The Berzatto family in FX’s award-winning show The Bear is loving but dysfunctional. There is grief from the death of Michael, generational trauma and addiction. Complicating this all is the high-stakes world of fine dining. The plot centers around chef Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto’s quest to turn around The Original Beef of Chicagoland, his family’s failing restaurant.
The 10 moments on this list represent some of the most stressful family happenings on the series. You think your family is dramatic? These guys make the average household look tame. Use caution reading this article if you are not caught up with all three seasons, as spoilers abound.
Michael’s Death
The inciting incident for the whole series is the death of Michael "Mikey" Berzatto, played by Jon Bernthal. He owned the sandwich shop and never let his younger brother Carmy, played by Jeremy Allen White, work there. It is revealed during the series that Mikey struggled with drug addiction and shot himself in the head. The exact moment is not portrayed on the show, but audiences watch his family and friends try to cope with the unthinkable loss of their loved one.
Michael’s Debt
Michael leaves the restaurant to Carmy but it is not in good shape. In season one, episode two, a health inspector gives the restaurant a C rating. Carmy also discovers Mikey owed $300,000 to a family friend named Jimmy. Carmy calls him Uncle Cicero, who offers to buy the restaurant from him. Carmy refuses to sell and promises to pay him back instead.
More from LittleThings: Undoing The Damage: Breaking Inherited Dysfunctional Parenting Habits
Sydney Adamu’s Panic Attack
After Carmy takes over, he hires Sydney Adamu, played by Ayo Edebiri, as his new sous-chef. This means she is second in command. Sometimes family is chosen and not just determined by blood. Sydney is young and talented but has a chip on her shoulder because of the failure of her catering business. In the season two finale, the pressure from the friends and family night causes her to have a panic attack. She goes outside to vomit and is comforted by her own father, who lets her know he is proud of her hard work.
Carmy’s Homemade Ecto Cooler
The line between blood relatives and chosen family in The Bear is paper thin and very blurry. Richard "Richie" Jerimovich, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, was Mikey's best friend. Carmy and his sister Natalie call him cousin, but he is not biologically. In season one, episode four, Carmy and Richie cater a kids birthday party for Uncle Cicero. Carmy makes fancy homemade Ecto coolers but accidentally laces them with Richie's Xanax, causing the guests to fall asleep. Oops.
Richie’s Drug Deals
Cousin Richie has many stressful moments on the series. Another one occurs in season one, episode five. Carmy learns that Richie used to sell cocaine in the parking lot of the restaurant. It's what got the establishment through the COVID-19 pandemic. He agrees to stop but Carmy asks him to make one more sale to get money to repair a damaged condenser.
Uncle Cicero’s Loan
At the end of season one, Carmy makes the decision to close down The Beef and instead create something of his own. His restaurant The Bear will bring new life to the space. The only problem is he needs money. In season two, episode one, he approaches Uncle Cicero for even more cash. He borrows an additional $500,000. Cicero plays hardball and makes Carmy promise to pay him back in full in 18 months or he will own the property. No pressure!
Pete Telling Donna Natalie Is Pregnant
Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto, played by Abby Elliott, is the middle child and gets involved with the restaurant along the way as a co-owner. She is married to Pete, played by Chris Witaske, who is kind and patient. He doesn't always know how to handle his wife's chaotic family. In the season two finale, he accidentally tells Donna, Natalie's estranged mom, that they are expecting a baby.
Marcus’ Missing Calls
Marcus Brooks is one of the staff members Carmy inherited from Mikey. He baked the bread. In the new restaurant, with the mentorship of Carmy, he learns to make mouthwatering desserts. Over the course of the series, the audiences learns Marcus' mom is terminally ill and he fears not being with her when she dies. During the restaurant's grand opening, he misses several calls from his mom's nurse. In season three, viewers learn she died.
Donna Crashing the Car
Season two's episode entitled "Fishes" is quite possibly the most stressful hour of television ever made. You almost need some of Richie's Xanax to get through it. The family matriarch Donna, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, is attempting to make a Christmas meal based on the Feast of the Seven Fishes. She's just a little drunk and no one is getting along. Things come to a head when Donna crashes the car into the house. That's one way to get the family to stop fighting.
Natalie’s Labor
Although initially stressful, audiences get a bit of healing in season three, episode eight. Natalie goes into labor but can't get ahold of Pete or anyone else. She is forced to call her mom. Donna supports her daughter through labor and the two connect for the first time in years. Donna promises to try to get better.
