DeepSummary
Linda Holmes of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast is joined by Greta Johnson and Ronald Young Jr. to discuss the third season of the TV show 'The Bear'. They analyze the character development, nonlinear storytelling, and the central theme of grief and ghosts that haunt the characters. They praise the performances, especially Abby Elliott as Carmy's sister Sugar, but critique aspects like the lack of resolution and Carmy's stagnation.
The group discusses standout episodes like 'Napkins' directed by Ayo Edebiri and the one featuring Nat and her mother Donna played by Jamie Lee Curtis. They explore the dynamic between Carmy and Sydney as they open their fine dining restaurant, and Carmy's estrangement from those closest to him like his cousin Richie.
While appreciating the show's creative risks, they acknowledge some narrative choices like excessive flashbacks and guest appearances that didn't quite work. Overall, they find the season thoughtful and emotionally resonant, even as it leaves many storylines unresolved heading into a potential next season.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The third season explores complex themes of grief, creativity, ambition and their toxic consequences through Carmy's strained relationships.
- Despite strong performances and emotional resonance, the season suffers from lack of resolution and excessive subplots.
- The show continues to grapple with the question of what makes someone brilliant yet destructive in their pursuits.
- Standout episodes effectively delve into supporting characters' struggles with loss and identity.
- Carmy's unwavering passion comes at the cost of alienating those closest to him, including his creative partner Sydney.
- The nonlinear storytelling is polarizing but effectively reinforces the idea of ghosts from the past haunting characters.
- While uneven, the season remains a thoughtful meditation on the sacrifices of pursuing one's artistic vision relentlessly.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think the thing I was most frustrated with in this season is how stagnant Carmen is, and I understand that that is perhaps a necessity of his own character, but I think the story suffered for it.“ by Greta Johnson
- “It's dystopian butter.“ by Carmy
- “So one of the things that you discover if you watch this season is that after ten episodes, you hit a screen that says, to be continued and they don't resolve, really any of the main stories of the season...“ by Linda Holmes
- “I think the thing that I like the most about Lionel Boyce's performance, it's written well, and the interactions with grief are done really well. I think he's saying and doing things that I would 100% expect from someone who had just lost their mother recently.“ by Ronald Young Jr.
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Episode Information
Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
7/2/24
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