[TV Review] The Bear
They're making Carmy the one thing I hate about this show.
Trigger Warning: Language
Main Takeaway: “Carmy wrecks everything.”
OVERRALL VIBE: “PTSD and accurate portrayal of a horrible work environment in a kitchen. Nightmares. Stress. Anxiety. Great Story.”
Watchable: Somewhat. S1 and S2 are best.
The main character is so punchable
“The Bear”(TV show)
Just finished the fourth episode in Season 3 and I am THIS close to not watching the rest of this show. Carmy is such a shit character, yo. I don’t get where the back and forth keeps happening with Syd and Richie without some sense of growth. Every episode is just another chance for Carmy to be a total screw up and boy, does he come through with being a mess. He does it with FLAIR. The shouting, the lack of resolution, MORE shouting… I understand the realities of a kitchen and how it can be in real life but the show runners forget that we’re a damn audience just trying to enjoy a fun show. Shit. Not EVERY scene has to be a drag out shouting match and they’ve lost the ability to weave the kindness into the story the way the first two seasons seemed to do better.
I understand that the writers want to set Carmy up in a stressful season so they can show the growth in Season 4 but I think they’re going to lose people along the way. I’m one of them. I hate this version of Carmy and I would love to punch him in the ever-lovin face for all the shit he pulls. I am literally writhing in my seat with how uncomfortable every scene makes me. I want to scream “Fuck you!” right back.
Really. Similar to how we all cheered when Joffrey drank the poison and died; I would cheer if someone just laid Carmy out and made him realize all the damage he’s done to his team with a few teeth missing to ensure the lesson stuck. I should thank the writers for pissing me off so much, great writing I suppose in that the character is easily regrettable to watch. Season 3 is not fun and I’m mostly worried for Sydney and Richie and the rest of the crew. I truly wouldn’t care if Carmy was cut out of the entire thing for a while, go get therapy, go to jail, go die, whatever. Just stop shouting and being a total complete asshole.
Season 2 Carmy was growing, learning somewhat, and at least trying to approach his crew with some sense of their needs and wants. It’s where Marcus was able to grow, it’s where Tina was given the trust, and Syd was given the chance to lead. Carmy was still a disaster but the fact that the show focused on so many other positive wins made it easier to watch.
And then the attempted relationship with Claire. What an idiot. That, combined with the ridiculous level of expectations Carmy has of EVERYONE ELSE (not himself, let’s remember the fridge) makes him a completely unapproachable character. We even SEE this in how Sydney tries to talk to him in every/any scene in S3 E2. He’s so unlikable that I truly don’t see how anyone else in the show is still around tolerating him. If it was real life, I’d think most of the staff would quit after one day.
I really hate the guy. It’s taking me out of the show.
•••
Love,
R. Carnie Littlefield
Littlefield Log
March 25th, 2025
