Thereβs a monologue Jeremy Allen White delivers in the final episode of βThe Bearβ that will convince you heβs one of the finest actors working today and his series is one of the best new offerings in years.
Talking about his late brother at an Al-Anon meeting, he captures what drives his character, Carmine βThe Bearβ Berzatto.
Returning to operate his familyβs restaurant (The Original Beef of Chicagoland) after the death of his brother, he thought he could succeed where others couldnβt. Once viewed as a chef to watch, he entered the Chicago mainstay with an attitude that was quickly deflated by the those on staff.
In the seven episodes leading up to the epiphany, we get what that chaotic world is like β the in-fighting, the disorder, the payoffs.
Like an β80s drama on NBC, βThe Bearβ makes everything count. The cast β filled with many flavors β makes it immensely relatable. It is, for lack of a better comparison, the one show Steven Bochco might have wished he had created. That multi-layered world manages to be very recognizable and yet very foreign.
Among Carmyβs first acts β putting a young chef wannabe, Syd (Ayo Edebiri), in charge of the team. The much-older team.
She prefers the hierarchy she learned at the Culinary Institute of America and, naturally, that doesnβt fly with those whoβve done it their way for years. Chief stumbling block: Cousin Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who resists learning anything new from someone who doesnβt bear the same battle wounds as he.
Toss in Marcus (Lionel Boyce), a baker with greater ambitions; Tina (Liza Colon-Zayas), a cook with attitude; and Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson), a longtime employee with a past; and the table is set for plenty of drama.
Carmy also has a family to consider and more βwhy werenβt you thereβ questions to fill a book. βI thought you killed yourself,β a friend asks. βNo that was my brother,β he responds.
Meanwhile, The Beef is bubbling with ideas, many that donβt go down well. Carmy insists everyone is addressed as βchef.β Syd is charged with making sure everyone stays at a station. The concept might work at a fine dining restaurant. But a quick-serve sandwich shop?
Creator Christopher Storer captures the rhythm of the kitchen so accurately, βThe Bearβ hums.
When mounting bills threaten to kill the enterprise, Carmy has to become creative β and thatβs where the series really shines. When it goes outside the claustrophobic kitchen, itβs particularly fun. At a birthday party, he has great ideas β and a big problem that could only be caused by Richie.
Moss-Bachrach spins plenty of plates, all with an edge. Heβs good at conveying βjittery,β and when he gets in his own trouble, itβs amazing to see how he pulls himself out.
Often in conflict with Syd, heβs constantly watchable. Edebiri is, too. She represents another generation β one that doesnβt always believe age has its privilege.
Stir them all together and they make you: 1. Want to try their food and 2. See how they crawl out of a losing proposition.
βThe Bearβ is the ultimate in binge-viewing. One taste and youβll devour your way to the finale. Every bite is memorable.
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βThe Bearβ is streaming on Hulu.
