With season three lowering the heat and bringing everything to a gentle simmer, many wondered if The Bear had lost its spark. While it remained one of the best shows on television, it felt like more of an appetizer season, setting the table for a hopefully delectable main course. With season four, we finally have that main course, and I’m happy to say it was well worth the wait.
While it doesn’t reach the Michelin quality of season two, this is a welcome return of what made the show such a hit. These ten episodes deliver a beautiful balance of thoughtful character development, gorgeously shot culinary sequences, playful lightheartedness and tender moments that’ll make your eyes well up like someone’s chopping onions. It still occasionally gets caught up in the overly-wordy, self indulgent dialogue that soured season three, but those moments are sparse alongside a whole lot of greatness.
This show has always thrived on its flawed but endearing cast of characters, and this season really does them all justice. There are several beautiful moments of catharsis here that the series has been building toward since its first episode back in 2022. Obviously the primary focus remains on Carmy, Syd and Richie, but the supporting characters get their due screen time too. There are a handful of returning guest-star favourites in bigger roles this time around, and while it isn’t totally believable why some of them are involved, they’re more than welcome additions to an already stellar ensemble. Oh, and the cameos this season - they won’t disappoint.
If I were a betting man, I’d put money on this cast locking down several Emmy nominations for their incredible work this season. To nobody’s surprise, Jeremy Allen White continues to nail Carmy’s emotional turmoil, as he struggles with his past and tries to make sense of his future. Ayo Edebiri has always delivered strong work in this series, but she’s outdone herself here, especially in the self-contained season finale. It’s impossible not to adore Richie, with how exceptionally Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays him. Honestly, every performance this season - be it the main cast, supporting players or guest starts - is on point.
Sometimes, ingredients need to simmer in order to deliver a truly special final dish. The Bear spent its previous season doing exactly that, which resulted in this delectable fourth course. With one of the best ensembles on television, a passionate level of respect for the culinary arts, and outstanding character work, Season Four is an umami bomb you don’t want to pass up.