The Bear's Best Ingredient Is Tenderness 

there's a reason why both eps are at a 9.7

I would argue its the better episode because it doesnt have all the cameos and flashback premise to lean on. Richie's growth and transformation in "Forks" is amazing.

Every second counts

Ritchie's arc in season 2 is just the absolute best, it's so good to see him go from a chaos-laden hand grenade tossed into every situation to respecting himself, respecting others, and rising above the chaos.

I love it when a series or movie gives an abrasive character a character arc. Ritchie always showed his softer side when it came to his daughter and his ex, but rarely around or in front of anyone he worked with. He learned so much during his week away, because he finally stopped yelling, and started listening, asking questions when he didn't know the answers to. Ritchie didn't become someone I would want to be around on a personal or professional level, until episode 7, Forks. When he started actually liking himself, he began dressing the part. He took things more seriously on a professional level, while enjoying surprising, entertaining, complimenting, and anticipating the needs of his guests. He's finally found his place in The Bear, after all of these years of feeling unwanted, unneeded, and unfulfilled. When Ritchie finally apologized to Sugar for being such an ass towards her for who knows how long, it really felt like a genuine, long-over due apology to a friend, and not between two actors. As much as I loved the previous episode, The Fishes...I mean, it was like watching a movie. There were a lot of cameos in it, and they weren't distracting at all. They were very funny, or in the case of Jamie Lee Curtis, a manic depressed mess, and a clear indication of where Carmy gets his explosive reaction towards and compulsive need for a chaotic situation. The episode threw in Bob Odenkirk, who will probably have people throw forks at him in real life. Funny, you'd think THIS one would have been titled Forks, but it's Fishes. Then we get Sarah Paulson, who felt like a real relative of mine, and how she would have reacted to the drunken outbursts that would happen every Christmas. Gillian Jacobs was great, and made you realize why Ritchie is so hurt to no longer have her in his life. When she told him that she was getting married, that was both a gut punch, and the wake up call to finally push forward, and leave his regret and anger behind. tl;dr I like Forks better than Fishes because of reasons. Both 10/10 for me though. *Damn. I forgot to praise John Mulany's performance, just like it took me a few minutes to realize that it was him playing cousin Stevie. The way he was toying with the Fak brothers when they asked to borrow money was funny as hell. He wanted to pay the 1k, I think? just so he could see how badly they would fail. He wanted weekly updates, almost like he had bought a cheap weekly series for his own amusement.

I love how they built on his character this season. I know so many men exactly like him - purposeless, insecure, but trying. It made me empathise with them a lot more

Just like when he says he loves carm through the walk-in door when hes getting insulted

I hate Taylor Swift's music, but I can't deny I really enjoyed watching Richie sing one of her songs in the car as he's finally starting to come into his own and find the purpose he's been looking for.

Same with Jamie Lee Curtis, her scene outside the restaurant had me in bits.

Even Joel McHale who spent had max 30 seconds onscreen still lives in my brain

Bro Jamie Lee Curtis stole the whole season by just being in two episodes

​@@therealbingus5143I didn't even know that was him. He plays mean well

@@domskillJamie better get a nomination for this season

I felt so much relief when the end credits rolled, I was expecting will poulter to turn into an arsehole, or his mum to die, maybe even something to happen to the "cat' on the boat

I commented that S2 had been quite tame compared to S1 and that I didn't like that as much about it... And then I received an absolute schooling in screenwriting and pacing by the show dropping me into E6 and the family dinner oh my god they knew what they were doing with the calm before the storm of gentle Marcus having a chill time in Copenhagen

what was cool was that specific incident is that it seems to mirror to us how dysfunction affects us outside of the traumatic event. Because the show/perspective is that of anxiety and dread as normative, something completely "normal" or innocuous, like helping an old man in need, speaks volumes to the effect trauma, and more specifically consistent trauma and stress, has on shaping perspective and expectation. like helping someone else should not elicit dread, but because of past experience- us as viewer and characters as memory- our expectations are colored to expect a negative outcome, we project negative outcomes on a relatively neutral situation. Which'd incline a great deal of us to avoid giving aid or being far more....cautious. Since marcus, as we know him, seemed to have had the least amount of psychological trauma, his reaction seemed less guided by fear and mistrust. basically smart writing. i also dont think the scene wouldve played out as it did with most of the otehr characters

Always waiting for that other shoe.

specially with hiro murai involved, glad everythig was fine. (For now)

I learned this recently in my late 20s. It slapped me in the face but it was life changing.

yes ❤️

While Ted Lasso feels much more like an escape, an ideal reality where everything kinda works out, they still acknowledge the issues obv (like the panic attacks and so on) but the show gives a general good feeling to anyone watching, while The Bear really digs into the depressing feelings of life

whole heartedly disagree with this

Yes !!

@@yoanhartono8691 but you need to articulate it

yeah, and without sucking LOL

I don't want to get my hopes up and expect this next season to be as good as season 2, but still...

I've just finished watching season 2. Richie is my season's MVP.

don't forget Britta/Atom Eve, Baby J, and... i've got no nickname for Sarah Paulson. :P

Mid show

@@catnoir-a-saurus when you open your mouth it is loud and obnoxious. Great show and great episode.

@@ImperiaGinWho?

The Christmas episode is my favorite of the series

​@@catnoir-a-saurus...that's the point

😂😂❤❤❤

I think that speaks more about Richie’s insecurity than Carmy’s lack of communication skills… but i guess it’s both. I just understand Carmy’s PoV more bc I’m very similar

The Nerdwriter does a wonderful job of summarizing the emotions and sensations that art evokes, no doubt about that. Curious if you've seen Thomas Flight's video about season 2 of The Bear, for me it was a privileged look into the editing process of this film, and gave me an even greater depth of admiration for how much work goes into making this show as special as it is.

lol I was thinking the same thing watching this.

The pilot was truly uncomfortable as someone who's worked in many high end restaurants. The rest of the first season was rough, but the pilot gets it so perfect it hurts. The show doesn't glorify the workaholic attitude necessary to succeed in kitchens, it doesn't glorify anything except for the human bonds you make in those environments.

I couldn't agree with you more. And in real life he's such a thoughtful & wonderful person. Excellent actor & has been in so many movies plays & tv shows like Girls. My heart wishes him nothing but the best for him in the Bear ❤

Not Ebra. Gary AKA Sweeps.

Love this take but why

@@fraukatze1147 I can't easily explain. I guess they're both shows about people trying to be better. It's a show about city life that is fun and entertaining but also honest about life and its disappointments but provides hope in demonstrating how to cope, or not cope, in a healthy way. And they both have protagonists with unusually-shaped heads.

watch the show!