And so we return to that cozy little sandwich shop in Chicago for another season of high-tension, hectic, emotionally fraught cookery. Season two of The Bear hits Disney+ on July 18.
For those who came in late—well, firstly, you’re missing out on a delicious dramatic treat, but here’s the gist. After his elder brother dies by suicide, fine dining chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) inherits his failing restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland, and all the debts and headaches that come along with it.
That sounds like hell, but it’s actually a bit of a break for Carmy: he’s burned out, struggling with addiction issues, and quite the lost soul when we meet him, but he rolls up his sleeves and sets to making the joint a working business, shaping up the kitchen staff and hiring highly skilled but inexperienced Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) as his new sous chef.
Naturally, things don’t go according to plan, and that’s putting it lightly. Much like Uncut Gems, The Bear trucks in anxiety-as-entertainment, and anyone who has spent any time in a commercial kitchen will instantly recognise the high-pressure atmosphere and highly-strung personalities to be found here. Victories, both professional and personal, are hard-won, and disaster is only ever one bad shift away.
Luckily, it’s also darkly and dreadfully funny. The Bear is, after all, a workplace comedy at heart, even if the humour is often black as pitch and the emotional stakes much higher than your average episode of The Office. Like a well-planned degustation dinner, creator Christopher Storer offers something for every palate: ribald comedy, wrenching family drama, a meditation on legacy and grief, and some really fantastic food porn to boot.
This season also promises an appearance from Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk in an undisclosed role, plus Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3’s Will Poulter as a fellow chef, and Molly Gordon as Carmy’s ex (and possible future) girlfriend. If that sounds tasty to you, you’ve got just enough time to scoff through the first season before the next course arrives.
