The Second Half Of "The Bear" Season 4 Bounced Back In A Very Big Way

How The Bear ended Season 4 is nothing short of masterful. After four seasons of chaos, anxiety, and more close-up shots of trembling hands than a Scorsese film, I was genuinely blown away by how satisfying this finale felt. Not just emotionally, but in terms of craftsmanship. 

This is the same The Bear we all fell in love with in Season 1. But now it’s grown up, gone to therapy, and finally learned how to communicate with its family.

That means it came a very long way from where the ended Season 3.

And even the first half of Season 4 if we're being honest. 

I was ten more shitty episodes away from 86ing this show, and never coming back to it.

But credit where its due. The show bounced back when it matters, (in the 2nd half), in a really big way. Like in terms of the acting. It was seriously unreal. And somehow, the writing is even better. Every conversation, every loaded glace, every half-mumbled apology is razor sharp. What really struck me is how apparent it now is that the creators actually knew where this was going from the jump. This isn’t one of those “figure it out as we go” shows, stringing together cliffhangers just to keep people hate-watching. This is a show with a plan. For once, it feels like we’re all in good hands.

So many loose ends got tied up this season. Which I didn't think would ever happen. 

We finally got some much-needed backstory for just about every character. 

The emotional payoffs actually feel earned. 

Whether it’s Caren's growth, Sydney finally taking the lead, or Marcus finding his footing, we got answers to questions we didn’t even realize we had about why these characters are all so broken. By the end of episode 10, we understand them in a way that’s rare for TV.

But back to the acting. Starting with Jamie Lee Curtis. Who was just wow in this latest season. 

If you thought she was great in earlier seasons, buckle up. The second-to-last episode, that one-on-one with Carmen finally visiting his old house (which was way nicer, and in a way nicer, snooty neighborhood than I think any of us could have expected) is some of the best TV I’ve seen in years. 

David Jon. Getty Images.

Curtis manages to be both terrifying and heartbreakingly human. She delivered a performance that’s bigger than anything she’s done on this show prior. She pulls off the kind acting that makes you forget you’re watching a scripted series. It was that good.

And then there's the guy who plays cousin Richie. 

Ebon Moss-Bachrach deserves his own standing ovation. The arc this guy has gone on since Season 1 is wild. I couldn't fucking stand this guy in the first season. By all rights, his transformation shouldn’t feel as believable as it does, but that’s a testament to just how damn good of an actor he is. 

Richie’s growth, his moments of vulnerability and leadership, are so authentic you can’t help but root for him. It’s honestly one of the best examples of believable character development I can remember seeing on TV.

What’s really wild is that, for the first time, The Bear actually let a little glimmer of light in. After years of everyone operating at a baseline of panic and existential fucking dread, they ended the season with something almost foreign to this universe- hope.

Advertisement

There’s actual optimism now. Carmen isn’t just  going to be "surviving" anymore. He’s got a new outlook, a better attitude, and suddenly it feels like these people might actually get to be happy for once. 

It's exciting to think we might actually get a show, with a restaurant, that doesn't seem like it's absolute chaos at all times.

If you tapped out a season ago, this is your cue to get back in. The Bear is back baby. 

p.s. - the only thing I didn't understand the point of was all the side conversations and time spent on the beef sandwich pickup window expansion. I'm guessing/hoping it's a prelude to something in the future.