The Bear, Season 2

By Joanna Langfield

There’s a parallel to be made between the refined palate offerings of Carmy’s Michelin-aiming new restaurant and the glorious arc of this season. Because each new episode, most named after something foodie, brings us a perfect blend of the salty, sweet, sour, bitter and savory. It’s not just ambitious stuff, it delivers. And boy, is it delicious.

After its hyperkinetic debut, the show has broadened, but not necessarily mellowed. Turning what was Mickey’s burger joint into a serious dining establishment is no small job. And Carmy’s entire family (we know everybody’s a cousin, whether they’re blood or not) gets on board. This offers the show’s creator, Christopher Storer, a chance to widen his reach, too. We get to know all the characters better, learning, perhaps as they do, what makes them who they are and, hopefully, what they can be. I won’t destroy the joy for you, of seeing these revelations, but let it be said each actor gets their shot and, even in the smallest of scenes, tugs at our hearts.

So, let’s talk about those actors. Yes, Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri (marvelous as Sydney) continue to magnetize us, but now so too do the wonderful Liza Colon-Zayas, Lionel Boyce, and Matty Matheson, Jon Bernthal, Robert Townsend, Oliver Platt and new addition, Molly Gordan. How marvelous is the undeniable and softly beautiful Abby Elliott, who’s not called Mom for nothing here. We knew last season that Ebon Moss-Bachrach had some greatness in his Ritchie, but what he does now elevates it all to another level. And, speaking of another level, then there’s Jamie Lee Curtis. From the moment she whips her hair and gulps her first glass of red wine, I knew we were in for something special. But I don’t think anyone, including the wary characters sharing scenes with her, was prepared for what she does here. My God, it’s terrifying and thrilling to watch.

This season unfurls like a road map, looking back and, along with the detours and warnings, offering a way forward. It’s determined, uncompromising artistry is as impressive as its open eyes and even wider heart. Bravo.