The Bear (Season 4)

As Carmy, Sydney, and Richie continue to  push "The Bear" to the next level, the restaurant's financial status forces the team to consider what they must hold on to and what they must let go of. 

Which means that, after a surprisingly meandering third season, season four of The Bear gives the narrative - and the characters - a clear sense of purpose again. And I really liked it!

The crucial decisions that are made tell us a lot about each character's development. And I absolutely love seeing how these characters have grown over the years. None more so than Richie, who continues to grapple with his self-doubt and his role as a leader in this season, while also dealing with the relationship that has developed between his daughter and her stepfather.

I do, however, take some issue with the way Carmy's story ended this season. Not that it wasn't good. I just personally felt like it came out of nowhere. Though I, admittedly, do seem to be in the minority with that opinion.

I'm not sure how many more seasons are left in this series, but Carmy's final decision is something that I would've expected to see in a series finale. Because, as it stands now, I'm not really sure where this series is going to take Carmy's character.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that Carmy is finally getting some closure, I just wish that the narrative built up to its finale a bit more naturally. As it stands now, I'm not really sure if the finale provided me with a satisfying conclusion. Still, I can't deny that I want to see how the finale will affect the rest of the series moving forward.

Because I absolutely love these characters. And while the show doesn't feel as chaotic or as urgent as it used to, the slower, calmer, and more peaceful moments have allowed the characters to grow in really interesting and unexpected ways. They even grow together as a team! Which was especially nice to see.

Plus, as the characters are forced to do some self-reflecting, they also have to confront the notion that achieving perfection may come at the expense of one's relationships and personal well-being. So I loved how thematically rich this season turned out to be.

This series has matured into an introspective, contemplative, and even downright heartfelt one. So I definitely want to see how these characters - and how the show itself - will continue to evolve in the future. Especially since the show is still incredibly well made!

Sure, The Bear may have changed a bit in tone, but the writing is still strong, the directing is still great, the editing is still fantastic, the performances are still outstanding, and every other technical aspect is still absolutely excellent. So, while I personally love the first two seasons better, season four of The Bear would still get a huge recommendation from me.