The Bear Season 4 Confirms A Harsh Reality About The Show That's Only Going To Get Worse In Season 5

The Bear season 4 saw the cast go through major developments that brought them further out of their own personal struggles, but this may have come at the cost of a key element of the show’s early success. The FX and Hulu drama series was created by Christopher Storer alongside Joanna Calo, with The Bear season 4 continuing to follow Jeremy Allen White’s young chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, as he inherits his family’s struggling sandwich shop from his older brother following his death. In the wake of this tragedy, Carmy hopes to turn around its prospects by turning it into a premier, high-class restaurant.

However, even with the support of his staff, friends, and family, Carmy’s journey has not been short of new challenges and troubles. Between his traumas and troubled personal life, the young chef has had to grapple with financial challenges and over-ambitious plans that could make or break the business. Even going into season 4, Carmy and the staff of The Bear were given a two-month window to turn the business around, or face the high possibility of it closing for good.

The Bear Season 4 Confirms The Show Thrives More In Chaos Than In Calmness

The Series Earned Acclaim For Its Careful & Honest Character Explorations

The Bear has followed its characters as they try to bring hope and change out of the shocking tragedy of Mikey’s (Jon Bernthal) suicide, after insurmountable debt and the strain of running the restaurant proved to be too much for him. Despite this optimism, the series had them face several challenges and setbacks, as troubled renovations, bad business decisions, and mixed reviews left success uncertain. Alongside this, Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) all had their own personal demons.

While it made for stressful viewing experiences, the chaos and anxiety were part of the series’ appeal, as The Bear had a careful handling of difficult themes such as depression, and a respectful portrayal of the stresses of the restaurant industry. When it came to critical reviews, The Bear seasons 1 and 2 were at their best when they dived into these heavier moments. However, as the restaurant finally gained a solid footing in season 3, the tone of the series began to turn around.

Why The Bear Season 4’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Is So Much Lower Than Previous Seasons

FX’s The Bear season 4 has received the worst critical reception in the series’ history, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score below its predecessors.

Season 3 moved the series along, tackling The Bear’s early business days as the staff set out to give it a solid reputation. While Sydney’s potential departure, Carmy’s erratic business decisions, and the potential fate of a poor review from The Chicago Tribune could condemn them to, the staff of the restaurant still had firmer footing in the past when compared to previous seasons. This helped cooler heads prevail in the kitchen, as each member of the team felt more confident in their roles.

The Bear Season 5 Is Set Up To Be Even Less Chaotic Than Season 4

The Core Cast Are Finding Their Ways Out of Their Struggles

Low angle shot of Carmy in The Bear — Image made by Yeider Chacon

For a series that built its acclaim around the handling of its tenser moments, later seasons of The Bear becoming calmer as the cast becomes more settled means that they have lost the spark that drew many to the series in the first place. Furthermore, The Bear season 4’s ending saw Carmy say farewell to the restaurant to improve his personal life, leaving Sydney and Richie in charge and recognized for their contributions after the former felt underappreciated in season 3. As such, even the characters’ personal lives are becoming calmer.

Though this may have seen the series lose the chaotic spark that helped it make a name for itself, it is a necessary trade-off to give its characters a satisfying journey. Despite its troubled moments, The Bear is a story of growing from pain and tragedy, so, understandably, the series has to stay true to that narrative and help its cast heal, meaning later seasons will be less chaotic. However, healing isn’t a straightforward path, so even if The Bear season 5 is calmer, there are always new challenges for Carmy and the staff to face in their journey.