Anxiety and purpose in ‘The Bear’
Illustration by Killian Goodale-Porter.
Dylan Hostetter, Opinions and Humor Editor
After racking up a handful of Critics Choice, Golden Globe and Emmy awards, and with its eagerly awaited third season on the horizon, I thought it would be as good a time as any to discuss Hulu’s “The Bear.”
I had heard the chatter of its greatness the same as everyone else when the second season was initially released, but like many fantastic shows, I stupidly told myself “I’ll get to it eventually.” When I finally sat down and took the time to watch it, I was mesmerized.
“The Bear” follows chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto as he returns home to take over his recently deceased brother’s restaurant in Chicago. The second season takes place over the course of three months where Carmen, known affectionately as “The Bear,” and his new partner Sydney struggle to open a new, eponymous restaurant.
The cast, writing and cinematography are all superb. Jeremy Allen White as Carmy and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney perfectly capture the push-and-pull dynamics of a new business partnership. Sydney may be a bit green when it comes to operating in a Michelin Star restaurant, but it is she who teaches Carmy not to be a better chef, but a better person.
Within the show, the city of Chicago feels as alive and with as much of a heartbeat and anxiety as any of the characters. The show itself could be categorized as an eight to ten-episode-long anxiety attack.
With this in mind, the show’s popularity is almost equally as mesmerizing. As part of a generation that is self-aware about being gripped with anxiety, it is surprising to me that media representing the very thing we dread in our day-to-day lives can be so popular. While some people may be turned off by the noise and stressful situations, many find it captivating.
“The Bear” is not the only media in the past several years that has drawn such a response from its audience. 2019’s “Uncut Gems,” starring Adam Sandler as a gambling-addicted jeweler in New York’s Diamond District, was similarly described by many as a two-hour anxiety attack, yet earned $50 million in the box office and several Independent Spirit Awards.
So why is it that such stress-ridden media — generally a term with a negative connotation — is so popular with audiences? I have two hypotheses.
First, I believe it is entirely possible that anxiety-inducing media can be looked at as akin to fear-inducing horror media. The best thing about horror films — part of the reason they are so popular with audiences on a subconscious level — is that they allow us to experience our deepest fears from the safety of the theater.
The axe-wielding maniac is not going to actually come through the screen and get you, just as it is of no consequence to you whether or not Carmy’s new restaurant opens on time. Any moment when Sydney experiences the anxiety of taking a leadership role, the audience can experience it along with her and safely work through their own feelings.
This brings me to my second idea as to why this show in particular is so popular: The audience is seeing anxieties overcome. More specifically, in the second season, many characters can work through their anxieties and find new purposes, giving the audience something to aspire to as they watch.
My favorite character is surely Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Richie. Richie is the prime example of my theory. He outright struggles with finding his purpose and how he fits into the new dynamics of the restaurant, a character arc that builds perfectly from the first season.
Instead of continuing to be a stubborn stalwart of The Beef, Richie fully embraces the restaurant’s new identity. He gains confidence in himself as a people person and finally finds the role he fits best. Along the way, Moss-Bachrach delivers some of the most comedic and emotional moments of the series.
Throughout both seasons, Sydney struggles with seeing herself as a capable leader. After her previous business failed, landing her back home with her father, she is often too nervous to take big swings. Despite this, she pushes through and knows her purpose, and in the end, feels proud of herself for the first time in a long time.
The only character that seems to be opposed to — or at least incapable of — making a positive change is Carmy. At the end of the second season, we see him punished for this, locked in a freezer to reckon with his thoughts and the consequences of his actions. The audience sees this as a cautionary tale of the consequences they may face if they do not take the proper time to address the anxieties in their own lives.
It may be weird to say that “The Bear” is like wish fulfillment for anxious people, but in a way, it is. As much as the first season throws us into some of the most anxiety-ridden situations ever put on television, season two shows us that it is possible to dig ourselves out of them, overcome obstacles and live the lives we imagine for ourselves.
