“The Bear” was nominated for 13 Emmy’s this past Wednesday shortly after the premier of their second season on Hulu June 22.
“The Bear” is about a chef named Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his efforts to reinvent his brother Micheal’s restaurant after his suicide. Season two further develops the relationships between Carmy’s family and friends as they build up the restaurant.
With just 10 episodes around 30 minutes each, some may feel the urge to speed through the engaging story as fast as possible. However, the set, performances, shots and music demand the full attention of the audience.
While season one provided a window for the viewer into a terrifyingly hectic restaurant kitchen, season two shifts to a more optimistic perspective.
However, season two does continue to provide the same anxiety-inducing screaming matches and time crunches seen in season one. Although you may have to pause the TV to pace around the living room and take a deep breath, you may also find yourselves smiling at the incredibly human performances and conversations.
There is not one stand-out performance in “The Bear,” there are too many to count. Look no further than the Emmy nominations list for proof.
Nominations for the cast include Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Jeremy Allen White), Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Ayo Edebiri), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and two nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series (Jon Bernthal and Oliver Platt).
Those not nominated still did an outstanding job as well at giving their characters depth and life within their roles.
In episode four of season two, titled “Honeydew,” a baker at the restaurant, Marcus (Lionel Boyce), travels to Copenhagen to learn new baking techniques but struggles leaving Chicago and his ill mother. Boyce’s performance conveyed all of the naivety and guilt that comes with new experiences and leaving home.
In addition to the cast’s nominations, “The Bear” was nominated for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation. The soundtrack to this show is perfectly selected, whether it is incorporated into the plot or background noise.
In the third episode of the season, titled “Sundae,” Richie, Carmy’s cousin and coworker at the restaurant, drops his daughter, Eva, off at her mother’s house. As she exits the car he says, “And Eva? I love Taylor Swift, too. I just needed a break.”
After several bad decisions made by Richie in the following episodes, he is sent to study in a different restaurant kitchen. There he meets experts in hospitality. In episode seven titled “Forks,” Richie drives home after work, singing “Love Story” by Taylor Swift. This perfectly illustrates the kid-like wonder Richie feels in the episode at rediscovering his passion for people while reincorporating an earlier throwaway comment.
When it is not Taylor Swift, “The Bear’s” classic Midwest dad-rock soundtrack fits incredibly into the episodes, featuring artists including Wilco, The Smashing Pumpkins and The Replacements.
Although “The Bear” has not been officially renewed for a season three, season two left several questions unanswered, such as the unread messages and voicemails Marcus received from his mother’s caretaker in the final episode. With a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the Emmys approaching in September, there is a demand for more of these characters and this heartfelt story.
Correction: This article initially misstated award of Emmy nominations. The nominations were for its first season.
