandwich shop, in the wake of his brother’s unexpected death. Throughout the series, as the dysfunctional kitchen starts to find a groove and the chefs begin to lean on each other, there are tear jerking, intimate moments among a chosen family.
The chemistry among the ensemble cast feels so natural and each character is distinct. Jeremy Allen White is fantastic in The Bear. He plays Carmy, the anxious and talented returning chef, and there’s a convincing confidence in his movements around the kitchen, as well as a crippling anxiety as he struggles to understand his brother’s fate. Ayo Edebiri and Liza Colón-Zayas are also major standouts as Sydney and Tina. They play with tensions and small moments so creatively, and they’re missed when they’re not on screen. The editing is also exciting, sometimes jarring, sometimes slow and careful, and the kitchen really feels alive (as if you’re also working on the line). Now renewed for a season two, The Bear will be under pressure to serve up something quality.
Not a great watch if you’re looking to escape the stress of hospo. Otherwise, it’s excellent.
