‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Explains Season 3’s Stunning First Episode (2024)

Logo text

[This story contains spoilers fromThe Bearseason three, episode one, “Tomorrow.”]

When last we saw him, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) was locked inside a refrigerator during the grand opening of his brand new (technically old) restaurant. Friends and Family Night did not go as planned, as he spent the vast majority of the evening raging inside cold storage, inadvertently breaking up with his girlfriend Claire (Molly Gordon) and railing against his cousin and colleague Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).

Where would he go from here?

Related Stories

NewsSharon Stone, Charlize Theron Dive Deep on Hollywood Philanthropy at THR's Social Impact Summit
TV'Euphoria' Season 3 (Finally) Sets Production Start Date

The tight-lipped cast and crew ofThe Bear, which dropped all 10 of its season three episodes June 26, were mum on the show and its troubled lead’s next steps heading into the new year of the series. The door is wide open now, withBearbingers everywhere ready and willing to dive into each and every episode of the FX “comedy.”

But good luck getting past the season premiere in one piece, becauseThe Bearbegins its third year with an episode utterly unlike any other in the series, all but demanding viewers take a breath and slow down alongside Carmy.

Called “Tomorrow” and written by creator Christopher Storer, who directed the episode, along with co-star/culinary producer Matty Matheson (who plays Fak),The Bear’s returnkicks off with a meditative exploration of Carm’s past, present and his future. The episode summons various figures from his history, allowing the viewer to witness the titular Bear’s rising-star status in the cooking world. Joel McHale, Will Poulter and Olivia Colman all reprise their guest roles from the previous seasons as chefs Carm either worked under or worked alongside, friends and foes and family alike.

Recurring scenes thread through the episode, featuring flashbacks from Carm’s horrid Christmas dinner featured in season two’s “Fishes,” to nights spent with girlfriend Claire, to scenes we have never seen on the show before at all — like Carm working at restaurants like the world famous Noma, filmed on site with real-life chef and owner René Redzepi featured in the scenes. It’s like an Anthony Bourdain documentary in some ways, an ethereal exploration of food and fury in a floating dream, all set to the same Nine Inch Nails score moaning underneath.

It’s an episode that defies expectations heading into season three, interrupting the intense momentum of the season two finale with an installment that could very much serve as a series finale in another universe.

‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Explains Season 3’s Stunning First Episode (3)

For the actors involved, it was certainly a revelation.

“It felt like walking around in somebody’s mind,” White toldThe Hollywood Reporterabout getting to see so much of Carmen’s backstory, threaded in such a singular way. “It felt very fresh and new. It felt very exciting in its structure and style. It felt different, while also being very much at the heart of the same tone as the show.”

Abby Elliott, who plays Carm’s sister Sugar, added, “It felt like a puzzle piece. It felt like it was here the whole time. This was the Bear, and his story was always right here.”

As much as its structure mystifies, the episode also clarifies several relationships, including the one between Carm and Sugar. The two surviving Berzatto siblings share a scene at an airport before Carm heads out of Chicago to start his next chapter in New York City, and Sugar’s fear about him leaving is on full display.

“Sugar is so desperate for Carmy to stay and not abandon her,” she explained to THR of the scene’s revelations. “That level of abandonment, which I knew was always there … she missed her brother so much, starting in episode one —but there’s this level of: He’s really leaving me here with these people. She loves Mikey (Jon Bernthal), but she’s seeing his spiral [which leads to his death by suicide]. It’s very apparent she’s just going to call him and call him and he might not pick up — and she knows that, and that’s so scary for her. The fear is a new thing for Natalie.”

‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Explains Season 3’s Stunning First Episode (4)

On the other end of that conversation, White said that Carmy is “so often inside of his own experience” that he’s not registering Natalie’s fears in that way.

“He has a hard time communicating,” he said. “He has a hard time understanding other people’s experiences. I don’t think at all times, or at any time really, he’s meaning to be hurtful in the way he exists. But I do think in this season, there is this realization, specifically with Sugar and Carm, that they did have this shared experience. They grew up in the same place. Carmy ran, and Sugar stayed. Carmy is starting to make room for others’ experiences and really see and listen to other people for the first time.”

He continued, “My approach with Carmy has always been so protective: ‘He’s doing this, this makes sense, this is the drive.’ But some other things became clear in shooting this season.”

Which other things? Luckily, the ensuing nine episodes are immediately available for folks to check out as soon as they pick their jaws up off the floor after watching the premiere.

Jackie Strause contributed to this story.

ReadTHR’s review of The Bear season threeand follow along withour season coverage. All episodes are now streaming on Hulu.

‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Explains Season 3’s Stunning First Episode (2024)

FAQs

‘The Bear’ Star Jeremy Allen White Explains Season 3’s Stunning First Episode? ›

It felt like walking around in somebody's mind,” White told The Hollywood Reporter about getting to see so much of Carmen's backstory, threaded in such a singular way. “It felt very fresh and new. It felt very exciting in its structure and style.

What is the first episode of season 3 of Bear about? ›

On the most obvious level, there's nothing to explain about “Tomorrow.” It's a Carmy Berzatto origin story, but we already know Carmy's origin: He was raised in an emotionally broken family, revered his older brother Mikey, studied under some of the world's greatest chefs, was the psychological pincushion for Joel ...

What is happening at the start of The Bear season 3? ›

At the opening of the excellent third season, we find Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) alone in the dark, the morning after his new restaurant's tryout night, staring at a gnarly old scar on his palm and thinking about people who aren't there.

What is the most stressful episode of The Bear? ›

The 7 Most Stressful Episodes of "The Bear", Ranked
  1. Season 2, Episode 7: Fishes.
  2. Season 2, Episode 10: The Bear. Chuck Hodes. ...
  3. Season 1, Episode 7: Review. FX/Hulu. ...
  4. Season 3, Episode 8: Ice Chips. FX/Hulu. ...
  5. Season 3, Episode 6: Napkins. FX/Hulu. ...
  6. Season 1, Episode 8: Braciole. Photo: Matt Dinerstein. ...
  7. Season 3, Episode 2: Next. FX/Hulu. ...
Jul 1, 2024

Will there be a bear season 4? ›

Multiple sources have confirmed to both Variety and Deadline that The Bear will continue into season 4 (and possibly beyond).

Who is the chef in episode 1 season 3 of The Bear? ›

Dave Beran shows up in episode 1, plating at the fictional Ever alongside Andrea Terry, who has brought up some of the best chefs in the world.

How to watch The Bear season 3 episode 1? ›

The Bear season three premieres exclusively on Hulu on Wednesday, June 26, at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET. All 10 episodes of the third season will drop at that time.

Is The Bear season 3 a flashback? ›

In season three, viewers get a flashback episode from supporting character and chef Tina Marrero (Liza Colón-Zayas), where she's trying to find a job after recently being laid off from her career of fifteen years. She then goes into Mikey's restaurant, where the typically confrontational character comforts her.

Is season 3 of The Bear any good? ›

On the whole, the third season was one I admired more than enjoyed, for all the reasons discussed above. And obviously, we can't know yet how or if the character development of season three — or lack thereof — might pay off in season four or beyond.

Where does The Bear season 3 pick up? ›

While indistinct, it's at least a little more than what we had known previously -- which was not much of anything. It is believed, based on 3x1's description on Rotten Tomatoes, that the show will pick up where season 2 left off as Carmy and his team continue to get their restaurant, The Bear, off the ground.

What is the best episode of The Bear Season 3? ›

"Tomorrow" (Season 3, Episode 1)

In many ways, the single greatest episode of The Bear is also its least accessible. It's like “walking through a dream,” as Jeremy Allen White himself describes it.

Is White bear a scary episode? ›

If you're neurotic and fearful, then maybe "White Bear" tickles that synapse. But it's reassuring, in some way, to watch films that reveal society to be insane and heartless. It's like the filmmakers are saying, 'We're not saying that this is a realistic portrayal. It's a chilling nightmare'."

Does The Bear have an episode 3? ›

Watch The Bear — Season 3, Episode 3 with a subscription on Hulu.

How does season 3 of The Bear end? ›

This season ends with a funeral, and no, no one died. The funeral is for Chicago restaurant Ever, but the death is purely fictional — the actual Ever restaurant in Chicago is doing just fine. Because it's The Bear and they like to be realistic and flex, they brought in several real Chicago chefs for the episode.

Is The Bear season 3 out? ›

All 10 episodes of Season 3 will arrive on Hulu at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 26.

Is The Bear season 4 filmed? ›

Before season 3 even aired, reports surfaced about FX quietly renewing The Bear for more episodes. Multiple outlets reported the show filmed seasons 3 and 4 at the same time due to the busy schedules of cast members such as White, 33, Edebiri, 28, and Moss-Bachrach.

Will Claire return in season 3 of The Bear? ›

No, Carmy and Claire do not get back in The Bear Season 3.

Carmy and Claire do not interact with each other at all during Season 3.

Why do they call Carmy Bear? ›

Carmy is sometimes referred to as “Bear,” a moniker derived from the first syllable of his last name — Berzatto. Given this connection, Carmy has dreamed of owning his own fine dining restaurant and naming it The Bear.

What is the cut on Carmy's hand? ›

Carmy's Hand Scar In The Bear Season 3 Explained

Carmy tells Claire he grabbed a really hot pot with his hand and ended up getting burnt. Looking at how deep the scar is, Claire jokes he must have firmly grabbed it. Carmy agrees and says he was not paying attention, recalling the incident vividly.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 6204

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.