The burners lit up. The knives flew. And by the end of The Bear Season 4, absolutely nobody — not Carmy, not Sydney, not even Tina — could escape without some singe marks. This FX on Hulu sensation just wrapped its latest ten-episode course on June 25, 2025, and let’s just say: the kitchen may not be on literal fire, but everything else sure feels like it.
The Kitchen Clock Starts Ticking
Right from the starter, Season 4 piles on the pressure like a line cook with way too many orders. Our favorite ragtag restaurant sits teetering. A Chicago Tribune review, lukewarm enough to curdle milk, lands on the table. Suddenly there’s a countdown — 60 days left to keep the doors open. Carmy vows to fix the “uneven seasoning” and every other flaw. Sydney watches that clock tick down, holding a staff that frays around the edges.
The vibe is tense. The stakes are high. And everyone’s already sweating.
Carmy’s Inner Boil — And the Fallout
Jeremy Allen White slips straight back into Carmy Berzatto’s fireproof skin. This season, though, he’s less the artistic martyr and more the stressed commander, pushing perfection onto every plate and person nearby. His relationship with Claire (Molly Gordon) shifts from sweet to sour. By the time he blows up during a fateful kitchen date and eventually announces his sabbatical in the finale, viewers could almost taste the heartbreak.
You know those silent scenes, when Carmy dissolves into total overwhelm? They hit even harder this season. He’s haunted by legacy and obsessed with “why do we even do this?” existentialism. And yes — his melting point, on display during episodes like “Feedback” and “Fire Exit,” sets things up for some game-changing fallout.
Sydney, Seasoned and Ready
Ayo Edebiri returns as Sydney, delivering what might be her richest performance yet. Sydney’s narrative arc sharpens, especially in Episode 4: “Worms.” She takes a real day off. She explores Chicago in search of meaning (and, let’s be honest, a perfect croissant). And for once, we get to see Sydney outside her chef’s coat — vulnerable, ambitious, and brilliant.
But the kitchen draws her back, and with Carmy teetering, the show spins out the question: is she ready to head the entire operation? The finale seems to give a resounding “yes.” Sydney steps up just as Carmy steps back. Edebiri even took a co-showrunner seat for the season’s fourth episode, proving she’s the real deal both on and off screen.
Richie Steals the Show, Again
Let’s talk about Richie, played with unhinged Chicago vibrato by Ebon Moss-Bachrach. While Season 3 sometimes left Richie on the bench, Season 4 spins him firmly back into the game. His arc peaks in episode 7, “The Wedding” (it’s feature-length, because of course it is), as he crashes his ex-wife Tiff’s second marriage and finally finds closure.
There’s more, though. Richie’s flavor of leadership finally deepens; he brings both swagger and substance into the “front of house” chaos. In typical Richie fashion, there’s sweat, swearing, and at least one spectacular suit fiasco. No spoilers, but keep tabs on his journey — he might just be the emotional core nobody saw coming.
Tina Turns Up the Heat
Don’t sleep on Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), either. Her mentorship story gets air time in Episode 6, bluntly named “Tina,” where she juggles new externs and her own dreams. A flashback reveals her heartbreak after a past culinary school rejection, just to flip it when she finally earns an acceptance letter from Kendall College. Episode 6 instantly fired up TikTok, sparking rice recipe recreations and a fresh wave of Tina fandom.
Episode Hot List — All Killer, No Filler
While the season’s ten episodes bustle with overlapping ingredients, a few courses deserve special mention:
- “Numbers Don’t Lie”: Sydney lays out the finances, Richie loses the payroll. Stress levels triple.
- “Family Meal”: Food critic Nate (Ian Owens) sneaks in, rattling nerves.
- “Mise”: The infamous 24-minute refrigerator purge — intense, weirdly satisfying, meme-fodder for days.
- “Worms”: The Sydney spotlight episode.
- “Feedback” and “Fire Exit”: Carmy’s meltdowns, and the kitchen’s future, both boil over.
- “The Wedding”: Richie’s grand emotional buffet.
- “Taste Memory”: Jamie Lee Curtis’s Donna slips back for a confrontation so silent it’s seismic.
And let’s just state for the record: Matty Matheson’s cameo gumbo and Sufjan Stevens’s “Chicago” (stripped down, almost ghostly) on the finale credits — those are pure serotonin.
Style, Sound, and the Visual Flourish
If you thought The Bear would tone down its style, think again. Directors Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Ayo Edebiri, and Ramy Youssef keep the camera moving. DP Andrew Wehde jumps from jumpy street-level handhelds to tight, clinical Steadicam shots inside the kitchen, shoving viewers straight into claustrophobia.
The soundtrack slaps, too, leaning into nineties alt-rock with PJ Harvey’s “Down by the Water,” Sufjan’s haunting piano, and every needle drop more than just a background accessory.
Buzz on the Streets, Heat from the Critics
What’s the verdict? On Rotten Tomatoes, the season owns a robust 85% from critics (based on 72 reviews). Fans sound off on Metacritic with a 73. And Variety’s review? They nail it: “Still searing, occasionally self-indulgent, always irresistible.”
But not everyone finds the show flawless. Financial Times dubs it “a slow simmer not every palate enjoys.” The season leans introspective, sometimes at the expense of forward momentum, especially midseason. Even diehards on Reddit debated whether Carmy’s brooding matched the show’s earlier emotional fireworks. Others, though, think this is the show’s boldest move yet — trading speed for soul, mouth burn for lasting flavor.
If you checked Twitter/X or Instagram June 25th, you saw the fever. #TheBear4 trended sky-high, memes flooded in, and TikTok’s #TinasRice recipe went viral with almost 70 million hits. Chefs from actual Chicago kitchens even weighed in, and Chicago’s Public Health department got in on the action with a joking press release about TV restaurant cleanliness.
Controversy? Of Course. It’s The Bear
Some critics and social scrollers raised eyebrows at the show’s continued love-affair with the high-stress, “abusive genius” kitchen model. Showrunner Christopher Storer fielded those takes at the July 2025 Television Critics Association tour, vowing they’re evolving the narrative. Expect more self-reflection in how the series handles labor, legacy, and breaking toxic cycles.
The 2026 Reservation List — Season 5 Confirmed
Just as plates were cleared on Season 4, FX delivered the sweet news: The Bear is coming back for a fifth round in 2026. FX Chairman John Landgraf rolled that out at the TCA press tour, with contract extensions for White, Edebiri, and Moss-Bachrach announced the same day. Filming starts early next year.
Insiders are already whispering about a slightly shorter, punchier season — think eight episodes, not ten. No official plot teases exist (yet), but one thing’s certain: Carmy’s off on his sabbatical. Sydney looks to take full charge. Tina’s cooking up fresh dreams. And the writers room, with Edebiri back as co-showrunner, is guaranteed to toss in more Chicago flavor, more heartbreak, and maybe even more kitchen redemption.
Forks Up, Folks — This Heat Won’t Die Down
If you felt breathless by The Bear’s finale, don’t worry — you’re in good company. With Carmy making a surprise exit, Sydney against the clock, and Richie after closure, the show leaves more open burners than solved problems. This isn’t just a story about food. It’s about family, trauma, ambition, and finding grace in chaos.
So, finish your staff meal and wipe down your counter. Because when The Bear returns for Season 5 in 2026, you’ll want a front-row seat. The reservation list starts now — and this kitchen? It never stays closed for long.
