I must start by confessing that I had the privilege of dining/lunching in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the world, such as El Bulí (in Spain, today closed) and Casa do Porco (in São Paulo, Brazil, highly recommended), so the universe of Chefs and the world of gastronomy interests me. Although I’m a zero left on the stove, I have “foodie” friends (cooking maniacs) and I learned from them to always try something new, to keep up with this universe. The long confession to highlight the reason why I love The Bear series so much, whose second season has been available in Brazil since August.

Though somewhat Ted Lasso-y, the show is anything but about restaurants or recipes or kitchen geniuses. The quest for redemption? A portrait of perfectionism? Other lines could try to explain what is the Best Drama on TV at the moment. Brilliant acting, sharp writing, creative editing, and lots of creativity too. The Bear is something not to be missed.

The proof of the quality of the series is in the surprise participation of award-winning actors, which I will not mention to avoid spoilers. When you have the parade of stars for small stakes everything I mentioned becomes even clearer. Prestige and stars, if not Michelin, then Hollywood.

The Bear is a reference to the last name of award-winning Chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), who is one of the most prestigious in the world, but who drops everything to go work at his brother’s decadent and failed cafeteria in downtown Chicago, the Original Beef . That premise of the first season is the entrée only.

We soon learn that Carmy is grief-stricken and devastated because his brother Michael (John Bernthal) was addicted to heroin and took his own life, leaving the family to grapple with grief and questions about how they could have helped. For Carmy, in particular, the competition and idolization for Michael makes the suffering even greater. At the same time that we contextualize the Berzattos’ past and personal life, there is the cafeteria family.

Each employee has an exciting background and challenge, they are quarrelsome, but they complement each other and Carmy rightly attaches to them. There’s a lot more to it than that, but it’s general guidelines. Among so many personalities, there are three that stand out: Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the adopted ‘cousin’ of the Berzattos, a suitcase without a handle but the soul of the place; Marcus (Lionel Boyce), who dreams of being a patissiere and has talent; and the instigator Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri), a fan of Carmy and who dreams of one day being a star chef like him.

We had stopped in history when Carmy decided to open her restaurant, The Bear, an exhilarating adventure. It is like! The second season is about the backstage of this adventure, frantic as ever, leaving us dizzy at times. But also, touching. Alongside the decisions they have to make to transform the dive into a fine dining restaurant, each of the team also works on their own failures or dreams. These are deep problems and the schedule is tight. In the midst of it all, Carmy finally falls in love.

Everyone’s transformation journey is different and opens the door to those special appearances as I already mentioned, so, when each employee is sent to hone a talent, either with internships or courses, it is a delight. Ties the conclusion because by delving into their stories, we connect differently.

Marcus is sent to Denmark, but it turns out that it is his life outside the restaurant to care for his chronically ill mother. Being away or busy can take away from him the little time he has left with her, but he is open to the new. Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) and Ebra (Edwin Lee Gibson) are sent to culinary school, with opposite results. Sydney remains agonized over her choices, envying and driving Carmy at the same time.

But the season really belongs to Richie, who is in crisis because he doesn’t have a purpose. The answer comes (to the sound of the enlightened Taylor Swift on the soundtrack) and it’s an award-winning performance heralded for Ebo, whose intensity and verbiage are purposefully irritating and sensitive, an essential part of The Bear. Because that’s it, the ingredients of life are mixed in personal recipes, non-transferable and tested along the way. How to achieve happiness? How to balance work with pleasure?

It must be warned that the hysterical pace of the Berzattos, who seem to live in a Robert Altman universe (where everyone talks at the same time) drives us crazy, but that’s the point. When we have silence, it is pleasant and strange. The whole cast is incredible and with a naturalness that makes us think we are following a Masterchef instead of fiction. It’s brilliant. Five stars, without a doubt.

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