Here at FandomWire, we review the Hulu and FX series The Bear Season 3. The article does not contain spoilers.

I said it once, but it “bears” repeating: FX’s The Bear remains an American classic despite a season that will disappoint many. Creator Christopher Storer has developed a show like no other on television, producing anxiety-inducing stress and tension that can pivot on a dime and lead directly to jaw-dropping breaking points.

And yes, the hardships and challenges faced by this group of damaged souls took a turn in a season that lacked focus. While I can practically guarantee many will be left disappointed after a sophomore effort that will go down as one of the best in television history, Storer’s latest chapter with Carmy and friends is frenetically brilliant.

The Bear’s third season is confusing, excellent, dissonant, extraordinary, innovative, delicious, inconsistent, and utterly unique, unlike anything on television, because the season is the most complex one yet. In fact, Storer practically cops to this very sentiment in the season’s final scene.

And this is all possible thanks to a great performance from Jeremy Allen White, whose portrayal is a knockout and carries the power of a powder keg ready to explode at any moment.

FX’s The Bear Season 3 Review and Synopsis

The last time we saw The Bear, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) broke poor Claire’s (Molly Gordon) heart by venting his emotions about how their relationship was not worth distracting from his professional goals. This sparked a verbal fight with Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), putting their professional futures in doubt.

However, Richie and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) began proving their worth, though Carmy wasn’t there to see it. The first season attempts to save the family restaurant, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. The second season deals with reinventing themselves by opening a fine dining establishment. The current effort  This season is about perfection through repetition.

That means earning the coveted and seemingly unattainable Michelin Star that Carmy and Syndey have set their sights on. However, unlike previously, professional goals are put on the back burner as the characters deal with all that anxiety, stress, resentment, and memories simmering to the top. Most of that comes from Carmy, who strives for greatness and has his choose ambition over love.

Storer has The Bear’s third season ride the turmoil from the season two finale virtually through the entire new batch of episodes. The tension is palpable. Yes, the second season was perfect, but the next chapter is about the resentful angst that returns with triggers that keep tightening the vexing ties. The hint of mental health issues begins to pull White’s Carmy apart.

FX’s Third Season of The Bear Is Utterly Complex

This is why the third season remains electric; the story begins to subtly revolve around Carmy’s mental health. He strives for perfection, knowing that ambition must come first to be great. However, his scenes work on different levels, with the main character rushing to earn a star to remind himself that he lost the love of his life.

What is frustrating is the pause in character development. While Carmy is healing, Sydney develops empathy, and Richie starts a journey of self-discovery. The third season stunts that growth, with everyone held against their will until White’s Carmy deals with his issues head-on. However, that makes the new season about healing, which can only be started by reopening old wounds.

The Bear is still worth watching, though it may not be as good as the first two seasons. The show remains an addictive shot of controlled chaos that fearlessly evolves into something new and original. Case in point is the lyrical, Terrence Malick dreamlike season opener, “Tomorrow,” one of the best episodes the series has ever done.

Is FX’s The Bear Season 3 Worth Watching?

However, one key area where The Bear struggles is with everyone’s favorite pastry chef, Marcus (Lionel Boyce), who was dealing with a family tragedy and had an eye-opening lack of screen time this year. I’m starting to worry that the series is too reliant on guest stars (including real-life chefs and restaurateurs), which detracts from this pivotal character.

How can we allow such a big cliffhanger storyline to develop so minimally in the third season? The simple answer is that the writers want to contrast how people appropriately and inappropriately handle conflict. Watch as White’s Carmy treats his people under stress, compared to his gentle mentors, and how Carmy handles tragedy compared to Marcus.

This structure makes The Bear’s third season about facing depression from the past and anxiety about the future, head on which is necessary for growth. The Bear tells that story at a feverish pace that embraces the character’s flaws by backing them into a corner. We will have to wait until next season to see how they fight their way out.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach in The Bear (2022) | Image via FX

You can stream the third season of The Bear on FX and FX on Hulu. All ten episodes were reviewed.

9/10

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