The Bear Season 2 Review: A Blistering and Beautiful Second Course

The Bear‘s second season uncovers the beating hearts of our core characters without losing its penchant for high-anxiety restaurant carnage. It’s a blistering and beautiful second course, filled to the brim with raw, compelling performances and tightly-written episodes.  

Whereas Season 1 zeroed in on the restaurant as a character, and we seldom saw the leads outside it, Season 2 methodically cultivates and dissects our players in The Bear universe. In addition to Carmy, Sydney, and Richie, we spend more time with Marcus, Tina, Natalie, and Fak. The writers make it challenging not to fall head over heels for this cast. 

There’s a surprising sense of optimism swirling below the surface this season. The writers inject multiple facets into the narrative. Episodes like the outstanding “Fishes” and “The Bear” maintain the tense, white-knuckled stress that we’ve felt in Season 1 outings such as “Review.” Nobody understands the language and culture of restaurants quite like this series. 

Season 2 effectively captures the blustering bravado of male toxicity in the restaurant space, and the incessant temper flares that transpire during those blasted dinner rushes. Carmy is a prime example of the white male chef rockstar, and the show unflinchingly puts his flaws on display for all to see. 

Jeremy Allen White is a force of nature. He takes that “hotshot chef” stereotype and humanizes it. He makes Carmy relatable and down-to-earth. White depicts Carmy’s deep-seated trauma at the molecular level. His mannerisms are so specific in that regard. Then, when you meet Donna Berzatto, Carmy’s mother, it provides so much context regarding Carmy’s behavior. 

Carmy’s monologue in that Al-Anon meeting is altogether heartbreaking and profoundly resonant. We’re always waiting for that other shoe to drop. Carmy operates from a place of hyper-vigilance due to the emotional and mental abuse he suffered from his mom. There’s a perpetual sadness in his eyes that White portrays well. 

Even with Claire in his life and the restaurant heading in the right direction, Carmy still can’t allow himself a sliver of happiness. It all masterfully comes to a head in the season finale when Carmy spends time locked in the walk-in freezer. Carmy ruminates on whether he belongs in the restaurant industry and how he sabotaged his relationship with Claire. Nobody self-sabotages quite like victims of trauma and abuse. 

Ebon Moss-Bachrach kicks the hilarity up a notch this season as Richie while digging deep into what makes him tick. Richie indisputably boasts the best character arc on The Bear, and the writers catapult him to the next level in Season 2. “Forks” is a beautiful showcase of Richie’s journey, tugging at the heartstrings as we see what happens when someone believes in him. Plus, that Taylor Swift sing-along in the car? Perfection. 

Richie has spent much of his life purposeless, with those around him not giving him the time of day because they didn’t support him. However, once the restaurant crew in “Forks” encourage Richie to reach for his potential and compliments him when he succeeds, he does a 180. It’s such a profoundly human, touching moment for a character whose self-esteem was always below sea level. 

We get more insight into Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney, with Edebiri giving a tremendously nuanced, understated performance. Edebiri never goes over the top with her work. Like Carmy, there’s an undercurrent of sadness in Sydney, which Edebiri conveys perfectly. Despite the countless setbacks with getting The Bear off the ground, Sydney maintains that optimism that lives on the outskirts of this season. She’s the heart of this series, the young hopeful who endeavors to make a difference in her community. 

Her scenes with White’s Carmy are emotionally-charged and layered. They harbor excellent chemistry. Admittedly, they have better chemistry than White with Molly Gordon; however, that last point could be due to the writing for Claire. Season 2 fleshes out Sydney’s relationship with Carmy, deepening and dissecting it at its core. In reality, Sydney and Carmy are more alike than they realize, and the journey to getting to that realization for us is a fun one. 

Lionel Boyce imbues Marcus with a wholehearted sweetness that’s a rarity nowadays. He’s a genuine ray of sunshine. Marcus’ storyline tugs at the heartstrings and adds significantly to the show’s emotional center. Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina is another fun performer to watch. You can’t help but smile when Tina triumphs this season, especially when she’s onscreen with Sydney. Their relationship evolves beautifully throughout both seasons. 

Abby Elliott gets more deserved screen time this season and proves she’s up to the challenge. Natalie has some delightful comedic scenes with Richie and Matty Matheson’s Fak as she’s pulled into the chaotic core of the restaurant business. Elliott’s versatility is on display here as she runs the gamut of comedy and tear-jerking drama. 

However, perhaps the most potent performances occur in Season 2, Episode 6, “Fishes.” Jamie Lee Curtis gives a powerhouse performance as the troubled Donna Berzatto. Jon Bernthal injects piss and vinegar into Michael, and Bob Odenkirk delivers a memorable turn as the sh*t-stirrer Lee. Curtis’ performance, in particular, is a tour de force. 

“Fishes” boasts an array of high-caliber (and well-known) guest stars who bring their A-game in a high-octane, fast-paced outing. Curtis perfectly captures a woman living with a (presumably) undiagnosed mental illness. This reviewer has a mother who’s very similar to Donna, so Curtis’ portrayal hits close to home. Everyone around Donna walks on eggshells, fearing they’ll say something to set her off. 

“Fishes” is all vim and vigor — the anxiety of a busy restaurant smack-dab in the middle of a Christmas family dinner. As a viewer, you’re on the edge of your seat for its entire one-hour runtime. It maintains incredible momentum without taking its foot off the gas. The sensory overload of everyone incessantly talking over each other is all too real and necessary to convey the unfettered chaos that is the Berzatto family. 

Without hyperbole, “Fishes” will go down in history as one of the best TV episodes of all time. It provides insight into Carmy, Richie, and Natalie, mainly. The writers don’t shy away from the ugliness pervasive in families with unprocessed trauma and mental illness.

Then, later in the show, we see Donna tell Pete (played by Chris Witaske, who gives a heartbreaking performance) that she doesn’t want to visit Carmy and Natalie because she’s afraid she’ll ruin their triumphant moment. She wants them to have this. It’s gut-wrenching work from Jamie Lee Curtis. 

The Bear Season 2 also brilliantly showcases the internal struggle one faces when pursuing their dreams. Achieving success — getting what you want — isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. There are days when you hate the thing you’re chasing. Then, other days come along when you can’t live without it. Carmy is the perfect embodiment of these conflicting emotions. 

Carmy goes through phases when it’s painful for him to pursue his dreams. He also questions whether he can keep his head above water in the restaurant industry. You’re not genuinely achieving what you love unless you wonder if you’re worthy of it. It’s beautiful and messy. 

Season 2 of The Bear is a balls-to-the-wall, visceral viewing experience that’s as brutal as it is deeply human and heartfelt. It’s a character-driven piece that allows its players to flourish in and out of the restaurant sphere. The writers and actors craft an immersive story that gets it right regarding mental health and its place in the food industry. Here’s hoping we get a third season (there are plenty of loose narrative threads to tie for a potential Season 3). 

The Bear is a thrilling example of what TV can and should be. 

Stray Observations: 

• It’s hilarious that Matty Matheson is a real-life chef and restaurateur, yet he doesn’t cook at all in this show. We need a hilarious training sequence next season (if there is a Season 3) with Fak learning back-of-house stuff. 
• Christopher Storer and co. need to whip up some kind of family tree so we can see how the Berzattos, particularly the ones who attended the Seven Fishes, are related to each other. Side note: “Fishes” has to be one of the most celebrity-stacked TV episodes ever. 
• As someone who worked in a kitchen for six years, The Bear is the most accurate depiction of the restaurant experience I’ve ever seen. Tina reminds me of a woman I used to work with who called everybody “mama” like she does. Any time there’s an accident, it’s usually the result of someone failing to say “corner” or “behind.” The only thing that irks me a bit is that if you’re carrying something hot or a knife, you typically say, “behind knife” or “corner hot.” 
• Carmy has way more chemistry with Sydney than with Claire. Even the writers know this. Admittedly, Claire is the weakest part of this season. She’s too “manic pixie dream girl.” 
• I love any scenes with Richie and Fak. I imagine there are bloopers from that moment when they’re in each other’s faces. Also, I love when Fak calls for “Mom,” aka Natalie, and he and Richie instantly revert into children. 
• Marcus is a sweet, sweet soul. We must protect him at all costs. 
• This show boasts great needle drops. Every time “New Noise” by Refused starts playing, you know things are about to intensify. 
• I respect Sarah Paulson for smoking weed with Matty Matheson and giggling with John Mulaney for one episode before bouncing. 
• Nobody channels rage quite like Jeremy Allen White. Nobody. 
• I was hoping the Ebra plotline would go deeper into his story and why he skipped out on culinary school. It just sort of … ended. 

What did you think of this season of The Bear? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Bear Season 2 is now streaming on Hulu. 

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