Besides the long process of integration in regards to the newly agreed-upon terms and conditions of the American film, television, and radio industry, many productions have been delayed, or at least somewhat affected by these game-changing transformations. Which for us, poor mortal viewers, simply means some of our little shows got delayed. Boo hoo.
Nonetheless, I don’t mean to be antipathetic, especially given that some of the shows I anticipated quite a bit myself, such as season 5 of Strangers Things, season 3 of The White Lotus, or season 2 of The Last Of Us - production delayed, date release to be announced. Yikes.
But worry not, I am here to save you in this new content-famine we might be experiencing for the next few years. I don’t know about you, but I constantly happen to find out about new shows that have existed for ages, have numerous seasons, and I have never heard about them or given them a chance. In this column, I will provide you with an overview of the very best of TV that you can catch up on as you wait for the new ones to be released. No matter what happens, TV will always be there for you. That’s rule number one. Rule number two: HBO is not TV, it’s art. Remember that, folks, and you’ll be good to go.
We will start with one of my recent favourites (not by HBO, but it’s so good it could be), one that made a lot of commotion among the audience and critics alike - The Bear. Created by Christopher Storer and released in June 2022, the show captured the audience’s heart for reasons hard to express - you just have to see it. Its genius lies in its cinematic language, supported by realistic, witty, and very fast dialogues, performed by amazing actors as equally amazing characters (especially the gorgeous, mysterious, and always-depressed-looking Jeremy Allen White, who you might know as Lip from Shameless). The beautiful synergy of these elements makes this show a work of art, offering us a glimpse into the stressfully satisfying world of cooking, ranging from a sketchy sandwich shop to high-class cuisine environments.
Something worth mentioning that I found out during the strikes is that one of the staff writers on the show, Alex O’Keefe, “lived below the poverty line” as he worked on the show, which he revealed in response to Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, saying that actors and writers have “unrealistic expectations” and are “damaging the industry”.
O’Keefe shared that because the show is streamed on big platforms and those working behind the scenes do not get any additional pay, making writers’ residuals “cents on the dollar with Hulu”. The writer’s salary was $43k for his entire work on the show. There are no reports on how much the show made, or how much the actors make, but some sources state that White got $250k per episode. Let that sink in.
The story follows Carmen (Jeremy Allen White), a young, very talented chef who inherits a sandwich shop in Chicago after his brother passes away. Carmen wants to save his brother’s business and decides to resign from his prestigious position in the most exclusive restaurant in New York. Accompanied by his brother’s OG staff as well as a newly hired, ambitious sous-chef, Sydney (gorgeous Ayo Edebiri), he finds creative and effective ways to bring his brother’s shop back to its glory, as he discovers more and more of his brother’s secrets, arrangements and debts.
Although the show addresses very serious subjects of mental illness, family relationships, and grief as it ponders upon the dark side of ambition and success, it does so in a way that is so engaging and so snappy that just as the characters in the show, we don’t really have time to process it.
When we watch it, we are fully entertained, almost to the point of being overwhelmed. It is only later that we can integrate what we just saw, again, just like the characters in the show experiencing high-stress environments, where their reactions can be purely centred on what’s going on in the kitchen. Anything personal, whether with a fellow work colleague or family member needs to stay outside of the kitchen.
In addition, the show serves constant points of relief that break the freezing icey feeling one gets from the kitchen staff constantly yelling at each other. The show is genuinely so funny that one cannot look away. You get addicted to the alternating feelings of stress, shock, and laughter, and you just can’t help but want to see what’s next.
The juxtaposition between the heart-breaking and high-pressure events of the characters’ daily life, and the glimpses of their vulnerability, intimacy, and surrender, presents a genuine portrayal of the fragile act of balancing one’s life - family, love, work, dreams, ambitions. In this case specifically, through the lens of a hyper-paced, gritty, Chicago kitchen.
There are currently two seasons of The Bear, which are available on Hulu and Dinsey+. The third season was announced to be released in 2024 last month, but there is no official release date for now. This means you have plenty of time to catch up on both seasons, 8 episodes of the first one, and 10 of the second one.
Most episodes are very fast-paced and last around half an hour, although some last less (like my favorite, 18-minute, single-take episode 7 “Review” of season 1), and some more (like my other favorite episode 6 “Fishes'' of season 2, featuring outstanding performances by Jamie Lee Curtis and Bob Oudenkirk).
The show received numerous nominations and awards for BAFTA, Golden Globes, Critics’ Awards, and many, many others. Get into it, thank me later.
Chef’s kiss.
