Watch The Bear (2022)

The Bear is an American comedy-drama streaming television series created by Christopher Storer. It premiered on FX on Hulu in June 2022 and consists of 8 episodes in its first season. The show centers around Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, played by Jeremy Allen White, a young fine dining chef who returns home to Chicago to run his family's Italian beef sandwich shop after a death in the family. He aims to transform the failing neighborhood joint into a respectable restaurant despite pushback.

After years leading prestigious kitchens, Carmen struggles with the lack of trained staff, messy underutilized space, unkempt equipment, and reliance on greasy traditional sandwiches at The Original Beef of Chicagoland. He implements new systems, techniques, and menu items against the wishes of longtime employees like his brother Sugar, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Kitchen staff featuring Marcus, played by Lionel Boyce, and Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, resist Carmy's militant style. Tina, played by Liza Colón-Zayas, continues her motherly ways cooking traditional favorites. Richie, played by Daniel Johnson, persists with sloppy habits and laissez-faire attitude. The clashes reveal deeper emotional issues plaguing Carmen from past trauma and family dysfunction.

Throughout the season, he attempts to elevate sandwich offerings with ingredients like arugula and prosciutto despite pushback that it's pretentious. He also adds fresh pastas, ambitious multi-course tasting menus, and intimate dining experiences in hopes of earning a Michelin star.

In the process, Carmen battles his inner demons including substance abuse issues, temper flare-ups, and misgivings over abandoning his brother by leaving home years ago. The show balances poignant drama with kinetically-shot kitchen scenes full of energy, chaos, and sharp humor.

Carmen's needle-moving ideas create debt and staff resentment while doubting his own motivations. The crumbling building itself starts rebelling against polished upgrades. Carmen continues striving for perfection though it may jeopardize relationships in his quest to be seen differently by an elite restaurant industry that looks down on places like The Beef.

With its insightful character studies, stellar cast, clever writing, and palpable passion for food and family business, The Bear garnered critical acclaim in its first season. It provides an authentic look into the constant pressures within restaurant kitchens through empathetic eyes. The series balances earnest emotion with laughter while exploring ambition, community, and the challenges of changing expectations.

The Bear (2022) is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (18 episodes). The series first aired on June 23, 2022.