philburger

Up to this point The Bear has, in my opinion, been a show of peaks and valleys. When watching the first season back in 2022 I really just didn't get it. Until, that is, I got to The Review, a 20 minute episode that is almost entirely one shot. I watched it back twice right after the first time.

Again, with the episode right after, the Season 1 finale, I loved it. While the second season was better in almost every way, it also peaked with two incredible episodes (Fishes and Forks) that were on par with the best TV I've ever seen. However, through all this, the Bear has produced many mediocre - good episodes, nothing to write home about. I think this becomes most prevalent in Season 3 for one reason, the peaks aren't as high. While I loved the first few episodes and the finale, lots of season 3 felt like too much Claire Bear and not enough The Bear. I didn't hate it as much as other but was scared the fourth season might end up the same way.

I am happy to report that this fear was not realized at all through 3 episodes The first was good, but felt incomplete. Ok, fine, it'll get better like every season. Then the second episode blew me away, amazing, as good as the best of season 3. The third though, the inspiration for this rambling, did even more. It feels so complete, like Chris Storer managed to compile all the best parts of his other best episodes. The tense conversations from The Review, a Carmy monologue like S1 finale, yet still gives gratifying moments like those in Forks. Seriously Awesome, looking forward to the rest of the season with cautious optimism.