We live in a time where masculinity is constantly in question. Men are outgrowing the general notions of what it’s like to be a man. There are still men in parts of the world fighting a physical war. For many, there has been a shift, and now the war is all within. These are some themes that FX/Hulu’s “The Bear” discusses.
The Story Behind “The Bear”
The series follows the story of an Award-winning Chef named Carmen a.k.a. Carmy, who returns to Chicago to take over his deceased brother’s Italian sandwich shop, Beef. This may seem like a weird twist, but the audience later learns more than he expected about his deceased brother Mikey.
The Beef sandwich shop may seem like it’s innocuous at first, but you quickly understand why the show is called “The Bear.” The show is the exact opposite of what you would want to watch when you relax.
What Makes It Stand Out?
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant kitchen, you know how crazy it can get. “The Bear” would depict the extent of the craziness of a restaurant kitchen. The fast-paced show comes with all the yelling and aggression you would see in a place run by a man. In doing so, it also sets up the characters around him to constantly question his masculinity.
The parallels Christopher Storer has tried to make between war and the little kitchen that Carmy is heading are endless. The characters that the restaurant called ‘The Beef’ showcases are a whole story. “The Bear” somehow strings chaos from the kitchen, its staff, and Carmy’s internal dialogue. It talks about the barbaric hierarchy that is present in the kitchen. It winks at the structure of the brigade. It also mentions conflict resolution and portrays the misogyny in any male-dominated working space.
There are constant comparisons between Richie and Sydney, who have stark differences. One is a man, and the other is a woman. The contrast between the two characters will often have them reeling and in a state of shock.
Why Watch It?
“The Bear” is an expose on men like Fleabag was to women. The major differences are pretty significant between the two, the foremost being that Bear is not a comedy in any way, shape, or form. It is an unbecoming restructuring if there ever was one.
“The Bear” will only add to your anxiety if you’re an anxious person. However, it is a fantastic show, and you feel that marvel as you watch it. The juxtaposition of Richie and Sydney is one of the show’s defining features, apart from the inner turmoil that Carmy’s going through.
Many think that Richie is a representation of the right while Sydney is that of the left. This also raises an interesting philosophical concern about where the world will go.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately though, “The Bear” is designed to be Carmy’s hell which you get to unfold as he progresses and learns more about his fears and how to overcome them. In all senses, the show does a beautiful job of commenting on masculinity, restaurants, and the current state of the world in 8 episodes.
