Warning! This article will contain slight spoilers to the pilot, so if you would like to watch it without outside opinions, I’d suggest clicking off!
(Or, if you don’t mind, keep reading.)
Released on June 23, 2022, and directed by Christopher Storer, FX’s The Bear follows the story of a young chef, Carmen (played by Jeremy Allen White), and his return to Chicago to take over his deceased brother’s (Michael, played by Jon Bernthal) small business, The Beef. Carmen must balance the difficulties of owning a small business, his ungovernable kitchen staff, and his strenuous relationship with his family.
A good pilot needs a lot of ingredients to be successful: characters, setting, conflict, and tone, all which contribute to a straightforward and concise pilot. The reason why The Bear‘s pilot feels so special is because it doesn’t feel like the first episode; it allows us to piece together the plot and character conflicts while not directly explaining it all to us. This inherently leaves us hungry for more.
The Pilot:
Opening Scene:
As soon as the pilot begins, we are shown an abstract dream sequence of Carmen facing and attempting to tame a wild bear in a scenic and dark atmosphere. Immediately, us as the viewer question the symbolism of this bear and are curious how the depiction of the wild bear correlates with the actual title of the show. We ask questions like, “What does this bear represent?”, “Why is Carmen trying to tame the bear?”, and “Why does Carmen have this dream in particular?”. This is an excellent way to start a pilot as it starts off with the viewer being curious and ready to engage with the story.
Primary Characters:
The Bear goes for a very “show, don’t tell” approach in its pilot. Almost immediately, we are thrown into a chaotic and fast paced environment. A lot of fast paced shots are included when we are being introduced to the characters, such as the bounce back between the food-making process, the characters, and the loud back and forth’s between Carmen and Richie (Michael’s best friend played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Carmen, throughout all of these ordeals, seems visibly stressed and not in control of any of his staff. These aspects alone tell us plenty about his character. Perhaps he’s not very assertive? Maybe the staff doesn’t particularly respect him? Perhaps there is also a pressure weighing on him that is making him stressed? There are subtle nuances within this scene which makes it a little more difficult for the viewer to concentrate on what’s happening. This is purposeful as well as valuable, though. It sets up a mantra that makes you want to focus on the whole episode and, therefore, the whole series.
Primary Characters and Core Conflict:
The main conflict that is settled in the pilot is between Richie and Carmen. Their contrasting beliefs establish the core tension throughout the show: the past vs the present. In this case, past vs. present represents the traditional cooking of The Beef vs the prodigious cooking skills that Carmen has learned and wants to integrate within The Beef . This tension being built in just the first episode is done so in a succinct way, creating exposition for the future episodes, driving the narrative forward, and establishing significant character dynamics.
Secondary Characters and Core Conflict:
The secondary characters of The Bear are some of my personal favorites. These secondary characters include the old set-in-their-ways staff: Tina and Ebraheim, the passionate desert chef Marcus, and the new and talented sous chef, Sydney. Tina and Ebreheim’s mentality about keeping the tradition alive bolsters Richie’s view, while the younger chef, Sydney, views Carmen’s idea of ‘improving’ the restaurant keenly. With these characters set in place the first episode, they create a vivid and authentic world. To build onto the authentic aspect of this show, most of the characters in the cast are minorities as well as lower class. Bringing the class aspect onto the show highlights the contrast between the already established blue collar line cooks with elite culinary culture and methods.
Impeccable Cinematography:
Kitchen jobs take place in a uniquely intense environment. The constant movement and handling of sharp and hot objects really exemplify the intensity of working in this atmosphere. The Bear’s cinematography gives this field the representation it truly deserves. Most of the compositions within the show, and especially its pilot episodes, feel chaotic but are, in actuality, very precise. Subjects are slightly dirtied or obscured by other elements, such as other objects blocking the camera view or with movement, but none of this is random. All of it is intentional so the viewer understands the tone and mood they are trying to portray.
Final Thoughts:
In an ocean of content, it takes something truly special to cut through all the noise. Many shows can take seasons to find their voice, but The Bear knows exactly what it’d like to say from the first moment. I’d say that this is one of the best pilots of the decade due to its raw and unforgettable nature.
P.S: If you weren’t sweating by the end of the episode, you weren’t truly watching.
Citations:
-M. Mattheson, C. Storer, J. Calo, J. Senior, C. Wehde (Executive Producers). (2022-present). The Bear [TV Series]. FX Productions.
-Hayes, J. (2025, July 2). I watched “The bear” pilot for the first time, and I accidentally binged it all. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jeremyhayes/first-time-the-bear-watch