Beef

Out of all the episodes this season, (or the series as a whole) oddly one particular moment between Richie and Carmy just stuck with me.

"Purpose, chef"

Two words, Two very powerful words that I took away from the episode and I have been repeating it to myself ever since.

Even though it's not my favourite episode of the season (That'll be episode 6) this is the most memorable thing I took from it (As someone who struggles to find their own purpose in life)

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. I'm not a chef but I just might tattoo that quote on me to help me through my mental health battles.

Talk about an opener. This episode does not ease you in whatsoever. It brings back that chaotic and stress inducing feel almost immediately.

First episodes are usually a great way to showcase what you would be presenting for the rest of the season and this episode perfectly represents that.

Restaurant is getting a massive facelift and the crew have no time to waste as they are on a short deadline to rebuild this decaying establishment.

Now that's the plot but in terms of its story theres a lot that will be explored here. What's great is that you have a whole list of characters that actually mean a lot to this story and to know that they will be fleshed out even further all while expanding the plot from the first season is something to be praised about.

This episode got to the point of the season without any filler, and now has me excited for the rest of the season!

I think Sydney said it the best! This is gonna be a rough ride and I am on board! Them preparing to open their new restaurant quickly turns into a very complex proces with a crazy deadline!

The character arcs is also set up very well, with Richie being the one that really stands out here! That scene at beginning of the episode, where he talks about purpose, was surprisingly emotional! In season one he struggled to find his identity in all this, and he knows that now!

I think we have qll been like Richie! Looking at how everyone else had found their drive and what they were good at, while you yourself felt like there wasn't anything that made you special or stick out!

Really great opening episode. The Bear hit its strongest run of form in the final few episodes of S1 (as most debut seasons do) and it was natural to expect a stronger start to S2.

This premiere delivered. It has some staple moments that I missed during the show's hiatus, mostly the interplay between Carm, Richie and any characters those two interact with. Laugh-out-loud.

It also carries the classic 'The Bear' feeling which we all came to know so well. Tense, claustrophobic, nerve-wracking. Whilst S1 ended on a positive note for our characters, there's still a tremendous uphill battle in regards to the future of their restaurant.

Finally, it hits the emotional beats too. There was a scene between Tina and Sydney which was executed really well. For a 30-minute show, 'The Bear' succeeds really well in making us feel for its characters, and I expect (based on the opening sequence with Marcus) that we'll get similar doses of darker, emotional content, much like the ones that S1 hit us with.

Maybe I'm being over-the-top with my rating of a 9, perhaps because I've missed 'The Bear' a lot, but I think this was a very strong premiere that, in comparison to other 30-minute shows, hit all its beats quickly and concisely. Looking forward to the rest of this season!

What the bloody hell was that? After Season 1's finale left me genuinely excited for what came next, Beef feels like watching a completely different show - and not in a good way.

Remember how Season 1 found its voice by the end, despite those wobbly middle episodes? Well, it seems the writers have promptly forgotten everything that worked. The episode meanders without purpose, the characters feel like hollow versions of themselves, and that authentic workplace chaos has been replaced by... well, I'm honestly not sure what.

Jeremy Allen White still commits fully, but he's working with material that gives him nothing to grab onto. The supporting cast - Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, the lot - seem equally adrift. Where's the sharp dialogue? The genuine tension? The emotional truth that made the Season 1 finale so powerful?

It's early days, but this feels like a classic case of a show that peaked in its first season and has no idea how to follow it up. The Bear earned my trust over eight episodes, and now it's squandered it in one.

Desperately hoping this is just a false start.