One of my most anticipated shows for the year was the latest season of FX’s culinary drama, The Bear. After the first two seasons enraptured me, I was anxious to see how the story would escalate here. This season totals ten episodes and is streaming now on FX on Hulu.

The plotline of season three picks up following the grand opening of the new restaurant at the end of Season 2. Our characters, Carmy and Sydney, are now tasked with making sure they can stay open while dealing with continuing interpersonal and logistic conflicts. Carmen and Marcus deal with the loss of some loved ones while Sidney grapples with doubts about her partnership in this new endeavor.

One thing I did enjoy about this season is how the presentation has subtly shifted to mirror the restaurant’s evolution. Where the early seasons felt very raw, casual, and loud here the cinematography and sound design are more subdued, as though mimicking the gourmet cuisine being served. The performances from the main cast are also still exceptional with the standout role for me still being Richie, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Unfortunately, I still felt this was by far the weakest season of the show. The biggest reason for this is within the editing. While individual shots and narrative moments are sequenced in a perfectly serviceable way, there needed to be far more cuts. Some episodes and scenes drag on for way too long after conveying what is necessary; other scenes build up tension that never goes anywhere.

It’s quite jarring when you compare it to the concise nature of the first season. A season that employed chaotic energy that would culminate into a series of important narrative or character-building events. While the second season included a few longer episodes, they were especially thought-provoking or maintained your interest with a constant feeling of tension, which the show can capture so well. Here, many episodes felt rather inconclusive. I suppose this reflects the general uncertainty that comprises the core theme of the season, but it makes for a less entertaining watch.

In a similar vein, the lack of actual service scenes impacted my enjoyment of this season on the whole. Much of the runtime is spent delving into the philosophy behind the culinary world which is certainly valuable. However, what made the show especially engaging for me was the combination of this aspect along with the tension and drama that resulted from putting these words into practice. Obviously, this element hasn’t been completely removed from the show but it is noticeably reduced, which I hope to see rectified in the future.

The comedic elements are also quite weak in this season. There is one particular bit, which like most of the aspects in this season, is overused to the point where it becomes irritating. This isn’t the case with every joke. The series is still able to find bits of naturally occurring humor within the chaos of everyday living.

Ultimately, I feel this season might grow on me depending on how the following one plays out. A lot of setup is done during these ten episodes and unlike the previous two seasons, you will certainly be left craving a payoff that doesn’t quite come to fruition. As is, season 3 is a plate that lacks much flavor and often leaves you feeling as though you are being served the same meal repeatedly.

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The Bear

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Good performances from cast
• Well shot

Cons

• Poor editing
• Lack of true climax
• Comedy elements