True, but it picks up again halfway through episode 7.
Good show, great characters. Cousin Richie doesn’t feel like an actor but a guy you grew up with and know all too well.
Best series ever made?
The frenetic energy and pace is beyond anything I’ve seen on TV. The 7th episode lasts 19 minutes. It is essentially one scene. When it is over I thought it was just the opening and I realized I hadn’t breathed in 19 minutes.
No. But absolutely superb nonetheless. In that rare echelon of shows that doesn’t leave me thinking about what I particularly liked, but rather thinking about the small number of things that I didn’t think were flawless.
The lead actor was an absolute tour de force, as was his cousin - I can’t imagine what it must feel like to get a script like that as an actor but he wrung everything out of it. I expect that monologue to be a drama school audition staple for decades and I don’t expect it to ever be done better than it was in the show.
Fun fact - Oliver Platt (Cicero)'s brother is the NYTimes restaurant critic Adam Platt.
Things I didn’t like (highlight to read, avoiding spoilers):
- the actress who played the understudy chef didn’t sell me in every scene, I’m sorry to say. The argument with cousin that ended with him being stabbed didn’t feel real to me and it was her performance that spoiled it. She was great in other scenes (cooking for the pastry chef at home especially), but 7/10 stands out when everyone else is a 10.
- the goofy scene where she diffuses some mob dispute by serving sandwiches?! The dispute wasn’t clear (was it really about who gets to stand on the sidewalk?), and the resolution felt contrived and in service of the plot.
Agree with your spoiler part. It was distracting at times, maybe as often as not?
Spoiler question below:
I’m trying to figure out the coexistence of the cash stuffed into the tomato cans and immense tax debt in this storyline. Was Michael (the brother, I think that was his name, also great casting) just stuffing cash away while ignoring his basic financial liabilities, to the point where he couldn’t even purchase napkins? That seems absurd. I watched fairly closely but maybe I missed that explanation.
Yeah, that part didn’t make sense to me either.
By the way, I know you are a wild driver. You ever see that short doc, ‘from one second to the next’?
If yes, what did you think of it?
Actually you don’t know that, because I’m not, but I appreciate your concern.
You are likely a great driver. But you did describe some habits on here that made me worry a bit about your safety.
But have you seen this flick? Its only 30 minutes, and it is truly life-changing.
I kid you not.
Best series ever made?
The frenetic energy and pace is beyond anything I’ve seen on TV. The 7th episode lasts 19 minutes. It is essentially one scene. When it is over I thought it was just the opening and I realized I hadn’t breathed in 19 minutes.
No. But absolutely superb nonetheless. In that rare echelon of shows that doesn’t leave me thinking about what I particularly liked, but rather thinking about the small number of things that I didn’t think were flawless.
The lead actor was an absolute tour de force, as was his cousin - I can’t imagine what it must feel like to get a script like that as an actor but he wrung everything out of it. I expect that monologue to be a drama school audition staple for decades and I don’t expect it to ever be done better than it was in the show.
Fun fact - Oliver Platt (Cicero)'s brother is the NYTimes restaurant critic Adam Platt.
Things I didn’t like (highlight to read, avoiding spoilers):
- the actress who played the understudy chef didn’t sell me in every scene, I’m sorry to say. The argument with cousin that ended with him being stabbed didn’t feel real to me and it was her performance that spoiled it. She was great in other scenes (cooking for the pastry chef at home especially), but 7/10 stands out when everyone else is a 10.
- the goofy scene where she diffuses some mob dispute by serving sandwiches?! The dispute wasn’t clear (was it really about who gets to stand on the sidewalk?), and the resolution felt contrived and in service of the plot.
Agree with your spoiler part. It was distracting at times, maybe as often as not?
Spoiler question below:
I’m trying to figure out the coexistence of the cash stuffed into the tomato cans and immense tax debt in this storyline. Was Michael (the brother, I think that was his name, also great casting) just stuffing cash away while ignoring his basic financial liabilities, to the point where he couldn’t even purchase napkins? That seems absurd. I watched fairly closely but maybe I missed that explanation.
I’m still trying to piece together an explanation for your spoiler question as well. Re-watched the final episode this weekend and picked up a few crumbs, but still haven’t figured it out. Here’s what I noticed the 2nd go-round:
I don’t think the numbers in the ledger were exactly an overdue tax bill - Carm mentions that the numbers add up to exactly the amount that Mikey owed to someone (presumably, either mob or a loan shark, IMO).
Carm asks Tina what she knows about “KBL Electric” - which is the name associated with the $300K worth of entries in the ledger - she say she doesn’t know anything about that.
In the closing montage, they focus in on one can of tomatoes lying on its side underneath an empty shelf - the stamp on the bottom of the can says “KBL”
I feel like I’m close to ‘getting it’ but not quite there yet. May take yet another re-watch.
OK, I just finished the last episode. I am not a binge watcher. I like to watch one episode and think about it and then watch the next one later.
OMG!! That was so fantastic. The monologue at the beginning at the meeting, he should get an Emmy nomination. And the cousin should get an Emmy nomination just for the entire series.
The $300,000 was owed to the uncle. He’s the guy where they had the kids birthday party and also the one who arranged the bachelor party.
How the money got into the unopened cans though, that’s a good mystery. Had the brother been planning to kill himself for quite a while, and sucked away the money, knowing it would be needed?
On the scene with Sydney and the cousin, the way I saw it was that she did not instigate the action, but rather the cousin turned around to walk away and then somebody in the kitchen went by him and he backed up into the knife. Might have to watch it again to double check that.
Like instigator said, that was the perfect ending. Though I will be happy to see a season two just because I’m now invested in these people.
OK, I just finished the last episode. I am not a binge watcher. I like to watch one episode and think about it and then watch the next one later.
OMG!! That was so fantastic. The monologue at the beginning at the meeting, he should get an Emmy nomination. And the cousin should get an Emmy nomination just for the entire series.
The $300,000 was owed to the uncle. He’s the guy where they had the kids birthday party and also the one who arranged the bachelor party.
How the money got into the unopened cans though, that’s a good mystery. Had the brother been planning to kill himself for quite a while, and sucked away the money, knowing it would be needed?
On the scene with Sydney and the cousin, the way I saw it was that she did not instigate the action, but rather the cousin turned around to walk away and then somebody in the kitchen went by him and he backed up into the knife. Might have to watch it again to double check that.
Like instigator said, that was the perfect ending. Though I will be happy to see a season two just because I’m now invested in these people.
The funny part with the knife was when he was walking out he was told, “you deserved it,†and he goes ,â€yay, I probably did.†I loved the show. It’s weird, I don’t really like cooking shows but I love movies and TV shows about chefs.
Info about season two.
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a40678820/the-bear-season-2/
And Jeremy Allen White just won the Golden Globe for best actor in a TV show.
Season 2 begins this Thursday!
‘The Bear’
When to watch: Season 2 arrives Thursday, on Hulu.
The Original Beef of Chicagoland may be closed, but “The Bear,†the FX show that last summer launched a thousand essays about food bros and Italian beef, is back. The new season shifts gears slightly, as Carmen (Jeremy Allen White), now semi-settled in Chicago, attempts to turn his family’s former sandwich shop into a Michelin-starred restaurant with his kitchen partner, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri).
Carmy is still a focus this season, but “The Bear†has also truly blossomed into an ensemble piece, with Edebiri deservedly sharing the spotlight. Other performers, including Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas and Abby Elliott, also have standout moments as members of the team, and Molly Gordon joins the cast as an old friend of Carmy’s with extremely flirtatious vibes.
“The Bear†continues to be a stressful watch at times, but it is also full of lovely grace notes as these characters try to emerge from the muck of their lives and make delicious and beautiful dishes; yelling is still a main ingredient, but so is heart. Unlike with last season, which rolled out new episodes weekly, this season’s 10 episodes drop all at once. It will be tempting to binge, but you’ll want to savor this one.
Have you watched Boiling Point on Netflix ?
British film - similar-ish sort of premise about a chef with his demons, although no real comedy to be had. However the whole film was done in one take and apparently was the inspiration for that Episode of The Bear.
I thought it was fantastic - Stephen graham is one of those actors I could watch anytime.
Yeah I heard it was good. It’s in my queue to watch
I watch the Christmas episode last night. Holy shit, that was intense. The chaotic, talking over each other can be too much at times, but it made this episode work. I had to take a deep breath when the credits rolled.
It’s remarkable how consistently outstanding the acting is in this series.
I watch the Christmas episode last night. Holy shit, that was intense. The chaotic, talking over each other can be too much at times, but it made this episode work. I had to take a deep breath when the credits rolled.
It’s remarkable how consistently outstanding the acting is in this series.
Talking to my son about this episode, I said it reminded me of Uncut Gems for the chaotic nature. He said his anxiety was going through the roof.
The next episode is my favorite.
Just watched S2 E2. I like to savor each episode and think about it. Sid and her dad having dinner with the birthday cupcake got me big time because my dad‘s birthday is coming up. Carmey needs to stay away from that girl. He does not have time for all that. You could feel the cook’s nervousness walking into the culinary school with all the young kids.
This show is so great. Jeremy Allen White is so sexy.
S2E3. I definitely don’t like the doctor girl.
I have not been to Chicago since probably, the late 1990s. I think I might need to go back and visit. The food scene looks pretty good.
Finished the season last night … the final episode was superb. In general, I loved season 2 with the exception of the Christmas party episode; it was artfully done but too frenetic for me. Too stressful. I loved Marcus’ Amsterdam episode; “Every Second Counts.” I think The Bear is an apropos bookend to Ted Lasso; different takes on flawed people doing their best and building something together.
Finished the season last night … the final episode was superb. In general, I loved season 2 with the exception of the Christmas party episode; it was artfully done but too frenetic for me. Too stressful. I loved Marcus’ Amsterdam episode; “Every Second Counts.” I think The Bear is an apropos bookend to Ted Lasso; different takes on flawed people doing their best and building something together.
Frenetic, that’s the word I was looking for the other day. But got take on the show.