The Bear is set to return for its fifth season this week, but why is the hit show coming to an end? Find out below.
The FX comedy-drama first premiered in 2022 and quickly became one of TV’s most talked-about shows, following fine-dining chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto as he returned to Chicago to run his late brother’s sandwich shop.
Created by Christopher Storer, the series stars Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, alongside Ayo Edebiri as Sydney Adamu, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie Jerimovich, Abby Elliott as Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto, Lionel Boyce as Marcus Brooks, Liza Colón-Zayas as Tina Marrero and Matty Matheson as Neil Fak.
Season five will premiere on Hulu in the US on Thursday (June 25), with all eight episodes arriving at once. In the UK, the final season lands on Disney+ the following day.
Check out the trailer here:
The Bear’s fourth season was released last year, with NME’s four star review concluding: “Like Carmy himself, The Bear’s fourth season returns bruised but improved. It may not be a return to its early greatness but this batch of slick, heartfelt episodes proves the show is still capable of delivering some delicious drama.”
Ahead of the final season, FX also released ‘Gary’, a surprise flashback episode starring Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal as Richie and Mikey Berzatto, set before the events of the main series.
Why is The Bear ending with season five?
The short answer is that the story appears to have reached its natural end point.
FX confirmed in March that season five will be the show’s last, but they did not suggest that it had been cancelled due to ratings or behind-the-scenes problems. Instead, the decision appears to be a creative one.
FX chairman John Landgraf had previously said the future of The Bear would come down to Storer’s vision, saying the decision was “really Chris’ decision” and depended on “how much more story” he had left to tell.
That tracks with the way season four ended, with Carmy deciding that his time in the restaurant industry was over. The final season picks up the morning after Sydney, Richie and Natalie learn that he has quit the food industry, leaving The Bear in their hands.
With no money, the threat of a sale and a storm closing in, the characters must come together for one final service as they try to earn the restaurant a Michelin star.
The show has been a huge success, winning 21 Emmys, but with Carmy stepping away and Sydney and Richie taking charge, it appears the show’s creators have made the decision to end the show while it is still at its peak.