Move over Succession — The Bear has dropped its second season.
And it’s so good, it’s about to slide into the spot left vacant by the HBO favourite to become your next TV obsession.
The series, which stars Jeremy Allen White as chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto — he snapped up a Golden Globe earlier this year for his portrayal of the troubled kitchen whiz — was “certified fresh” in its first season by critic site Rotten Tomatoes.
Its second season is generating just as much buzz.
The script remains tight, the performances of its central cast are top-notch, and the tension’s been ramped right up, making Carmy’s attempt to re-invent his family’s struggling business a much-watch.
When we left him last year, the talented chef and his kitchen colleagues, including cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and young gun Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), were planning to re-imagine the Berzatto family’s struggling eatery, Original Beef, into a high-end reincarnation, re-named The Bear.
Thanks to the discovery of a haul of cash hidden inside tomato cans, their dream looked like becoming a reality.
Season two sees them well on their way — but it’s not smooth sailing.
And therein lies the fun.
While so many shows suffer a second-season slump, the opposite appears true for this show, with critics roundly praising the second series, believing it even better than its stellar first outing.
“It’s still frenetic and funny, but the second slice of the incredible kitchen drama broadens into a deeply moving look at what makes a life worthwhile. There’s nothing I’d rather devour,” The Guardian UK’s critic, Lucy Mangan wrote.
“If that first run of episodes was the starter, this is the main course,” Empire’s critic John Nugent said.
The show’s creator Christopher Storer spent considerable time making sure their first season was a realistic depiction of what life is really like behind the serving hatch of a restaurant.
Season two sees them step out from inside the chaotic kitchen, giving the show’s character’s a chance to be fleshed out beyond the claustrophobic confines of Carmy’s kitchen — it’s a genius move.
All ten episodes of The Bear season two are streaming now on Disney Plus, and trust us when we tell you: this is a satisfying second course that’s well worth the wait.
What the critics are saying:
“The writing remains incredible”: The Guardian
“The Bear is what happens when people who care about everything make a TV show”: Empire
“The Bear season two keeps up the heat and wisely gets out of the kitchen”: Variety
“It remains a magnificent achievement”: Rolling Stone
“Serves up a satisfying meal of a second season”: Hollywood Reporter