The season three premiere of "The Bear" invites viewers to pause and reflect alongside Carmy. "It felt like walking around in...
The season three premiere of "The Bear" invites viewers to pause and reflect alongside Carmy. "It felt like walking around in somebody's mind," White tells The Hollywood Reporter.
This article contains spoilers for "The Bear" season three, episode one, “Tomorrow.”
When we last saw Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), he was trapped inside a refrigerator during the grand opening of his new (yet old) restaurant. Friends and Family Night went awry as he spent most of the evening locked in cold storage, inadvertently breaking up with his girlfriend Claire (Molly Gordon) and clashing with his cousin and colleague Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
So, where does Carmy go from here?
The cast and crew of "The Bear," which released all 10 episodes of its third season on June 26, remained tight-lipped about the show's direction and Carmy's next steps. Now, the door is wide open, with fans eagerly diving into each episode of the FX “comedy.”
However, the season premiere is a unique experience, urging viewers to take a breath and slow down alongside Carmy. Titled “Tomorrow” and written by creator Christopher Storer, who directed the episode along with co-star and culinary producer Matty Matheson (who plays Fak), the episode delves into Carmy’s past, present, and future. It features appearances by Joel McHale, Will Poulter, and Olivia Colman, who reprise their roles as chefs and figures from Carmy’s life.
The episode interweaves flashbacks from Carmy’s tumultuous Christmas dinner from season two’s “Fishes,” moments with Claire, and previously unseen scenes of Carmy working at renowned restaurants like Noma, filmed on location with chef René Redzepi. The episode resembles an Anthony Bourdain documentary, exploring food and fury in a dreamlike sequence, all set to a haunting Nine Inch Nails score.
This unexpected episode sets the tone for season three, interrupting the intense momentum of the season two finale with a meditative installment that could serve as a series finale in another context.
For the actors, this episode was a revelation. "It felt like walking around in somebody’s mind," White told The Hollywood Reporter. "It felt very fresh and new. It felt very exciting in its structure and style. It felt different, while also being very much at the heart of the same tone as the show."
Abby Elliott, who plays Carmy’s sister Sugar, added, “It felt like a puzzle piece. It felt like it was here the whole time. This was the Bear, and his story was always right here.”
Despite its intricate structure, the episode also clarifies several relationships, particularly between Carmy and Sugar. In a scene at the airport, Sugar’s fear of Carmy leaving for New York City is palpable. "Sugar is so desperate for Carmy to stay and not abandon her," Elliott explained. "That level of abandonment, which I knew was always there… she missed her brother so much, starting in episode one — but there’s this level of: He’s really leaving me here with these people."
White noted that Carmy is often “so often inside of his own experience” that he doesn’t fully grasp Natalie’s fears. "He has a hard time communicating," he said. "He has a hard time understanding other people’s experiences. I don’t think at all times, or at any time really, he’s meaning to be hurtful in the way he exists. But I do think in this season, there is this realization, specifically with Sugar and Carm, that they did have this shared experience."
He continued, "My approach with Carmy has always been so protective: ‘He’s doing this, this makes sense, this is the drive.’ But some other things became clear in shooting this season."
As for what those things are, the next nine episodes are ready for viewers to explore once they recover from the stunning premiere