‘The Bear’ Season 4 REVIEW: A slow-cooked return to form
‘The Bear’ Season 4 REVIEW: A slow-cooked return to form
The highly anticipated fourth season of The Bear had high expectations placed on it. After the previous season was underwhelming to some, feeling more like an acquired taste than a surefire brilliant season, the fourth season may not be a true return to form, but its overall structure has a sense of direction if given patience.
The first two seasons of The Bear proved to be nothing short of stellar and easily worthy of a Michelin Star, but that doesn’t mean the series is anywhere close to being in the gutter, there’s still a full plate of character arcs and developments that are well worth our time to devour.
Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) in The Bear | Still courtesy of Disney / FX on Hulu
The first few episodes of season four start a bit slow, but it slowly finds its footing as soon as it takes its time to highlight its characters. “Groundhogs,” the first episode, features the film Groundhog Day playing in the background while Carmy sleeps. It's a subtle visual reminder of how Carmy has been reliving the same day over and over again, a reflection of how grief can feel: repetitive and paralyzing.
Moving forward becomes difficult when we're stuck in the same dark place. Carmy has endured a lot, and Jeremy Allen White’s performance powerfully captures that emotional weight. By no means downplaying the character’s situation, it can still feel overdone and repetitive without enough growth before his characterization becomes stagnant.
Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and TJ (Arion King) in The Bear | Still courtesy of Disney / FX on Hulu
But this season stands on its ground and differentiates itself from the previous outings, notably with how it revels in the calm, contemplating moments that lean in on humanity with these characters. While the chaotic energy of the first two seasons became part of the show's charm, its overuse at times turned into noise. Luckily, using less dialogue and avoiding the overuse of shouting and bantering overall makes this season worth watching, to say the least.
The Bear isn’t short on character moments that gradually peel back the layers of who these people are. In particular, the episode centered on Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) stands out through its small moments and interactions, whether with new minor characters or familiar faces, that quietly deepen our understanding of her character and development moving forward.
Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) in The Bear | Still courtesy of Disney / FX on Hulu
With healing as a constant theme found in the series and how each major character deals with grief and their mental health in their own ways, it still capitalizes on it for sure, with a little bit of care.
“Bears,” the season’s only hour-long episode, is a highlight. It features the Berzattos and the rest of the crew arriving at Tiff’s wedding. The special appearance by Brie Larson as Francie Fak, who was only named previously, makes for entertaining interaction with Natalie, or “Sugar.” Additionally, the entire episode revolves around various characters just talking, sharing their piece on things, and overall, one big social affair that leans in on human connection. Although it's not surprising that the series takes this direction, with the whole season seemingly trying to correct the “wrongs” of the previous one in terms of narrative focus, it proves that it refuse to slow down in delivering an amazing piece of television.
Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) and Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) in The Bear | Still courtesy of Disney / FX on Hulu
No matter how many more cigarettes Carmy smokes despite saying he’d quit, or how often Sydney tries to convince herself she smokes, my overall experience with this season still felt personal and comforting, if you catch my drift.
I may not share the same depth of grief the Berzattos felt over Mikey, but this season finally captures that feeling of finding the courage to step outside, to breathe, just breathe, and to notice the good in the little things. It’s far from perfect, with the series’ charm still grounded in its sharp banter, but it reminds me that striving for perfection isn’t always ideal.
The Bear staff in The Bear | Still courtesy of Disney / FX on Hulu
Beyond the exquisite cooking and dynamic character moments, The Bear draws its strength from portraying deeply flawed human beings, characters who reflect who they are and who they might become, despite their shortcomings. In the end, it’s choosing what kind of legacy we leave behind, whether through our creative endeavors or the impact we have on the people we love and those around us.
All episodes of The Bear’s fourth season are streaming exclusively on Disney+.
