100 - 1 - 1 -1 TeeVee: The Bear S02

Herein, I adapt Kent's One's format for reviewing TV, because its always hard to find something to say about each episode of a show, that you have watched in entirety. To summarize: 100 words to describe the show/season, 1 Great Thing, 1 Good Thing, 1 Bad Thing.

2023, Disney+

What 100: Didn't write about S01, but here we go. Carmen Berzatto returns to Chicago to run the family restaurant after his brother commits suicide. Carmy's a renowned chef bearing obvious signs of trauma. In S01 he does his best to resurrect the sandwich shop amidst a thousand and one reasons to fail.

S02 is about gutting the sandwich shop to turn it into a Michelin Star eatery, amidst a thousand and two reasons to fail. As the season progresses, we learn more of the family trauma, marvel at what they are doing and finally give some redemption arcs. And show food.

1-The Great: The gentle bits. This show is all about the trauma so the welcome respites of tenderness are like a cold bottle of lager on a hot summer day. Forks will be and is the one everyone is talking about, where consummate fuck-up Richie gets to flip from having absolutely no idea how he is contributing, to finding out exactly how to. Also, even when the trauma is dialed up to 11, the performances are exquisite. This is the kind of show that I should be always watching.

2-The Good: The food. Of course I will enjoy a show about food, and while I am the first to not subscribe to "high cuisine" I can always enjoy people talking passionately about making and consuming food. I don't even like straight eggs, but that omelet with the sour cream and onion chips? <chef's kiss>

3-The Bad: The trauma. Cringe drama? No, more like wince drama, but to the extreme, as when it all comes down to it, that is what the show is about. Carmy absorbed every ounce of trauma from his family, and when he finally escaped, he just sought it out again. High cuisine kitchens are stereotypically the abusive dysfunctional families of the working world.  And Fishes explains it all amidst a battery of cameo appearances, alcohol abuse, shockingly messy kitchens, psychotic narcissism and violence. So, just when you think the show is going to redeem itself and focus on family healing, it screams in your face. I had to take breaks during some episodes.