The Bear: Where to Watch? Episodes, Cast & Reviews
Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a Michelin-star chef, returns to Chicago to run his late brother’s Italian beef sandwich shop in FX’s award-winning series The Bear. Praised for its realistic kitchen depiction, powerful performances, and emotional depth, the show has won 21 Emmys and become one of television’s most acclaimed dramas.
How many seasons and episodes does The Bear have?
The Bear has released four seasons, totaling 38 episodes, and has been renewed for a fifth season:
- Season 1 (premiered June 23, 2022): 8 episodes
- Season 2 (premiered June 22, 2023): 10 episodes
- Season 3 (premiered June 26, 2024): 10 episodes
- Season 4 (premiered June 25, 2025): 10 episodes
- Season 5: confirmed July 2025, expected 2026
What is the plot/storyline of The Bear?
The Bear follows Carmen “Carmy” Anthony Berzatto, a renowned chef who leaves the world of high-end, Michelin-star kitchens after his brother Michael’s suicide to take over the family’s struggling Italian beef sandwich shop, The Original Beef of Chicagoland, in Chicago. Confronted by his late brother’s debts, a dilapidated kitchen, and a resistant staff led by Michael’s best friend Richie, Carmy wrestles with grief, trauma, and addiction while attempting to apply his fine-dining discipline to this chaotic bistro.
In Season 1, Carmy clashes with Richie over Carmy’s rigorous standards, and hires ambitious line cook Sydney Adamu to help transform the shop. Their tension highlights the emotional scars Michael left behind and explores workplace stress and family dysfunction.
Season 2 pivots to a major renovation: Carmy rebrands the shop as The Bear, a fine-dining restaurant. The staff undergo personal growth—Tina and Ebraheim attend culinary school, Marcus apprentices in Copenhagen, and Richie trains in front-of-house service. A Christmas special, “Fishes,” delves into the Berzatto family’s fraught history and their mother Donna’s mental-health struggles.
Season 3 details the three-month race to complete renovations and open The Bear under crushing debt. Each character’s backstory deepens as the team unites to meet the deadline.
Season 4 chronicles The Bear’s grand opening and the hurdles of maintaining excellence, testing Carmy, Sydney, and Richie as they pursue a vision that asks: what is truly worth preserving?
At its core, The Bear examines trauma, healing, found family, workplace toxicity, and the search for purpose, offering an unflinching look at a high-pressure kitchen and the bonds forged within.
What are the casts of The Bear?
- Jeremy Allen White as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto: Emmy and Golden Globe winner; trained in California and at Michelin-star restaurant Pasjoli
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richard “Richie” Jerimovich: Michael’s devoted friend; Emmy winner for Supporting Actor
- Ayo Edebiri as Sydney “Syd” Adamu: ambitious young cook; Emmy and Golden Globe nominee
- Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks: the pastry chef
- Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina Marrero: veteran line cook; Emmy nominee
- Abby Elliott as Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto: Carmy’s sister and project manager
- Matty Matheson as Neil Fak: restaurant handyman and co-executive producer
- Edwin Lee Gibson as Ebraheim: senior kitchen staff
Supporting:
- Jon Bernthal as Michael “Mikey” Berzatto (flashbacks)
- Jamie Lee Curtis as Donna Berzatto
- Oliver Platt as Jimmy “Cicero” Kalinowski
- Molly Gordon as Claire Dunlap
- Will Poulter as Luca (Copenhagen pastry mentor)
- Corey Hendrix, Chris Witaske, Gillian Jacobs, and more
What are the reviews of The Bear?
Reddit Reviews
Redditors praise The Bear’s authentic kitchen atmosphere and raw emotional storytelling. Many with restaurant experience commend its accuracy and discuss its balance of humor and drama, lauding Jeremy Allen White’s performance and the ensemble chemistry.
Douban Reviews
While exact Douban scores are unavailable, the series’ international acclaim and awards suggest similarly positive reception in China, with viewers likely appreciating its production quality, character depth, and workplace insights.
IMDb Reviews
The Bear holds an 8.5/10 on IMDb from over 280,000 ratings. Episode scores range from 7.6 to 9.5 in Season 1—Episode 7 “Review” achieves 9.5/10—and Season 4 continues strong with its authentic storytelling and performances.
Rotten Tomatoes Reviews
Season 4 earned an 85% “Fresh” rating. Critics acclaim its realistic performances, precise character work, and skillful blend of comedy and drama, highlighting its sensitive handling of trauma and resilience. The series is widely regarded as one of the best television dramas in recent years.
Where to watch The Bear online?
- In the United States: FX on Hulu (all four seasons; Hulu subscription required)
- Internationally: Disney+ (all seasons) and, in some markets, Star TV
- Hulu subscription: about USD 9.99/month or USD 99/year
- Disney+ pricing varies by region; bundle deals may be available
The Bear releases entire seasons at once, allowing binge-watching. As FX original content, it is not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video—official platform subscriptions are the only legal way to stream.
