Gazette | The Maple Press

Show Saturday: The Bear

Jun 30, 2023

This publication is the first of a new series within The Gazette where periodic articles will be published on Saturdays featuring a film or series recommendation.

Loglines

"Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop. As he fights to transform the shop and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges crew that ultimately reveal themselves as his chosen family."

- Hulu (view here: Hulu)

"Season two of FX’s The Bear, the critically acclaimed original series, follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they work to transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot. As they strip the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertakes transformational journeys of their own, each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future."

- FX (view here: FX Network)

The Maple Press Review

Enters: The Bear — a fast-paced culinary-themed limited series with a strong pulse. Viewers are quickly pulled into the high-stress environment of the restaurant world, with the help of camera work that transports intense emotions through the screen and into the bodies of the audience. The series is considered a comedy-drama, and with the element of exploring a Chicago-based family-run business, that category could not resonate more.

The chaos has a twisted appeal that leaves an insatiable craving for more after each episode. The unrest of Carmy is tangible, the ambition of Sydney is unhinged, and the unmistakable Chicagoland roots of Cousin Richie are delightfully familiar. Each character is multifaceted with robust personalities giving the show depth and truth that merits recognition. The show welcomes you as family, but it's realistically flawed and dysfunctional.

Wrapped up in the complex relationships is the food. At first, it is local food in the form of beef sandwiches and Chicago dogs which hold a reputation as the heart of the neighborhood. "Family Meal" is the stabilizing exhale that the staff and family members (and viewers) need. Then, with Carmy's prior experience as Chef de Cuisine at the world's best restaurant, dishes of fine-dining variety appear, even more exclusively in season two. This form of food and dining experience is far from familiar, specifically to The Original Beef crew, but reveals the potential and abilities of Carmy's team.

The Maple Press Rating: 10/10

Based on the quality of:

STORY

2/2 points

ACTING

2/2 points

CINEMATOGRAPHY

2/2 points

CONTENT

2/2 points

EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

2/2 points

Highlights

Expect a range of emotions through the show's journey. From stress, anxiety, and frustration to heartache, desperate hope, and anticipation. Season one's seventh installment delivers a perfectly executed entire episode take, which equates to an insane level of intensity as everything goes wrong.

Season two's seventh episode, the longest episode among all the shows seasons, surpasses insanity as it crosses over into madness to flawlessly introduce the Berzatto family. The talent cast to play these troubled family members needed to be able to deliver a complete and dynamic character development in one episode, and with Jamie Lee Curtis, Bob Odenkirk, Sara Paulson, and John Mulaney, to name a few, the tall order appeared effortless.

The finale of season two was on brand for the show's established theme of constant disaster. Leaving viewers with the triumph of many moving character transformations paired with some devastating character setbacks and a looming curiosity of whether or not all the hard work will pay off.

Seasons

Currently, The Bear is what The Maple Press considers a limited series with having only two seasons (a mini series having only one season, limited series having between two to four seasons, and a series having five or more seasons). Season two ended with the potential to be renewed for a third season, however, FX has yet to announce if that will be the case.

Season one consists of eight episodes each running between 19-30 minutes and the final episode (eight) running 46 minutes. Released all at once in June 2022.

Season two consists of ten episodes each running between 24-37 minutes, episode six as an exception for running 65 minutes, and the final episode (ten) running 39 minutes. Released all at once in June 2023.

Cast

Streaming Service

Surprisingly, the FX Productions show is exclusive to the less popular streaming service, Hulu. Given the results in USA Today's article published in May of this year, Hulu landed in sixth place for the most popular streaming services (based on the number of subscribers), behind Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Max (previously HBO Max), and Paramount+.

Rotten Tomatoes

Remarkably enough, The Bear obtained a massive following through, what appeared to be, primarily word-of-mouth during the first season in 2022, receiving 100% from Rotten Tomatoes and a 91% audience score. While not all reviews ring true, this one certainly was. Season two certainly had more buzz of excitement as teasers and trailers ramped up the suspense. Season two received 100% from Rotten Tomatoes and a 91% audience score, matching the first season.

Common Sense Media

Each episode is rated TV-MA for language (season one, episodes four, seven, and eight, and season two, episode six are TV-MA for language and violence).

Common Sense Media recommends the show for ages 15+, with parents recommending ages 14+ based on:

POSITIVE MESSAGES

3/5 - some

POSITIVE ROLE MODELS

3/5 - some

DIVERSE REPRESENTATIONS

3/5 - some

VIOLENCE & SCARINESS

3/5 - some

SEX, ROMANCE, & NUDITY

0/5 - not present

LANGUAGE

4/5 - a lot

PRODUCTS & PURCHASING

1/5 - very little

DRINKING, DRUGS, & SMOKING

3/5 - some

"Parents need to know that The Bear is an edgy dramatic comedy series intended for older viewers. Themes center around suicide, family relationships, and grieving the loss of a former life. There's also lots of cursing and cigarette smoking. People are sometimes shown drinking, too. Occasionally Coca-Cola and other food brands are partially visible; the Apple logo is prominently shown."

- Common Sense Media

Until next time,

The Maple Press

Fall Foliage

Oct 16, 2022

October, when the mountains show off their finest colors, a palette of red, yellow, and orange in various hues. All splashed against the evergreens in their deep green luster.

The fall foliage is a work of art, sometimes seemingly artificial or too good to be true. When the Autumn sun hits the leaves, it's as if they burst into flame. Each leaf dances in the breeze, playing in the light. When the breeze turns into a gust, the leaves take flight into the brilliant sky, then gently fall to the forest floor. Here they will serve the purpose of nourishing the Earth, adding an extra layer of protection from the coming cold, and providing insulation for forest creatures' nests and burrows.

This time of year is a reminder of all that is at work within the natural world. The slowing down that happens as the weather cools provides a moment to contemplate those simple things. What would it be like to experience a life that is so simple and profound? It's not as difficult as it may seem. Begin by working some time into the routine for moments of stillness and slowing down. Maybe it's a visit up the mountains every weekend to observe the changing landscapes. Perhaps it's a cup of tea each morning to begin the day with clear intentions. It could be a half-hour each evening to read some literature that is purely for pleasure.

The Maple Press has recently discovered the simple pleasure of enjoying the Ffern Podcast: As the Season Turns. Roughly twenty-minute episodes are released on the first of each month. The transcendent voice of Lia Leendertz, author of the Seasonal Almanacs, soothes the mind as she explores the changes in the season, sky, and sea. Seasonal herbs and provisions, recipes, history, origins, and legends of the month are all discussed in easy-to-digest morsels. These monthly moments of stillness and slowing down reconnect The Maple Press to the natural world all around.

(ABOVE: Baby moose, difficult to get a photo of, and the mother moose was impossible to photograph - but SO cool... and very daunting | BELOW: Much better view of the baby moose, and possibly the eye of the mother, who was up behind the baby a bit)

(ABOVE: Little Chipmunk)

Until next time,

The Maple Press

No Goodbyes

Sep 4, 2022

The subtle change from Summer to Autumn is quiet and gentle and is a beautiful merge of two worlds brought together. A hike through the canyons shows the emerging Autumn colors against the lush contrast of Summer. A cool breeze that brushes away the warmth of the beating sun. Rivers run low, as the snow from last Winter has nearly melted away again. The energy of Summer adventures begins to lose its sparkle, as the mind turns towards cozy gatherings that are more restful and intimate. Rest is its essence, calling all to join in a unison sigh of a busy chapter closed to a new, sleepier one.

Scorching backyard barbecues turn into bundled-up bonfires. Spirited pool parties transition into hushed Halloween strolls through the streets. Quenching popsicles melt into mugs of hot chocolate. Picnics on the warm evening grass turn to gatherings around a crackling fireplace. The craving for fresh salads shifts to hearty soups. Crisp cotton sheets pulled off for comforting flannel ones. Flowing sun dresses replaced with wool socks and sweaters.

It’s a comforting transition, like the reassurance of Summer's return makes easing into the embrace of Autumn all the more favorable. No goodbyes, simply, “until next time”.