The Bear introduces Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef who returns to his hometown in Chicago after his brother’s (Jon Bernthal) death. He takes over his brother’s sandwich shop and does his best to bring his professional expertise to a team that has a tendency to go off the rails. Much of the first season is a deep-dive into Carmy’s character, and sees him try to come to terms with his brother’s tragic death.
While each episode of The Bear‘s first season is captivating and each of them adds something to the story overall, there are some that stand out above the rest. The best episodes of The Bear’s first season highlight how well the series shows character growth in such a limited time. The first season gives each of The Bear‘s characters a chance to shine and establishes how they all ended up working at a restaurant that’s barely getting by.
8
“Brigade”
Season 1, Episode 3
The Bear‘s third episode gives further insight into Carmy’s past by showing him attending an Al-Anon meeting to process his brother’s death. As he continues his quest to remake his brother’s sandwich shop in his image, he realizes that the lack of communication among the staff will be their downfall. Carmy begins to recognize the fact that Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) is a capable leader, and that each team member brings their own talents to their work.
Carmy begins to recognize the fact that Sydney is a capable leader…
While this episode sets the groundwork for each of these characters to shine, it’s still early to fully appreciate what they are all capable of. This episode could serve as a series premiere since it starts delving into the fact that, as chaotic as this team is, they are more than capable of running a successful restaurant. This episode features these characters at the beginning of their journey to build something great.
7
“Hands”
Season 1, Episode 2
In The Bear‘s second episode, Carmy is shown working at a fine-dining restaurant in flashbacks. It’s a clearly emotionally abusive and toxic environment, since Carmy’s boss (Joel McHale) constantly berates him. In the present, Carmy is confronted with the fact that his brother’s sandwich shop has been poorly managed. He also has to deal with the public health authorities giving the restaurant a “C” grade to reflect its poor sanitation and safety standards.
Carmy’s attitude and struggle to connect with his coworkers make sense after seeing how working in the industry has caused him so much trauma.
This is another episode that comes so early in the series and serves as a chance to get to know these characters on a deeper level. Carmy’s attitude and struggle to connect with his coworkers make sense after seeing how working in the industry has caused him so much trauma. This is another launching point for these characters’ stories as they struggle to come together under Carmy’s unfamiliar management style.
6
“Ceres”
Season 1, Episode 6
“Ceres” is one of The Bear‘s most chaotic episodes. Sydney develops a new recipe for risotto, which Carmy immediately rejects. Against his direction, she serves it to a customer. The restaurant also finds itself in the middle of a gang turf war as its windows get shot at. The episode also features flashbacks of Carmy’s brother, Michael, who has been mentioned frequently throughout the series.
Watching Sydney get a chance to shine and showcase her talents makes her character even more lovable.
This is one of the most important episodes of The Bear because it highlights the immense pressure this team has to face on a daily basis. Watching Sydney get a chance to shine and showcase her talents makes her character even more lovable. This episode also highlights the fact that Carmy has a long way to go before he’s truly able to lead this team as they manage the daily demands of operating a restaurant in Chicago.
5
“System”
Season 1, Episode 1
The Bear‘s series premiere introduces Carmy as a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef who returns to Chicago following his brother’s death to manage his sandwich shop. His brother’s best friend, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), immediately distrusts Carmy and refuses his efforts to modernize the restaurant’s operations. Carmy is initially dismissive of the staff and their concerns as he single-mindedly tries to impose his training on a team that’s been stuck in their ways for years.
Seeing Carmy immediately clash with the staff he’s supposed to be managing highlights the fact that he has the opportunity to grow.
The Bear‘s series premiere sets up these characters as ones worth investing in. Seeing Carmy immediately clash with the staff he’s supposed to be managing highlights the fact that he has the opportunity to grow. It makes sense that the restaurant staff don’t immediately trust Carmy or his vision, since they have clearly developed their own routine, even if it’s neither the most efficient nor the most productive way to do things.
4
“Braciole”
Season 1, Episode 8
In The Bear‘s first season finale, Carmy opens up more in his Al-Anon meeting and shares that he only got into the restaurant business because his brother wouldn’t let him work at The Beef. The episode also takes place in the aftermath of Carmy’s outburst in the penultimate episode, which saw Sydney and Marcus (Lionel Boyce) quit after Carmy’s outburst. Carmy ends up apologizing for his actions, and temporarily closes The Beef to build something bigger and better.
…This season finale is one of the most important episodes in the series because it gives Carmy a chance to take accountability for his actions.
In addition to setting up the second season, this season finale is one of the most important episodes in the series because it gives Carmy a chance to take accountability for his actions. Rather than letting his trauma overwhelm him, Carmy is given a chance to process what he’s been through with those who have experienced trauma of their own. This episode is an important one because it shows that Carmy is not ready to take The Beef into its next chapter as he continues to work on himself.
3
“Dogs”
Season 1, Episode 4
In what’s one of the funniest episodes in the series, Carmy and Richie find themselves facing problem after problem while trying to cater a child’s birthday party. They have to manage their own bad feelings towards Cicero (Oliver Platt) while trying to work together to get food on the table for a group of children. Things go from bad to worse when they realize they’ve accidentally given the kids Richie’s Xanax, which makes them all fall asleep.
…Carmy and Richie find themselves facing problem after problem while trying to cater a child’s birthday party.
This episode is one of the best of The Bear‘s first season since it cements this show’s status as a dramedy. In addition to seeing these characters navigate difficult family dynamics, they’re given the opportunity to lean into the objectively ridiculous situation of having to be part of a kid’s birthday party when they’re used to serving a vastly different clientele on a regular basis. This episode is an important one since it allows this dysfunctional family the chance to work through their differences and support each other in their own way.
2
“Sheridan”
Season 1, Episode 5
Just past the halfway point of the first season, Sydney and Carmy try their best to create a new dinner menu for the restaurant. Richie also admits to selling cocaine on a regular basis and says that this was the only way he was able to get the restaurant through the COVID-19 pandemic. When the restaurant loses power due to a blown fuse, Sydney thinks on her feet and sets up an outdoor area to serve customers.
Richie also admits to selling cocaine on a regular basis…
“Sheridan” is one of the best episodes of The Bear because it puts the team under stress and asks whether they are up to the challenge. Although they work in a stressful environment at the best of times, losing power is a unique challenge for any business, especially a restaurant. This episode gives this group a chance to prove how far they’ve come in such a short period of time under new leadership.
1
“Review”
Season 1, Episode 7
When The Beef receives a positive review, the staff realizes that Sydney served her special risotto to a food critic. The team then has to handle a uniquely chaotic shift when Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) has to bring her son to work after he’s suspended from school and the electronic ordering system overwhelms them. They’re unable to keep up with the to-go orders that come in, which leads Carmy to have a breakdown and yell at the staff.
Pushing each of these characters to their limits gives them a chance to grow…
This episode is notable for several reasons, including the fact that it was shot in one take. Seeing Carmy at his breaking point is important because it shows that he still hasn’t processed any of his trauma. The way he dismisses Marcus in particular is heartbreaking, since Marcus is clearly one of the most talented workers The Beef has. Pushing each of these characters to their limits gives them a chance to grow and show exactly what they’re made of.