In the June issue of Episode Magazine, Orçun Onat Demiröz takes a look at The Bear, our cover feature, now streaming with its new season on Disney+.
The Bear, whose first season aired in 2022, bids farewell to screens with its 5th season. Created by Christopher Storer, the series stands as one of the definitive dramas that left its mark on recent years, alongside Succession, The White Lotus, or The Pitt. Frankly, The Bear, which takes an authentic dive into the dark and traumatic depths of the culinary world, did not just become a TV hit; it went beyond that to become one of the best works of the 2020s. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that The Bear glorifies the cultural heritage of Chicago, which is recognized among North America’s richest gastronomic cities.
Moreover, The Bear frequently made a name for itself during award seasons, elevating and showcasing every actor in its cast. Winning a total of 21 “Primetime Emmy” awards during its run, the series also managed to add 5 “Golden Globes” to its tally.
The production, which particularly brought the trio of Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Ayo Edebiri to the forefront, also shone with the black comedy motifs running through its veins. In fact, Jeremy Allen White began appearing in character-driven films following this series. First, he portrayed Kerry Von Erich, a member of the famous American wrestling family, in the movie The Iron Claw. Later, he embodied “The Boss” in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, which chronicles New Jersey rock icon Bruce Springsteen’s depression-filled Nebraska period.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach also transferred to the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) after his performance in The Bear and appeared as “The Thing” in the film Fantastic Four: First Steps. He is also set to appear in the movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are expected to revive the MCU.
Therefore, The Bear series stood out not only for the nuances in its writing but also for its directing, which opens up space for the actors and exposes the chaotic hierarchy in the kitchen. Of course, one reason this series attracted so much attention was the recent rise of gastronomy culture. The concept of gastronomy, transformed into a lifestyle, has gained different meanings through sustainability, tourism routes, “foodie-ism,” chef culture, and heritage cuisines. Under the influence of social media and viral content, it has reached an experience-oriented state adorned with travel.
One of the main reasons why gastronomy culture became route- and experience-oriented was Anthony Bourdain, the taboo-shattering global phenomenon we lost in 2018. In fact, at the heart of The Bear series lies Anthony Bourdain’s traumatic punk chef attitude. Therefore, before moving on to the final season of The Bear, it is worth remembering Anthony Bourdain.
INTIMATE ADVENTURES FROM THE CULINARY WORLD AND A REBEL PERSONA
First of all, Anthony Bourdain was a character who suffered from major depression throughout his life and tried to make peace with it. He even added travel documentary filmmaking alongside his chef duties and writing to overcome his major depression.
Anthony Bourdain, who entered the bestseller list and became a global brand with his book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, where he told the true face of the culinary world, achieved his main fame thanks to his food culture programs and storytelling as he traveled the world. When he committed suicide in France in 2018, he left behind a very important legacy that revolutionized the gastronomy world and shattered taboos.
Anthony Bourdain was the child of a family of French origin, and his choice to die in France was a manifestation of the “ouroboros” story that defined him. His father was an executive at Columbia Records, and his mother was an editor at the New York Times. Therefore, Anthony Bourdain acquired his aesthetic perspective and gusto for literature, cinema, music, and gastronomy at a very young age.
The kitchen is a place where the merit system applies. Who you are, which class you come from, your social status, or your education is invalid in the kitchen. What is valid in the kitchen is what you create thanks to your talent, intelligence, and hard work. Anthony Bourdain fell for this brutal reality of the kitchen and developed an adventurous passion by stepping out of his comfort zone. For this cause, he risked working close to 20 hours a day and even washing dishes. Of course, his rise was fast.
Growing up in the best years of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Anthony Bourdain established solid friendships with music icons like Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper over the years. He loved being a rogue, pushing boundaries, and going all the way. Maybe he was running away from himself, but that’s how he built his inspiring persona. Indeed, his statement, “Your body is not a temple, it’s an amusement park. Enjoy the ride…” is one of the expressions that best defines his character.
However, those who can look deeply and know that nothing in life is as it seems can easily sense that Anthony Bourdain was someone different from what he symbolized. Actually, inside, in the deepest depths, despite all that glittering TV persona, he was struggling to hold onto life and experiencing existential crises. This was why he was a depressive intellectual, an old-school anarchist romantic. Frankly, even becoming a “father” could not save him from this cycle.
With his life experience and perspective, he opened a door for those who came after him, managing to become a true cultural ambassador and pioneer.
RETURN TO FIRST SEASON FORMULAS, A RE-RISING TEMPO, AND A TIGHT FINALE
To transition back from Anthony Bourdain to The Bear, there was an action that took risks and broke molds in the first two seasons of the series. The series, which took place within a cramped kitchen and an uncomfortable cacophony, was constantly challenging the viewers. After all, the kitchen, the last bastion of meritocracy where equal opportunity and merit come to the fore, is a performance space where one races against time and tension escalates regularly. The Bear dug into this relentless tension and its traumatized characters very well in its first two seasons.
Moving from this brutal reality, The Bear also processed Chicago’s culinary culture in the background. Truthfully, the character of “Carmy Berzatto,” played by Jeremy Allen White, drew attention as one of the best characters written for TV in recent years. Taking over The Beef, the failing sandwich shop left to him after his brother’s suicide, Carmy was trying to turn this place into a Michelin-starred sophisticated restaurant.
On the other hand, this challenge where Carmy returned to Chicago and started from scratch exposed his hanging-by-a-thread relationships with his family. The wear and tear, contradictions, internal conflicts, and anxiety disorder left to him by his family were portrayed in depth. In addition, while doing this, The Bear created its own visual and Rock ‘n’ Roll-filled auditory language.
Particularly in Season 2, the story expanded correctly and took a more touching form. Dealing with a chaotic struggle for existence with its characters on alert, The Bear improved its character building in Season 2. Meanwhile, the 6th episode of this season, “Fishes,” set the bar somewhere else. The high tension and family conflict in this episode were enough to define Carmy’s inner world.
However, The Bear lost the dynamism it flawlessly executed in its first two seasons during Season 3. Unfortunately, the unique chaos, fluidity, and discomfort of The Bear disappeared with Season 3. It turned into a series that took itself too seriously, remained static, and repeated itself. Of course, the “Napkins” episode in this season, directed by Ayo Edebiri and telling Tina’s origin story, needs to be set apart. This episode shone as one of the best episodes across all seasons.
Along with this, a situation similar to Season 3 was present in Season 4, but with one difference: independent episodes about the characters were abandoned in Season 4. Despite this, the series showed progress in Season 4 and took a step in terms of gathering the scattered plot. In fact, this season was framed as the first half of a larger story. The focus here was the struggle to keep the restaurant afloat against financial obligations.
Of course, this also needs to be expressed; The Bear might not have adjusted its tempo well in its 3rd and 4th seasons, but it managed to keep its story, which it cooked on a low simmer, at a certain standard. Also, Seasons 3 and 4 progressed heavily dependent on guest actors. This situation was one of the elements that spoiled the show’s magic. In addition, the respect shown to chef culture sometimes made us feel like we were watching Chef’s Table and turned into an exaggerated fine dining propaganda. But now, it’s time to step on the gas again and remember Anthony Bourdain’s punk spirit.
The Bear returns to the formulas that set it apart from other series with its final 5th season. It achieves this right from the first episode of Season 5, “Soda.” Season 4 ended with Carmy announcing plans to leave the restaurant. Opening with a harsh storm, the final season eliminates the tempo issues experienced in previous seasons from the very first episode and gains momentum. Furthermore, it brings back the independent film vibe of its early seasons.
Reducing the number of episodes back to 8 with this season, the series uses its screen time efficiently with short episodes. Moreover, in Season 5, we learn that what makes a restaurant perfect is not just the food. The series moves forward on this; Sydney and other characters grow by showing responsibility and perseverance. The team’s fiery chemistry also carries the final season forward. Carmy, on the other hand, achieves an ultimate confrontation with himself. He shows pure honesty towards himself and pays his penance.
As a result, The Bear concludes without dragging its story out, without losing the wave of hype it created, and knowing how to leave a good taste in the mouth. It achieves this by returning to the elements that allowed it to become a global hit.
Bon Appétit!
