THE BEAR SEASON 4:

FEAR, THE DREAM, AND HUMILITY

Fear, dreams, humility, and the feeling of being stuck all contribute to why Season 4 has some powerful and meaningful moments that resonate with us and remind us why this series captured our hearts from the beginning. When humility is added and we see the characters doing the work, it creates a satisfying recipe. I am giving a spoiler alert if you haven’t seen Season 4.

Each season offers a fresh chance to reconnect or strengthen the audience's bond with the series concept. You want viewers to keep coming back because they love the character arcs and dynamics that create meaning and leave them eager for more. Season 4 feels like a return to the original formula.

The first episode of Season 4 takes us back into Carm's dreams and explores why he initially wanted to work in the restaurant business. We see this through a dream he has of him and Mikey talking about Carm’s original motivation for wanting his own restaurant, along with the joy we feel from his aspirations. This nostalgia contrasts with his waking moment when he sees “Groundhog Day” playing with Bill Murray, prompting him to ask, “What would you do if you were stuck in one place?” Every day was the same, and nothing you did mattered?” In the season setup, Carm looks at the newspaper, puts it down, and leaves. He then returns to read the review, which has the headline, “The Bear Stumbles with Culinary Dissonance.”

We feel the kick in the gut as Carm reacts to the review. We connect why Carm connects to what Bill Murray said in “Groundhog Day.” Carm is stuck. We see the world before versus the world after. In the past, we have associated dreams with wish fulfillment. There is a magic in feeling Carm’s aspirations before they happen. When we return to the present, we sense Carm’s dilemma and his guilt.

On his way to work, Carm writes a text to Mikey. We see the string of unanswered texts since Mikey’s death. Carm answers a question that Mikey asked in his dream about the name of an Irish restaurant that their father loved. Their father’s love of a particular Irish restaurant is a contributing factor to Carm’s desire to succeed in the restaurant business.

We see the reactions of Nat, Marcus, Tina, Ebra, Richie, and Syd to the negative review. They all share the setback and reflect on their shared dream.

Shapiro calls Syd. He leaves a message saying he’s excited to continue the conversation about his new spot.

Jimmy shows up with a man called “The Computer.” The issue gets clarified. They have 1440 hours left before the place might have to shut down. In other words, they have a two-month window to make things work. They discuss the holes in the parachute. Carm begins to defend that there were some nice words in the review. Jimmy asks Carm if he knows what dissonance means. The Computer says, “Dissonance is harmonically fucked.”

Richie takes responsibility for dropping the ball for not knowing that the guy who did the review was in there three times. We sense his humility and his desire to take responsibility. Carm attempts to step up and admits that it was his fault, as he keeps changing the menu all the time. Carm’s humility is still searching for a way to express itself. Richie and Carm argue. We hear the loud ticking clock.

Richie hires a team of three, including a woman named Jess, to assist them. We feel the conflict. They all act, acknowledging some of the weak spots. They hit obstacles. They start to relearn the value of collaboration.

These moments are memorable because they draw us back in. The chaos, fear, navigating family dysfunction, and the desire to do the work mirror the current state of the world. We connect and see ourselves. We all understand what it’s like to have a dream and then face failure. We can become victims or let humility guide us to a stronger place where we redefine our path.

The main questions driving Season Four are whether they can turn things around in two months, if Syd will stay with The Bear or go with Shapiro, and whether Carm will make peace with himself, his mother, Richie, and Claire as he tries to move forward. I found that the standout episodes were 1, 2, 3, 7, and 9. Some scenes will leave you in awe with their depth and creativity. Some moments could benefit from the idea that less is more when it comes to the story. There is plenty to love. The setup for Season 5 is compelling. The concept, along with the core characters and their dynamics, is what keeps us coming back.