Pure anxiety with a mix of happiness is what I am filled with whenever I finish each episode of The Bear. This show has set new standards for what it means to have great writing, acting and directing. Yet, the most impressive part is the show’s realism.
The Bear has been the most popular, award-nominated and award-winning show the past three years for a good reason. This show completely captures what anxiety feels like especially working in a kitchen. I have had friends tell me who have done so little as being a bus boy tell me how accurate it is to what we see in the show.
“You will never feel more stress then holding a plate of food a chef just made to give to a customer. Especially, when the chef has been yelling about the dish the past ten minutes” said my best friend Andrew who was a bus boy the past two years.
However, the most relatable part of the show isn’t how a restaurant functions.
It is everything about how perfectionists prepare their days and suffer with great stress. How overachievers are never satisfied with doing something most people can’t do. Most importantly battling with anxiety, depression, and mental health is something this show handles beautifully.
Every single man battles with some type of stress or anxiety within their daily life. Whether it is a job, relationship, or someone’s personal life. Everyone feels this unbearable weight that they need to relief off their chest. Watching Jeremy Allen White display this character’s aniexty is insanely accurate. The depiction of his panic attacks, shakey hands, sweat drip makes you feel not alone in this world that someone else may go through this as well.
Rolling Stone states “The Bear Is the Most Stressful Thing on TV Right Now. It’s Also Great”.
Writer, director, and show runner Christopher Storer created a masterpiece in realism while showing the tolls anxiety can take on you. Trying to juggling too many things at once can hurt not just you however, something like your restaurant.
In each episode, we see numerous characters battle their demons in private instead of with one another. We get to understand each character and how they may have gotten to where they are today. Also, to why they act the way they act.
We see this the best in the character of Camry or as his family calls him “Bear”. Camry battles with his anxiety and depression on numerous occasions within the three seasons thus far. A lot has to do with being the perfectionist he is and not being able to accept the love he deserves from his past family problems. The way he speaks about his anxiety problems and the way the actor Jeremy Allen White showcases it along with the director is so relatable.
Hearing Carm speak in a seven-minute one-take about his past and difficult relationship with his disease brother was groundbreaking. Having the camera slowly zoom in on his face as he delivers his monologue, you feel every ounce of emotion he is expelling out to the audience.
The Bear has been cleaning up on the awards the past year that it has been exhausting to hear their name announced every category. This show has been nominated for a total of thirty-six nominations while winning twenty one in major categories such as lead actor, director, guest actor, supporting actor and supporting actress. Just this past year’s Emmy’s The Bear won eleven trophies during the seventy-sixth ceremony claiming it’s seat at the table as one of the best “comedies” we have ever seen.
That is why I think this show is so special to me. Yes, it has the obvious great characteristics that each great show has which is amazing writing, directing, acting, etc. However, I have yet to see a show that handles mental health and anxiety so gracefully. This show is truly one of a kind.
So, the next time you are on Hulu try to land on this one and let it rip.
