The Bear

Die Serie The Bear ist nahezu verpflichtend für jeden Film- und Serienfeinschmecker. Genretechnisch handelt es sich um eine untypische Serie. Es wäre oberflächlich, sie als Kochserie oder Komödie, Drama oder Dramedy zu bezeichnen. Man kann ihr keinen Aufkleber geben, mir fällt keine genaue Beschreibung ein. Oft passiert scheinbar nichts, es werden absolut banale Szenen gezeigt, die jedoch einen Sinn haben und ein faszinierendes Bild ergeben. Bei der ersten Staffel habe ich mich ständig gefragt: Warum, warum, warum. Bei der zweiten Staffel habe ich nur zufrieden gebrummt: Ja klar, so muss es sein. Ich stimme den anderen Rezensenten zu, dass die sechste Folge der zweiten Staffel mit dem Weihnachtsessen der absolute Höhepunkt des Serienvergnügens ist. Jamie Lee Curtis hat hier fabelhaft eine Figur dargestellt, von denen es sicherlich viele auf der Welt gibt und die ihr eigenes Leben sowie das Leben ihrer Angehörigen verderben können. In der nächsten Folge freut man sich über die nächste Oscar-Schauspielerin Olivia Colman. In einer Nebenrolle in beiden Staffeln glänzt Oliver Platt. Diese Serie kann auf den ersten Blick langweilig, depressiv oder seltsam wirken, sie ist aber ein verborgener Schatz. Die zweite Staffel hat die Latte noch viel höher gelegt, ich kann es kaum erwarten, die dritte zu sehen. Meine persönliche Meinung – viele Schauspieler*innen können in eine Schublade gesteckt werden und kommen nie aus einer Kultfigur heraus. Jeremy Allen White wird für mich immer der beliebte Lip aus Shameless sein, aber bei The Bear habe ich wahrscheinlich nie an diese Figur gedacht, weil er Carmy absolut großartig spielte. Zum Schluss möchte ich noch sagen, dass Richie den Preis für die beste Serienverwandlung verdient hat. (17.11.2023)

“Dude, it would be weird to work in a restaurant and not completely lose your mind.” A pressure cooker of emotions, insecurities, ambitions, characters, depression, food, joys, self-destructive behaviour patterns, anxieties and the enslaving daily routine in the "kitchen behind the scenes". All this in a frenetic, adrenaline-fuelled guise (it's constantly in motion, everything and everyone is spinning, five dialogues running over each other, etc.), but it's always first and foremost about the characters. The way they are handled, and how Storer wasn't afraid to do a 180 degree turn for the second series and still stay true to the concept – respect! It feels like an indie film from the 1990s, with Sorkin on steroids writing the dialogue. Despite all the cinephile allusions (Storer isn't afraid to repeatedly make it known how big a fan of Michael Mann and Ridley Scott he is), it's idiosyncratic, haunting, captivating. And despite (or because of) all the adrenaline, chaos and emotions, it can take you by the heart and devastate you as well as make you smile. | S1: 5/5 | S2: 5/5 | (21.07.2023)

Season 1: I have quite mixed feelings about this. The start was probably too hectic and loud for me, and even though I work in the kitchen and have an idea of that stress, it was never this intense. However, I can imagine that this is reality somewhere, and because I like the gastronomic genre, I have gradually started to bond with the characters. Ironically, it captivated me the most towards the end. It's a shame that the characters are intentionally so inaccessible, so I believe it will depend a lot on the audience's opinion. The story is just marginal, to not hinder the exploration among the kitchen staff and watching their work. The ending was probably the strongest part the series offered, so I'm okay with looking forward to the second season, which I give a great chance of liking even more. Season 2 for me definitely easily outshines the first one, where I had to get used to the whole squad here and try to understand them while also experiencing the form of this brisk, atypical character development. The second season is more relaxed, yet it offers much more. A glimpse into the story of each character and moreover absolutely surprising guest appearances by A-list actors such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Olivia Colman, Sarah Paulson, and post-glow-upped Will Poulter?! Just fantastic. This is simply a piece that is filmed so sincerely and humanly and can delve into such a mix of emotions that you can't believe that the episodes are only 30 minutes long and there are only ten of them. Top-notch direction, brilliant acting, and incredibly authentic. Season 3 is full of artistic filmmaking that simply indulges in imagery, sound, acting performances, thus minimizing the development of the plot and focusing mainly on analyzing the past, relationships, and characters' psychology. It relies heavily on exploring characters' motivations through flashbacks, so for some viewers, it may be disappointing because it's evident that the creators don't even want to develop the storyline, and The Bear becomes a series for gourmets who appreciate artistic bursts. I am satisfied halfway, but more towards the positive side. Paradoxically, I really liked the traumatizing childbirth episode with Jamie Lee Curtis. I simply adore the A-list cameos here. In my opinion, it's a beautifully heartfelt series, but I enjoyed some episodes more than others. (12.02.2023)

It started as absolute chaos in a small Chicago bistro's kitchen, likely meant to shock the audience. Even though I could barely grasp the characters' thoughts, I stuck with it and I'm glad I did. Over the next seven episodes, everything began to make sense, and I fell in love with the characters. For the first time in a long while, I felt sad that a series was ending. As soon as the second season hits Disney+, I'm all in. This is perfect drama set in the culinary world of Chicago, featuring fantastic performances from actors I’d never heard of before. Plus, the last two episodes of the first season are the pinnacle. Absolutely stellar work! (24.07.2023)

A broth of stress and emotions. Surprising revelation? Owning a restaurant is suicidal, and trying to turn a buffet into a fancy restaurant is tantamount to purgatory. Acting-wise, it’s amazing. The pace is frantic and there’s always something happening. Some liken it to Boiling Point, but Bear is a little more optimistic, though the falls are all the more painful. Really strong. (14.02.2023)