The Bear, Season 3 (FX) 

By: Rachel Brodeur

The third installation of FX’s The Bear proves to be as stunning and experimental as the food it highlights. The series continues to follow the struggle of lead character and chef Carmine “Carmy” Bear played by Jeremy Allen White (Shameless, The Iron Claw) as he attempts to elevate his Chicago restaurant into earning a Michelin star. 

The opening episode finds the young chef on a journey of reflection. Very few words are spoken, but through flashbacks, music, and plates of exquisite food, the audience relives the struggle that has brought Carmy to this point. However, not every episode is structured in this wordless way. Like a progressive meal each episode contributes to the story with a uniqueness yet still fits with the overall earnest yet intimate tone of the show. The moments of tension, the raw emotion, the humor, the swearing, and the artistry all work together to make The Bear something worth experiencing. 

Several familiar faces make appearances throughout The Bear Season Three. Jamie Lee Curtis returns in her role as the imperfect matriarch of the Bear family in an emotional and beautiful episode that in any other series could be the apex, but here is just another jewel in the mosaic of odyssey of The Bear’s. Other guest stars are: John Cena, Olivia Coleman, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Joel McHale, John Mulaney, Josh Hartnett, in addition to top chefs from the culinary world.

The only criticism of The Bear’s third season is that on its own, it presents an unfinished story. It picks up in the middle of the plot established in Season two, and by the end of these 10 episodes, the major conflicts are as of yet unresolved. Audiences can take relief in the fact that FX has announced that they are already filming Season four, but it will be a long wait since those episodes are not slated to release until 2025. Regardless, audiences will have to watch the series to see if Carmy earns the accolades of culinary critics, but  there is no doubt that The Bear’s showrunners have succeeded in garnering approval from television ones. 

Rachel’s Rating: 8.5/10

FX’s The Bear is a refreshingly edgy show that does not shy from the full spectrum of human emotion. This season is a worthy chapter, enhancing  the strong reputation that earlier seasons established.