Warning: Spoilers ahead. Do not proceed if you have not watched Season 5 of “The Bear,” including the series finale.
Let’s tear it apart.
“The Bear” has finally come to an end, bringing to a close the story of Carmen “Carmy” (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachluck) and the rest of the staff team at Chicago’s famous restaurant “The Bear.”
The final race of the series saw them earn not just one, but two coveted Michelin stars.
Season 4 ended with Carmy scheduled to leave the show, but will she be leaving in season 5?
The final season often takes place in just one day. Only the series finale is set later. So Carmy hasn’t left yet. But he is no longer in charge. Sydney is steering the ship. When she asked him what he planned to do next after he retired, he said he had “ideas” but would only share them “after it’s done.”
In the series finale, Carmy interviews for an internship at a construction company (her cousin Stevie, played by John Mulaney, briefly returns as Carmy’s link to getting the job). Carmy is not shown getting a job or developing a career. His future is only hinted at, as the show ends before that happens. However, it suggests that he is changing direction in his career.
The restaurant is currently a three-way partnership between Sydney, Richie, and Carmy’s sister Natalie (Abby Elliott).
Richie is expanding his horizons, and Natalie talks about a hospitality conference in Japan and confesses that she’s never been on a plane. Carmy calls him an “international businessman” and encourages him to go.
Richie also throws a birthday party for his daughter. The show will take this opportunity to bring back some of its biggest guest stars from the past, including Josh Hartnett (who plays the daughter’s stepfather) and Bob Odenkirk (who plays Carmy’s relative). they can’t speak. They are in the background of the party scene, as “The Bear” shows off its ability to use big stars as mere extras.
The show ends with Carmy looking sadly at a text thread with her deceased brother Mikey (Jon Bernthal) in her office before smiling to herself, and Richie flying to Japan for a business trip. Jessica (Sarah Ramos) joins him in holding hands, cementing their budding romance.
Evra (Edwin Lee Gibson) gets Carmy’s approval for his long-awaited plan to franchise the takeout counter. Sydney is overjoyed with the Michelin star and gets her father’s approval. Everyone ends up in a hopeful place. As the credits roll, you can hear all the family and friends talking and laughing at Richie’s daughter’s birthday party.
A large portion of the final season depicts the team preparing for dinner service as a storm rages outside before the final game of the series. There are holes in the roof, pipes burst, and we don’t have enough money to buy food. The customer is late for the appointment time because the roads are disrupted by rain. All is not well, but the show must go on.
Much of the plot is reused and follows the same notes as previous seasons, but at least “The Pit” style of storytelling (setting the entire season in one day) gives it a stronger direction.
“The Bear” has always been a lumpy, shapeless show that doesn’t quite fit into one category. There aren’t many characters in the ensemble outside of Carmy, Sydney, and Richie, but at least not enough to claim it’s a “character-driven” show.
There was never much of a plot either. As such, there were no major changes to the characters or plot, and the show was mainly just slogans (“Yes, Chef!”) and the atmosphere of restaurant work.
It went on to be nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award in the comedy category, and became a standard joke in Hollywood.
“The Bear” peaked early on, becoming a significant favorite in seasons one and two, but the longer it lasts, the less its raison d’être fades. The result was a meal that was difficult to chew and poorly seasoned.
Still, the ending wasn’t a failure like “Euphoria” or even a controversial lightning rod like “Stranger Things.”
The final season didn’t make up for the messy aimlessness of the past few seasons, but it did have a stronger sense of narrative purpose. In the end, we tried to make it more like an ensemble show.
“The Bear” failed to land. The last dish was also delicious.
Season 5 is currently available on Hulu.
