The Bear - Series One
⏱ 5 min
The process of finding a new show to watch can sometimes be a tiring one, especially when you’ve reached the point of exhausting your favourite go-to shows. We’ve all been there right?, in that space of unknowingness. Well, if you’re looking for an excellent recommendation, you’re in the right place. Let’s discuss The Bear, available to view on Disney+.
Chaos overload
Human’s love drama, whether they admit it or not, and one thing is for sure.. human’s love drama that isn’t theirs. Hence why reality TV is so popular and over the last twenty years has attained a surge of views. The Bear isn’t exactly reality drama in the traditional sense, but I do want to prepare you that it is a journey of absolute chaos, insanity, and instability, yet artfully depicted through the theme of food, family, and friendship. These three elements within daily life, after all, are not free from chaos; naturally chaos emerges at points in life across friendship, family, and food.. you might burn your onions, upset a friend, or argue with family members. All of which are human, and it’s how we ride the rippling wave of uncertainty that leads to balance and harmony in the end. This energy is mirrored through the turbulent experience of the protagonist, Carmen aka Carmy, on his journey of mourning, loss, and overcoming the reality of losing his beloved, older brother.
Transience of time
Series one is made up of around eight episodes which vary in length, representing a tone of normality and shaking hands with everyday life — some episodes (days) feeling longer and others feeling shorter. The non-linear length of each episode led me to think about how the series is not about falling into a space of aspiration to any of the characters, and much rather it’s about understanding the individual nuances of their personas. Appreciating the layers of complexity that surround each and every one of them. And just to be clear who ‘each and every one’ of these individuals are: Carmy is a chef, and the majority of this series is set in his natural habitat (a kitchen!), surrounded by.. you guessed it: Chefs!
Have you ever thought about what it’s like to be a chef?
I hadn’t, until watching this series. It’s similar to the pursuit of being an artist, yet through the lens of cooking which plays a unique role in all of our daily lives. Cooking is a universal language that connects cultures, families, friends, and right now, you and I. Cooking embeds itself throughout each and every moment of The Bear, and becomes the language that defines and builds emotion. Food binds friendships, it marinates a sense of understanding, it strengthens connection, it shreds pain at some times too, and all the while it brings light to the human intricacies that are inevitable in modern life.
So why watch The Bear? Enjoy the grizzle of screams, introspection, companionship, all in an ordinary, unpolished, and accessible setting, directed & edited with an immaculate attention to storytelling, acting, and cinematography.
