Very enjoyable series. Is there a season 2?

I can relate in some ways.

Left the Air Force after Desert Storm. Licensed as a stock broker. Wasn't for me. Opened a sandwich shop.

Had two young daughters to look after, as a single parent. Scary times.

It became very profitable.

Such is life.

The Bear is my favorite show of the summer, maybe the year. I went long at @GQMagazine on how the show gets working in a kitchen, but specifically a kitchen in Chicago, right. I use all my knowledge of Italian beef and weird Chicago Easter eggs for this. https://t.co/ccdWJTA6R3

— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) June 30, 2022

Hey Nav said:

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Very enjoyable series. Is there a season 2?

I can relate in some ways.

Left the Air Force after Desert Storm. Licensed as a stock broker. Wasn't for me. Opened a sandwich shop.

Had two young daughters to look after, as a single parent. Scary times.

It became very profitable.

Such is life.

---

My wife gives me a hard time about it but if I could make my same salary running a neighborhood sandwich shop for the rest of my life I'd be ecstatic and probably never retire.

My block has a large park that butts up to my back yard. Four houses backed up to the park. The house on the far end of me backs right up to the playground and isn't in good repair. In my "won the lottery" scenario I buy that house and turn it into a sandwich shop/brewery that spills right into the park and I run that for the rest of my life.

That was probably better suited for the money board but seemed applicable to this thread.

Just got to episode 7 which I heard is tense. I don't know if they just really lightened up the filming but that kitchen is immaculate and bright now.

That's part of the point, I think. They *finally* get the kitchen in order (which probably includes better lighting), things are running relatively smoothly, etc, and then episode 7 happens.

Just finished. I completely understand the tense, "I need a cigarette" vibe others said about it.

Amazing episode, and I realized at the end that they didn't cut to commercials at all.

I'll have to digest for a bit but that might be a top 20 episode of television upon first viewing.

Also, I've been drinking heavily and just cooked my first pork loin (e.g my desire to be a chef). Resting and going to eat with the last episode.

Once you realize they haven't cut, it immediately hits you that they're not going to cut, given the 20-minute runtime of the episode, and you're just in awe from then out. It's also one of the few times the one-take thing actually feels 100% organic to an episode, and isn't just a show-off thing, because in the same way you're wondering how an actor isn't going to bungle their lines and screw the whole thing up, you're *also* wondering how a chef isn't going to bungle a task and screw the whole thing up. It's so perfect, so impressive, and so incredibly well done.

Just finished Ep 8. Loved it across the board. Just a pleasant non-earth shattering series with very few weak points.

Questions:

I get that them finding the money is great and all, but why did he store it in the tomatoes? I know they owe uncle Cisnero $298,050 now (minus the party that ended up with the assault) but what was he doing with the $300k in tomato cans? Seems like a poor investment? Completely understand the joy of stress relief, but I just don't understand what Mikey was doing with the money?

I could be wrong, but… I interpreted all that as Mikey knowing he was going to commit suicide, so he left the money for Carmen, and purposely wanted to do so without Cicero's knowledge. Cicero was under the impression that the money he lent Mikey was keeping the place afloat. But clearly Mikey managed to keep it afloat by other means (Richie dealing cocaine?), so Mikey borrowed that money, I assume so Carmen could do something more ambitious with the restaurant than Mikey believed himself capable of. Almost like an "I believe in you, little brother" kind of thing. Now, why Mikey didn't just do all that WITH Cicero's knowledge, I'm still not sure.

That kinda registers but he's still got to pay Cisero back. Maybe if they had said the amount it would have made more sense. "hey we found $500k total we can pay Cisero and then remake the restaurant how Carmy wants it.

Again loved it and my favorite series this year (depending on how the old man goes) but I'd be a bit more settled with a clarification.

c-jags said:

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Hey Nav said:

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Very enjoyable series. Is there a season 2?

I can relate in some ways.

Left the Air Force after Desert Storm. Licensed as a stock broker. Wasn't for me. Opened a sandwich shop.

Had two young daughters to look after, as a single parent. Scary times.

It became very profitable.

Such is life.

---

My wife gives me a hard time about it but if I could make my same salary running a neighborhood sandwich shop for the rest of my life I'd be ecstatic and probably never retire.

My block has a large park that butts up to my back yard. Four houses backed up to the park. The house on the far end of me backs right up to the playground and isn't in good repair. In my "won the lottery" scenario I buy that house and turn it into a sandwich shop/brewery that spills right into the park and I run that for the rest of my life.

That was probably better suited for the money board but seemed applicable to this thread.

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Zoning? Or do you live in Houston?

Ken Scarborough said:

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c-jags said:

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Hey Nav said:

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Very enjoyable series. Is there a season 2?

I can relate in some ways.

Left the Air Force after Desert Storm. Licensed as a stock broker. Wasn't for me. Opened a sandwich shop.

Had two young daughters to look after, as a single parent. Scary times.

It became very profitable.

Such is life.

---

My wife gives me a hard time about it but if I could make my same salary running a neighborhood sandwich shop for the rest of my life I'd be ecstatic and probably never retire.

My block has a large park that butts up to my back yard. Four houses backed up to the park. The house on the far end of me backs right up to the playground and isn't in good repair. In my "won the lottery" scenario I buy that house and turn it into a sandwich shop/brewery that spills right into the park and I run that for the rest of my life.

That was probably better suited for the money board but seemed applicable to this thread.

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Zoning? Or do you live in Houston?

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No Temple. But the home is currently zoned for residential. I don't wager it would be too difficult to have it rezoned for commercial since a neighborhood diner is in the city's long range plan. I'd have to fight all my retired cranky neighbors who fight every improvement to the park or neighborhood.

Watched the first couple of episodes last night, love it. The show is very stressful, but oddly relaxing at the same time. The sound design is incredible, it's like ASMR to me, I don't know if I'm the only one but I had a visceral reaction to the sounds. I love the different personalities in the kitchen as well, it feels kind of perfect to me in the small sample size I've had. Now I gotta figure out if I finish this or Stranger Things this weekend, damn it.

I also enjoyed that Matty Matheson is in the show, his youtube videos are entertaining. Looks like he's a producer as well.

"You cut vegetables like a *****."

Good show…music is on point.

Throwing in the song Beat City at the beginning of episode 6…haha.

Holy ****, was that Molly Ringwald at the beginning of episode 3 speaking in the AA meeting?

Molly Ringwald indeed…but Al Anon is not AA.

Sure I'm picking nits but the difference is important to the show.

F***! Just finished episode 7 and I feel like I have PTSD. I had heard working a busy restaurant was probably the most similar experience to working a busy ER shift, but damn did that hit close to home for me. Just non-stop putting out fires, jumping on people to do their job and stop getting sidetracked with unimportant s***, having people just straight give up when they start getting overwhelmed, people crying instead of doing their job, all while people just keep checking in.

Man this show absolutely kicked ass. Loved it.

Hey Nav said:

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Very enjoyable series. Is there a season 2?

I can relate in some ways.

Left the Air Force after Desert Storm. Licensed as a stock broker. Wasn't for me. Opened a sandwich shop.

Had two young daughters to look after, as a single parent. Scary times.

It became very profitable.

Such is life.

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This is cool. I'm glad you shared it. I would have liked to open a breakfast/brunch/lunch place. I respect you for doing it.

aTmAg said:

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Hard to believe a show about cooking is great.

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It's more about a small business and work relationships. It's a frustrating watch because so many things are wrong and go wrong but Lip works through them. I started it last night. It's not great but if you're not watching anything right now then I'd recommend it.

Watched 6 and 7 tonight- that cameo got me pumped - and holy cow episode 7 is a top 2 episode of the year for me, this and severance finale. 20 minutes of straight tv "coke." What a beautifully shot chaotic mess. I can't believe that was a single shot.

Saving the finale for tomorrow

Love the music and the shooting locations.

Might be a bit on the nose, but Via Chicago and the general stress and disintegration of most Wilco songs fits the mood of the show very well.

They snuck in a Ferris Buellers Day Off song in there at one point too.

Edit... Just saw episode 7. That was something... and more Wilco...and songs about Chicago

Watched the first 2 last night.

Damn it do get working in a low tier kitchen right.

Incredible show. Just loved everything about it.

~25 minute episode runtimes need to be more of a thing.

I remember Louie (also on FX) had a similar format.

Episodes could be as short as 20 minutes or as long as an hour, depending on what the story called for. Refreshing in the Netflix age of zero editing and filler content.

Great show ... definitely draining and -- no one else has mentioned it so maybe it's just me -- more than a little depressing. The urban, gritty setting. The constant frustration. The petty squabbling. Richie's personality. And so on.

But it is still great. I was hooked from the beginning, and that doesn't happen often. Looking forward to Season 2.

Finished it over the weekend. Didn't really care for the twist at the end. Didn't really feel like the whole "being in debt to the connected uncle" plot line was needed.

Great show. They completely captured the chaos of a kitchen and how close to the edge they operate. When they are busy and hitting all on cylinders, they are a wonder and really does instill a sense of pride in the staff. But all it takes is one screw up and it all comes crashing down.

While the brother was a pill head, I didn't feel like they hit on how big drugs and alcohol are part of the environment.

Great show all in all. Can't wait for the second season.

Get that beef dipped: FX has renewed The Bear https://t.co/C7IXMwpRnc pic.twitter.com/mdKz336Bsq

— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) July 14, 2022

TCTTS said:

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Get that beef dipped: FX has renewed The Bear https://t.co/C7IXMwpRnc pic.twitter.com/mdKz336Bsq

— The A.V. Club (@TheAVClub) July 14, 2022

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Great show, episode 7 was a masterpiece. Really think it would've been a great single season show, but it's so well done I want to see where it goes in season 2.

Obviously some artistic license, I can't imagine too many Italian beef places have their own pastry chef.

GoAgs92 said:

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Obviously some artistic license, I can't imagine too many Italian beef places have their own pastry chef.

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As someone from the area I've never seen an Italian beef place quite like that.

Duncan Idaho said:

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Finished it over the weekend. Didn't really care for the twist at the end. Didn't really feel like the whole "being in debt to the connected uncle" plot line was needed..

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I'm glad we had it. I thought it brought some stakes into the success of the kitchen. Hell, the episode where they have to cater their nephew's party and the kids get all xan'd out was one of the best of the season.

Know Your Enemy said:

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GoAgs92 said:

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Obviously some artistic license, I can't imagine too many Italian beef places have their own pastry chef.

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As someone from the area I've never seen an Italian beef place quite like that.

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Last time in Chicago I had the worst Italian beef in the world on the pier…awful.

Second one in Des Plaines was much better but still just decent.

Isn't this the whole notion of the show? It was a standard, generic italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago.
This guy comes back to take over, and try to elevate it.