This is what you wanted, right?

The Bear S3 — 4/5

Well doesn't everyone just seem to dislike this wonderful season of television. It has no plot, they plead. It goes nowhere, they decry. I'm sorry, I must disagree with you. I think 'The Bear' is a perfect complement to 'Ted Lasso.' Both shows are essentially 'what does it take to be a good manager?' Carmy carries the trauma of his past and repeats it on those below him. Ted pushes against his trauma (to the point of not dealing with it) and tries to make everyone better. Carmy pushes and pulls. Ted lifts. And beyond being a good manager, it's to the core of what that role is supposed to do—is the goal to win, or is the goal to create an environment where everyone can succeed? What does it take to be great? I bring this up because I think The Bear's missteps in Season 2 were that it was threatening to become 'Ted Lasso.' Despite a few standout episodes, that whole season felt very 'rah rah, we can all do it... together!!!' which did not really fit the vibe of a culture that communicates through yelling, and a culture that wants to win a Michelin star. Everyone has a place; all are valued; no one gets fired. It was all very heartwarming—and out of place. And I think this season forgives that season by creating a terrific comedown from that high. These ten episodes are the fallout of one bad night (and a less-than-spectacular life). There was a vision, and this is how it falls apart. The team is scattered, with different goals. Syd wants to see her fingerprints in the work. Marcus wants to disappear in his work. Tina wants a job that can feed her family. Richie wants a family. Carmy has no idea what he wants. Or he does, but he keeps forgetting. That is the weight of trauma. You're always drowning. Everything around you is inky, black water, and you can't hold onto anything long enough to pull yourself out. And the answer, of course, is each other! Rah, rah, we can all do it... together!! But, despite everyone continuing to shout 'hands!', they have such difficulty figuring out how to offer it to each other. That's the beauty of death, or birth. It brings people together. It brings people back. These two cosmic acts help us to forgive all transgressions, and reminds us that "every second counts" applies to everything outside of the food as well. And it's all wasted until we can learn how to articulate our problems, and apologize properly.

"No plot." "Nothing happened." My friend, all of that stuff happened this season. Everything fell apart.