The fifth and final season of the acclaimed kitchen dramedy 'The Bear' has arrived, carrying the weight of expectations for a satisfying ending. Creator Christopher Storer manages to deliver a conclusion that, while occasionally sappy, honors the show's strengths.
Opening After the Chaos
The season begins the morning after season four's tumultuous finale, where chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) announced he was quitting for his mental health. This decision leaves the restaurant's staff and financial backers in disarray, as Carmy was the kitchen's leader and main draw. The Bear is out of money and has lost supplier goodwill, putting head chef Syd (Ayo Edebiri) and the team in a precarious position as they try to keep the restaurant running.
A Single Day of Crisis
The bleakness is reinforced from the start, as a biblical storm hits Chicago, causing gridlock, burst pipes, and a faulty reservation app. The first seven episodes unfold over this single day, with six beginning with ominous thunderclaps. The show leans into its trademark stress, as ultra-skilled characters navigate near-unbearable pressure.
Storer and his team play to the series' strengths: each ensemble member faces a crisis and overcomes it with support from others. The humor is the strongest it has been, and the writers wisely avoid romantic storylines, which have been a notable weakness in the past.
The Final Episode
The eighth and final episode was not available to reviewers before the season dropped on June 26. According to the review, this makes sense: episode seven wraps the single-day storyline, while episode eight is a jumble of scenes jumping in and out of chronology. It feels like a collection of moments the writers were desperate to include to give each character hope for the future, resulting in a slightly sappy tone.
Overall Impression
Despite the sentimental finale, season five is once again great television. It uses the restaurant and its workers to explore big themes: trauma, family, guilt, grief, creative passion, and love. 'The Bear' will be missed.
