Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for The Bear Season 4.After much anticipation and a year-long wait, Season 4 of The Bear has officially been released. The season picks up shortly after the Season 3 finale, which focused primarily on the funeral dinner for Ever. In Season 4, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) tries to make amends and do better after his behavior in the past two seasons, and the staff of The Bear try to fix things for the restaurant before Jimmy’s (Oliver Platt) timer goes off and ends everything for them.
The Bear has had a number of truly fantastic episodes in its four seasons so far, and the new season has several stand-outs to contribute to this as well. The show knows how to do concept episodes very well, from flashback episodes to character-centric installments. These are episodes of The Bear that are absolute bangers from start to finish.
10
“The Bear”
Season 2, Episode 10
The Bear‘s Season 2 finale, “The Bear”, takes place on Friends and Family Night at The Bear. It’s the culmination of an entire season of work, as the staff of The Bear finally get to show their loved ones what they’ve been doing all this time. The dinner doesn’t go as planned, of course, because Carmy accidentally gets locked in the walk-in fridge by himself for the entire evening.
…Carmy is forced to finally face his own inability to balance his personal life with his work at the restaurant.
This episode is an excellent season finale, and the perfect pay-off for Carmy’s emotional conflict in Season 2. Because he’s been ignoring the broken fridge in order to enjoy his time with Claire (Molly Gordon), Carmy is forced to finally face his own inability to balance his personal life with his work at the restaurant. It’s an emotional and intense episode that culminates in Carmy’s heartbreaking monologue in the fridge, as well as the reveal that Claire is outside listening.
9
“Ice Chips”
Season 3, Episode 8
The Bear always does character-centric departure episodes very well, and Season 3’s “Ice Chips” is an excellent example. In the episode, Nat (Abby Elliott) is in labor and driving herself to the hospital, but nobody in her life is around to help her, due to chaos at the restaurant. Nat then calls Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) to help her and be present for the birth of Sophie.
In these quiet moments, Nat and Donna are able to meet each other in the middle…
Nat is hesitant to call Donna because of their fraught relationship, but Donna ends up coming through for her, and it makes for a lovely episode. Most of “Ice Chips” just consists of Nat and Donna alone and talking to each other in the hospital room, and it’s a welcome change from The Bear‘s usual hectic episodes. In these quiet moments, Nat and Donna are able to meet each other in the middle, and Nat gives birth to Sophie.
8
“Dogs”
Season 1, Episode 4
While The Bear certainly does high-concept departure episodes well, some of its very best installments have the simplest premises. Season 1’s “Dogs” is the first great episode of The Bear, and is still one of the show’s funniest episodes to date. In “Dogs,” Carmy and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) owe Jimmy a favor, so they cater a children’s birthday party for him.
…In a hilarious twist, Richie’s Xanax leaks into a cooler that’s being served to the kids.
This could have been a forgettable storyline, but in a hilarious twist, Richie’s Xanax leaks into a cooler that’s being served to the kids. The result is wildly funny, as all the kids end up falling asleep right there, and Jimmy is ultimately pleased with both Carmy and Richie. It’s always really interesting to see the characters outside the restaurant, and “Dogs” takes full advantage of this.
7
“Honeydew”
Season 2, Episode 4
Two of The Bear‘s best episodes see a main character leaving The Bear for a period of time in order to train in their specialty. In Season 2’s “Honeydew,” Marcus (Lionel Boyce) spends the episode training in Copenhagen with Luca (Will Poulter). It is such a lovely installment that replaces the typical visuals of Chicago with stunning clips of Copenhagen, as Marcus gets used to his temporary new home.
… “Honeydew” is just so peaceful in a way that makes it such a fantastic watch.
“Honeydew” is such a calming and enjoyable episode. The Bear‘s usual stressful and fast-paced episodes are certainly entertaining and important to the show, but “Honeydew” is just so peaceful in a way that makes it such a fantastic watch. It’s also an excellent character study of Marcus through both his conversations with Luca, and his quiet moments alone in Copenhagen.
6
“Scallop”
Season 4, Episode 3
Season 4 of The Bear has two episodes that are true bangers all the way through, and the first of these is its third episode, “Scallop.” After the initial fallout of The Chicago Tribune‘s negative review, the staff of The Bear bounce back in “Scallop,” and it’s really incredible to watch. The best part of the episode is the service that night, which sees all of The Bear’s new changes finally pay off.
After the initial fallout of The Chicago Tribune‘s negative review, the staff of The Bear bounce back in “Scallop”…
The staff of The Bear end up having an incredibly successful service that night. Sydney’s (Ayo Edebiri) scallop dish is a hit, and Richie really steps up with the help of Jess (Sarah Ramos), Rene (Rene Gube) and Garrett (Andrew Lopez). They give an unforgettable experience to a visiting family with the help of a beef sandwich and some fake snow, and they even impress the visiting critic.
5
“Fishes”
Season 2, Episode 6
Years after The Bear has ended, “Fishes” will be one of the episodes that fans point to when discussing its legacy. “Fishes” is a flashback episode that takes place five years before the present, over Christmastime. Donna hosts the Berzattos and their extended family of close friends for a Feast of the Seven Fishes, but the meal becomes an emotionally-draining affair that ends in chaos.
“Fishes” is a tough episode to watch even once, but it is an unbelievably well-written, well-acted, and well-directed installment. It gives a deeper look into the Berzatto family, as well as into just how much Carmy looked up to Mikey (Jon Bernthal). It’s so heartbreaking to watch Mikey and Carmy discuss their shared passion for cooking together, only for Mikey to struggle to maintain his temper with Uncle Lee (Bob Odenkirk) in the next scene.
4
“Napkins”
Season 3, Episode 6
The Bear struck gold with both of its flashback episodes: Season 2’s “Fishes” and Season 3’s “Napkins.” The episode takes place just before Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) started working at The Beef. After losing her job, Tina struggles with financial problems and a lack of purpose. Tina spends the episode trying and failing to get a job, and she finally goes to The Beef for a cup of coffee to cheer herself up.
After getting a free cup of coffee and an Italian Beef sandwich from Richie, Tina ends up having an incredibly touching conversation with Mikey.
This is when Tina’s life is forever changed, in one of the very best scenes of the show. After getting a free cup of coffee and an Italian Beef sandwich from Richie, Tina ends up having an incredibly touching conversation with Mikey. They both open up to each other just after meeting for the first time, and then he offers her a job at The Beef. The Bear usually shows Mikey through Carmy’s perspective, so it is especially meaningful to see how kind Mikey was to Tina when she was just a stranger.
3
“Worms”
Season 4, Episode 4
“Worms” is easily the best episode of The Bear Season 4, and it is genuinely one of the best episodes of the entire series. It’s a Sydney-centric episode that takes place on her day off from The Bear, as she’s waiting for a hair appointment with her cousin, Chantel (Danielle Deadwyler). Sydney briefly gets derailed when Adam (Adam Shapiro) wants her to come see the new restaurant, and then the rest of the episode takes place at Chantel’s apartment.
Sydney cooks a homemade version of Hamburger Helper for TJ, and then the two open up to each other about their respective problems.
Sydney gets most of her hair done, but Chantel has run out of hair and is unable to finish until she gets more. When she runs out, Sydney ends up spending time with Chantel’s daughter, TJ (Arion King). This is such a simple premise and grounded episode for The Bear, yet the result is so funny, lovely, and genuine. Sydney cooks a homemade version of Hamburger Helper for TJ, and then the two open up to each other about their respective problems. TJ considers attending a sleepover with the friends who have been excluding her, and Sydney debates whether to take Adam’s job offer.
2
“Review”
Season 1, Episode 7
Season 1’s penultimate episode, “Review,” is proof that The Bear‘s episodes don’t need abstract concepts and new settings to be great. The episode takes place just before opening at one of the most stressful points in the season. All of Season 1’s conflicts boil over in the span of just 20 minutes, with Carmy frustrated over a positive review of Sydney’s unsanctioned risotto, and the staff scrambling to fulfill quite a few pre-orders.
…There is something so intoxicating about “Review,” an episode that embraces the chaos of working in a restaurant…
This is an explosive, intense, and surprisingly funny episode. The highlight is definitely Sydney accidentally stabbing Richie during a heated argument, but another major scene is Carmy destroying Marcus’ doughnut in a moment of anger. The Bear is always great when it leaves the restaurant, but there is something so intoxicating about “Review,” an episode that embraces the chaos of working in a restaurant in a number of brilliant and surprising ways.
1
“Forks”
Season 2, Episode 7
“Forks” is an episode of television that stands out not just as The Bear‘s best episode, but as one of the best episodes of TV in recent years. In the episode, Richie spends a week staging at Ever, a Michelin-starred restaurant where Carmy used to work. Richie initially has no interest in working there, but the week ultimately has a massive impact on him. He learns the importance of putting effort into even the smallest details, and he carries it with him in every episode going forward.
Richie initially has no interest in working there, but the week ultimately has a massive impact on him.
The Bear‘s other concept episodes are excellent, but “Forks” is especially great for the lasting impact that it has on Richie. In just one episode, Richie experiences genuine and lasting character development. “Forks” is just a fantastic episode from start to finish, with clever writing, a number of really wonderful conversations, and a really triumphant ending for Richie.