The Bear Season 4 - Review (Part 1)

A dish that is best served vulnerable.

Despite the mixed reviews I’ve heard regarding the latest season of The Bear, I loved it more than any of the previous parts of the story. I must say, I think there is more subjectivity in my feelings toward season 4. Still, it’s a beautiful reminder that art can be very, very personal if at any point in time it resonates with your experience.

Like many The Bear fans, I always favored season 2. And if we’re getting into the technicalities of things, it is indeed the strongest of the four. It was tight, messy, loud in all the best ways, and funny, which is a huge bonus since, for some reason, this very dramatic series tends to hang out in the comedy genre at award shows. Season 1 is still great because it introduced us to the unique charm of The Bear, while season 3 was a disappointment for most, myself included.

What makes season 4 of The Bear so great?

I won't deny that the events of season 3 caused PTSD not only for the characters of The Bear but also for the audience. Like any traumatic experience, it can be difficult to rebuild trust afterward. But it’s also a tough situation for the person who caused all the pain in the first place.

Season 4 is all about repairing, rebuilding, forgiving, returning to basic principles, and regaining trust. Much of this work centers on our main character, Carmy Berzatto—THE BEAR, himself.

At the beginning of season 4, the ground felt shaky for everyone involved. Nothing in my life seems stable or grounded, which is why I resonated with Carmy’s journey throughout the 10 episodes of season 4. Our main character realizes he has pushed things to their boiling point, trying to fulfill an idea of who he’s supposed to be. In the new season, Carmy is trying to find a way to break free from toxic patterns, most of which he created himself. To reach his radical decision in the finale, Carmy collects the puzzle pieces that help him understand the origins of his pain and self-inflicted suffering.

To reach his radical decision in the finale, Carmy collects the puzzle pieces that help him understand the origins of his pain and self-inflicted suffering.

For the first time in a long while, Carmy reevaluates himself. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? Was he caught up in something too big and overwhelming? Does he still have a spark? What does he actually want to achieve with his restaurant? We see a significant departure from the Carmy we’ve known in seasons 1-3. He is more patient, considerate, attentive, agreeable, and apologetic. He truly tries everything he can to make amends.

With her new role as a mother, Sugar, Carmy’s sister, begins to see how precious life is. She makes a bold and freeing statement to him at the beginning of the season: “It’s okay if you don’t love it anymore.” “It” is Carmy’s whole identity: being a chef. In the past, we could expect some big argument over even uttering such nonsense, but not in season 4. Carmy is visibly grateful that someone truly sees what’s happening inside him. It’s hard to admit resentment for something you once loved more than life. Sugar knows Carmy’s obsession will eventually kill him if he doesn’t let go.

The very beginning of the season sets up the narrative beautifully and subtly. In a flashback, after hearing the news of Mikey’s car rental business shutting down, Carmy asks his older brother if he even cared for it. He then pitches the idea of the restaurant. Initially, it is presented as Carmy’s dream and vision. However, after watching the whole season, I believe that opening the restaurant may not have been Carmy’s dream at all; instead, it was all for Mikey. He came up with the idea knowing it would resonate with his brother, who was struggling. He wanted to give Mikey a sense of purpose in any way possible.

Sugar knows Carmy’s obsession will eventually kill him if he doesn’t let go.

It turns out that Ritchie had the same intentions when deciding to stay at “The Beef”. In an emotional finale filmed in one shot, Ritchie confesses that he wanted to keep Mikey busy and happy, regardless of the cost. No matter how much Carmy and Ritchie loved their big brother and best friend, no matter how much of their own life they were willing to sacrifice, they couldn’t save him. Maybe no one and nothing could.

I don’t believe that Carmy’s decision to step away from “The Bear” and the restaurants should be overanalyzed. I’m not particularly concerned about questions regarding the next season; instead, I am genuinely happy for the character who is beginning his journey of healing, rebuilding, and rediscovering himself. I know I might be in the minority with this perspective.

After finishing season 4 of The Bear, I realized that even though the characters' story arcs aren’t technically finished, they are going to be okay. Ebraheim will establish his big little franchise, Ritchie will continue to improve his skills and may allow himself to love again after his ex-wife’s wedding, Tina will perfect her pasta-prepping time again, and Sydney will keep striving for greatness, making choices that feel right to her. While everyone may not be at their final destination yet, they all have the tools and enough support from all of the many, many Bears to keep moving forward.

Oh, and this season's soundtrack is just masterful and brutal at the same time. How can you NOT feel something?