Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Bear season 4!The Bear’s “Fishes” is one of the show’s most memorable episodes, and it gets somewhat of a sequel in season 4 with a special reunion for certain characters. The hit Hulu series just returned for a new installment, and like recent years,The Bearseason 4 features fun guest stars and cameos. As shown inThe Bearseason 2’s “Fishes” episode, situations that involve a big group of guest stars could get messy. While that remains true to some degree in season 4, the unofficial follow-up to “Fishes” sees a lot of growth among characters, including with the Berzatto family.
The Bearseason 4 brings about significant changes for its characters, particularly the Berzattos. While Natalie is helping The Bear stay up and running after becoming a new mom, Donna is trying to better herself and make amends with her family life. Then there’s Carmy, who decides that he wants to leave the restaurant by theend ofThe Bearseason 4, with the hope of having Sydney take over with Nat and Richie as partners. Even thoughThe Bearseason 4’s Rotten Tomatoes score hit a record lowfor the show, there are still several standout episodes, including the big wedding.
Season 4’s “Bears” Is Another Family Affair
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The Bearseason 4 breaks a record as the show’s longest installment to date, but it also has the longest episode with episode 7, “Bears.” The episode, which takes place during Tiff’s wedding, comes in at 69 minutes. “Bears” also serves as an unofficial sequel episode toThe Bearseason 2’s award-winning “Fishes” episode, based on how it brings together the show’s complicated web of family and friends. Whereas the Berzatto family was at the center of “Fishes,” this time, Tiff and Richie’s complicated family dynamic takes center stage. Despite marrying Frank, Tiff still wants Richie there for the big day, especially to be there for their daughter.
Richie shares some heartfelt moments with Tiff and Frank, proving how unified they are in doing what’s best for Eva. However,the standout aspect ofThe Bearseason 4, episode 7, is the prominence of returning guest stars and a new cameo. After being teased throughout the show, season 4 finally introducesFrancie Fak, played by Brie Larson, which was a pleasant surprise, especially after John Cena’s appearance as Sammy Fak last season. When Natalie arrives at the wedding, she and Francie hilariously go at it without directly confirming why they’ve been so mad at each other.
Aside from Larson and Josh Hartnett’s notable return as Frank, “Bears” features the return of John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson, and Bob Odenkirk, who were all pivotal inThe Bear’s “Fishes” episode. In fact, “Bear” solvesThe Bear’s lingering Odenkirk mystery, confirming that Lee was at the Christmas dinner in the flashback because of his friendship with Donna. Lee also reveals to Carmy that he and Mikey got over their differences and actually became friends before Mikey’s death. As for Donna, she doesn’t do anything as wild as she did in “Fishes,” but she does have a meaningful conversation about family with Sydney before cutting out early.
Why The Bear Season 2’s “Fishes” Episode Is So Beloved
The Flashback Episode Has Received A Lot Of Important Recognition
Leading up toThe Bearseason 4, season 2’s “Fishes” remained one of the show’s top-rated episodes. In fact, a lot of the discussion surrounding the show since season 2 debuted has revolved around the flashback episode, specifically about how it set the bar so high.“Fishes” showcased a Seven Fishes Christmas dinnerhosted by the Berzattos for their extended family and friends. What seemed like a traditional affair turned sideways when Mikey and Lee got into an argument at the dinner table, before everything went off the rails.“Fishes” ultimately ended with an intoxicated Donna driving her car into the house, shocking everyone in attendance.
Bob Odenkirk, Jon Bernthal, and Jamie Lee Curtis were all nominated for Emmys for their performances in “Fishes,” with Bernthal and Curtis winning in their respective categories.
The Bearseason 2’s Christmas flashback episode was also noteworthy because of the acclaim the cast and crew received for that particular episode.The Bearshowrunner Christopher Shorer won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for the episode. Also, Bob Odenkirk, Jon Bernthal, and Jamie Lee Curtis were all nominated for Emmys for their performances in “Fishes,” with Bernthal and Curtis winning in their respective categories. Though those three stood out, the ensemble cast truly gave it their all, emulating a dysfunctional family trying to get through dinner before the Berzatto tension boiled over in an unforgettable conclusion.
The Episodes Are Two Of The Bear’s Best To Date
First and foremost,The Bearseason 4’s wedding episode is nowhere near the same intensity level as “Fishes.” There are a few instances of characters confronting one another, like Francie and Sugar, but it’s much more of a light-hearted entry, allowing characters to reunite and clear the air. If you are more interested in a calmer scenario that reunites big-name cast members, it’s understandable to consider “Bears” as the better entry compared to “Fishes.” Seeing asThe Bearhas thrived with chaos, it also makes sense why “Fishes” would still be considered the peak episode.
Interestingly, “Bears” is tied with “Fishes” in early viewer reactions from those watchingThe Bearseason 4.IMDbhasThe Bearseason 4, episode 7, at 9.6/10 at the time of writing, which is the same score as “Fishes.” Even if the score sways a bit, it seems likely that “Bears” will be remembered to be on the same level as the award-winning “Fishes,” or at least close to it. When discussingThe Bear’s best episodes, it’s also critical to mention another season 2 episode in “Forks,” a Richie-centric episode that also garnered award recognition.
