Fishes

I'm a therapist, and watching this episode I couldn't help but think that Dr. Claudia Black who literally wrote the book on alcoholic families would have an absolute FIELD DAY with this episode. Anyone who's ever been a part of a co-dependent family or family with an alcoholic/addict will identify hardcore with the Berzattos after this. It gives some deep insight into how the family came to be this dysfunctional and chaotic. You now see how everyone falls into their rolls which Claudia Black researched and outlined in her books.

And all the guest actors each hit home runs with their performances at the flash back to a Berzatto family Christmas. And we thought we were just getting a Jon Bernthal cameo.

This is a gut wrenching episode. The amount of emotions captured for a dysfunctional family is the most realistic take on Christmas I've seen yet. Christmas time last year I felt like I didn't matter to my family just like Carmy's mom did. I felt like I didn't belong as my Uncle pressed the issue, hence Mikey's emotions. I've been told I'm nothing by a family member as well. The reviews saying this is unrealistic is absolute dog puke. This is the closest thing to realistic and will give me something that isn't boring to watch when the holidays roll around, because all of that garbage is happy go lucky while every lonely individual during that time feels pinned in a corner with nobody on their sides. This episode also adds loads of character development to the main characters of The Show, Fak and Sugar included. This show continues to bring raw emotions to the table and its ironic because where the table is at (like working in restaurants too) is where these things live. I feel bad for Carmy.

Clearly, mental illness runs in the family and wow, this episode did a genius job of unpacking that. Mom most likely has Bipolar Disorder and it seems that Mikey inherited it. Both are obviously self-medicating. Carmy and Nat are dealing with their own symptoms simply from being raised around extremely mentally ill relatives. The genius of this episode is the dynamics of all of it, between everyone. What especially interests me is why Nat can't stop herself from asking her mom if she's ok and triggering her mom, even though she knows better. It kind of makes me wonder if part of her is doing that on purpose? Like it's her own passive aggressive way of asserting some control in an environment that constantly makes her feel powerless. And then she plays innocent? Interesting psychology there. I do think she has a good heart. She's just perhaps not as harmless and innocent as she tries to appear. Or maybe she is. Who knows. This family is as complicated as the dishes they prepare.

Clearly, cooking is a real art in this family, to the point of madness. There's a fine line between genius and insanity, as they say. They are the bears. And also mad chefs.

And then there are the tender moments sprinkled throughout. The moments of sanity that provide a breath of fresh air. The quiet, beautiful, loving conversations in the corners. It's a family of contradictions... rational one second and irrational the next. They can be so loving and genuine, but also so angry and hateful. They are ruled by emotion. They're passionate. These people are not monsters, they're just human. And Italian.

I really like how this season truly delves into each character. This is a good episode and easy to follow, but GEESH was I drained afterward.

It was definitely written by someone who has experienced similar, as you can't just pull this work from nothing. It was gritty and raw with elements of uncomfortable humor. I had to walk away afterwards and process the whole thing as my family is nothing close to that. It made me feel for the families that can totally relate, and I appreciate being allowed to experience a bit of what some actually go through, even as uncomfortable as it made me at times. I had to catch the next episode on another day as I knew I wasn't ready to take it in.

Words really won't do justice how good this episode is, particularly its last 20 or so minutes.

It's strange; I adore 'The Bear' but, based off of Season 1, it has the capacity to produce an episode that is so far beyond its average quality that it's borderline miraculous. The Bear is a brilliant show. But this episode? An absolute hall-of-famer.

The penultimate episode of last season, the 20-minute one-shotter? One of the finest episodes of television ever. That isn't to say that 'The Bear' isn't great outside of these anomalous episodes. But every once in a while, the show decides to suddenly fire on all cylinders and deliver some of the most intensely dramatic sequences ever committed to screen. And when it does this, it's hard to think of many shows that have ever done it better.

I sometimes refer to 'The Bear' as a drama-comedy that is infused with a somewhat uniquely claustrophobic tension. 'Fishes' catapults that description into the stratosphere and pulls off an episode that will almost certainly make you shiver with dread. You cannot watch this without feeling uncomfortable.

The ensemble is great. I always refer to Carmine as the heart of the show but this episode proves that it can transcend him. 'The Bear' isn't carried by a protagonist, if it ever was. It is carried by incredible writing and wondrous filmmaking. I adored this. I really hope we find our way back to another episode with the Berzattos if there is to be a Season 3.

Side Note: It would be unfair to call this episode all-out tension without at least mentioning the hilarity of the Faks and the tug-at-your-heartstrings look into Richie's ex-marriage. And a big shoutout to Bob Odenkirk. Love that guy. This show really can do it all.