I know I’m in the minority when I say I prefer The Bear when it’s quieter. Season 3 was my favorite for this very reason, and despite the flaws in Season 4, it mostly worked because of its tonal shift. That’s largely why The Bear Season 5 is a winner in my book—an unexpected, quietly compelling final shift. It’s a dark, rainy day, but we’re spending it indoors with one too many mishaps than necessary, but it wouldn’t be a Christopher Storer show if things ran smoothly. We need the chaos, only now, it’s fainter.
In its means to adopt the single-day approach for its final season, it raises the stakes established in “Goodbye,” and it carefully builds on the tension that’s tethered to its endgame. I’m grateful we get to go into this season knowing it’s the conclusion because there’s something uniquely satisfying about the fact that the show isn’t cramming too much. Sometimes, you don’t get weeks or months. Sometimes, all you have is a day to iron things out, and for The Bear, that approach works.
The Bear Season 5 Delivers the Kind of Finale That Feels Surprisingly Right
Would I have liked more? Yes, but despite the fact that Ayo Edebiri’s Sydney is indeed the heart of the show, it isn’t The Bear without Jeremy Allen White’s Carmy. Carmy’s decision to leave the restaurant would’ve always been a final decision, and the tension we get in the first seven episodes pushes this anxiety to new heights. (Or so we think.) It sets the scene. Slowly and carefully. Still, they can’t possibly keep going when the rain is pounding inside, and the roof is falling, and the stoves are malfunctioning, can they? I suppose they can.
In a manner that doesn’t feel too far-fetched, the grounding hard work brought on by all the chefs ensures that the show’s message screams louder than any blow: every second counts. That reminder not only looms over the characters like a panopticon, but also for those of us watching from home. It’s not just the show’s overarching theme, but it’s a narrative time-bomb for how to deliver a compelling series finale that honors the show you’ve established from day one.
And a compelling series finale it delivers, even if we leave these characters through a hushed whisper. The standout moment is the one Carmy and Sydney share regarding the Michelin star result, and it’s one that perfectly encapsulates the journey the characters have been on together. We could’ve certainly used far more, but for now at least, I’m fine sitting with the impact the performances leave us with.
The Bear Season 5 is far from perfect, but part of that imperfection is what makes the show as special as it is. It was never supposed to be this revolutionary series about a kitchen, but rather a careful character study about a found family and the healing that’s imperative when people are grieving. It’s been heavy at times, dreary, hilarious, and overall, a captivating story about messed up people trying their best despite the cards stacked against them.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on The Bear Season 5? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©FX