As much as The Bear has already secured its place among the most acclaimed series of the decade, it still manages to surprise. The trailer for season four, released this week, not only reignites excitement for the return of the characters but also signals that there’s much more to explore in that suffocating, chaotic, yet strangely human kitchen. The premiere is set for June 25 on Hulu (US) and June 26 on Disney+ (Brazil and UK), with all 10 episodes dropping at once — a relief for the anxious and an invitation to an emotional binge.

Jeremy Allen White returns as Carmy Berzatto, the perfection-obsessed chef who now has to deal with the mixed aftermath of The Bear‘s opening — a restaurant that desperately wants to be more than just a place to eat well. The new season promises to dive deep into the abyss between ambition and burnout, between trauma and renewal, as the protagonist battles his own ghosts and the weight of the expectations he’s created.

By his side (or maybe not for long), Sydney, played by Ayo Edebiri, faces a professional crossroads. The trailer reveals that she received a tempting offer from another fine-dining team, but she avoids making her decision. That silence speaks volumes: Sydney knows the value of what she’s built with Carmy, but also feels the emotional toll of staying in a space that demands everything, all the time. Her arc remains one of the show’s most complex and contemporary — a young, Black, talented woman trying not to lose herself in a system that rarely sees her.

Richie, meanwhile, is still trying to relearn how to live after his divorce, perhaps seeking some form of redemption-or — maybe purpose — in the restaurant’s frenetic pace. Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Donna, the volatile Berzatto matriarch, bringing emotional upheaval, not just because of the force of her character, but the devastating energy she carries every time she appears. The trailer hints at intense family moments and even a wedding, placing Carmy face to face with unresolved memories.

The atmosphere inside the kitchen is anything but calm. The trailer’s opening line is telling: “People go to restaurants to be taken care of, to relax, to not have to think about anything else for a minute,” Carmy says. But the contrast is immediate — Oliver Platt, as ‘Uncle Jimmy’, appears with a ticking clock that shows how much time and money are left before everything collapses. That’s the dramatic pitch of the season: survival, yes, but also choosing what’s worth holding on to.

The official synopsis is clear on that front: “Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto, Sydney Adamu, and Richard ‘Richie’ Jerimovich push forward, determined not only to survive, but to take The Bear to the next level. With new challenges around every corner, the team must adapt, adjust, and overcome. This season, the pursuit of excellence isn’t just about getting better — it’s about deciding what’s worth holding on to.”

But perhaps the most notable absence in the trailer is Claire (Molly Gordon), Carmy’s love interest introduced in season two. After their breakup, caused by Carmy’s accidental admission, trapped in a freezer, that he saw her as a distraction without realizing she could hear him, their relationship never recovered. In season three, Claire only appeared in flashbacks, and the impasse remained. Hopes for a reconciliation were never fulfilled, despite the meddling (and well-meaning) Faks going to her workplace to suggest she contact Carmy. He, in turn, never actually apologized.

Season four seemed like the moment to resolve this story, but the trailer gives no hint of Claire’s presence, and that has sparked questions among fans. Still, absence doesn’t confirm that Molly Gordon is out. The actress shared the trailer on social media, and industry outlets like Variety and Deadline suggest she’ll be back. Perhaps the strategy is to conceal her appearance for dramatic impact. Either way, the trailer shows Carmy staring fixedly at the freezer door, clearly haunted by the moment of the breakup. And maybe, if there’s any growth, this will be the season when he finally apologizes — and reopens a door that closed with pain.

Meanwhile, speculation about the show’s future continues. Nothing has been officially confirmed beyond season four, but Liza Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina, said in an interview with Radio Times that she’d love to see The Bear continue for at least five more years. “But only if it’s well cared for, like that delicate ecosystem Richie mentions at the beginning of the show,” she said. The Emmy-winning actress captured the show’s spirit perfectly: an alchemy of script, cast, and direction that, when it works, creates magic. “Five more seasons, please!” she joked.

Maybe The Bear doesn’t need that many — but as long as it keeps getting the chaos, the pain, and the fleeting moments of redemption right, the audience will stay at the table, hungry for more. But you know what the biggest question still is? Are they really going to keep calling this drama a comedy?