FX’s “The Bear” masterfully balances heavy emotional themes and moments of masterful humor, making it one of the most compelling and innovative series of recent years. Nominated for 23 Emmy’s in 2024, the series goes beyond being a simple television show. It’s an emotional experience that uses innovative ways to explore grief, anxiety and change.
At the 2024 Emmy’s it took home 11 awards from their 23 nominations. This surpassed its previous record of 10 Emmy’s for 2023. The wins included Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series to Jeremy Allen White, Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress to Liza Colón-Zayas and Moss-Bachrach. The show also won three Golden Globes for Best Television Series, Best Performance in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy for Jeremy Allen White again and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series-Musical or Comedy for Ayo Edebiri.
The main plot of the show highlights main character Carmy, who is an award winning chef who has come home to Chicago following the death of his brother Michael. To Carmy’s surprise, his brother Michael has left Carmy in charge of his struggling restaurant, The Beef, despite previously not allowing Carmy to work there. The series delves into Carmy’s struggle to not only grapple with the death of his brother but also the extreme difficulties of running the restaurant.
Season 1 sets the foundation, introducing the audience to both Carmy’s world and the intricate dynamics within The Beef. The season ends on a poignant note, as Carmy discovers that Michael had hidden thousands of dollars in cans of tomato sauce to help the restaurant succeed.
While season 1 dipped its toe into the emotional struggles of Carmy and the restaurant’s staff, Season 2 fully immersed itself in the emotional themes. Carmy, Sydney and Richie renovate and rebrand the restaurant. However, a significant spotlight is placed on Carmy’s own battles with anxiety. The cinematography aspect of the anxiety attacks that Carmy faces throughout the show was nothing short of breathtaking. It highlights the very real and raw aspect of what an anxiety attack truly feels like. The visual storytelling here is so effective that it could stand alone as award-worthy.
One of the most prominent parts of season 2 was Richie’s transformation. After training at a high-end restaurant, Richie gains a new sense of purpose and it ignites a fire in him to finally accept the changes Carmy wants to make at the restaurant. This episode showed the most realistic character development I have seen from a show in a long time. Richie’s journey from resistance to acceptance is both inspiring and deeply satisfying.
However, the key episode in the whole season was “Fishes.” This was a chaotic Christmas flashback set during a family dinner. This episode explores the dynamics between Carmy and his family. It also showed more of the dynamic between Michael and Carmy. Watching this episode helped me to see the true dysfunctionality that Carmy’s family was facing. During this episode it felt like I was stepping into the chaos myself.
A debate among critics has emerged over the show’s nomination in the comedy category. Given the dramatic and emotional themes that it holds, it might seem like an odd choice. However, “The Bear” excels at interweaving tactful comedy into its more dramatic themes. This balance is truly a masterclass in storytelling.
“The Bear” is a rare gem; it captures the messiness of life, the weight of grief and the powers of transformation. It’s a testament to the true brilliance of the writing, acting and cinematography of it all. It deserves every bit of acclaim it has received.
