Early on in the season, a character mentions that they feel like they've been living the same day over and over again. Near the end of the season, a character explains that they can still keep on going, to which someone responds that isn't the right question to be asking...the right question is why keep on going? I feel like these two bookend quotes are a microcosm of the problems that The Bear has been facing for the last two seasons. There is an unavoidable stagnation throughout this season. The frenetic pace that defined its first two seasons slows to almost a complete standstill. I appreciate that the slower pace is meant to parallel a more introspective Carmy. However, there is no avoiding the fact that almost every character's arc across the last two seasons barely moves until the very ending of this season. And yes, this ending does create change, but it feels like it comes 15 episodes too late. It feels like the writers have been treading water, unable to figure out what they want to do anymore and are scared of messing with the formula that earned them so much success. So yes, this season feels like déjà vu, characters living the same day over and over again without being able to make the important decisions that have been plaguing them for the last two seasons. There is even the standard overlong episode filled with the same cameos that initially felt like such a surprise but now feel stale. There are moments of that brilliance that punch through, often revolving around cooking. However, most of the season is these heart-to-hearts between characters where they wax poetic about their feelings but are incapable of actually evolving. While these interactions used to be raw when used sparingly in the first two seasons, they now feel so overused that they veer on hokey. The saccharine philosophical musings are just not good television, especially when characters seem to regress or remain stuck. This is a formula that the writers can continue for more seasons, resting on the laurels of a few strong episodes despite the majority being mediocre. However, as the show itself asks us, why keep on going?

As a huge fan, didn't find this season especially good. Felt drawn out, a lack of focus, irrelevant side arcs, and generally boring. Almost no humor and no resolution to any of the obstacles portrayed. Wasn't horrible, but just wasn't up to par with the earlier seasons, especially the first two.

As a huge fan, I was quite disappointed with this season. It wasn't horrible per se, but compared to the first 3 it felt lacking. That's partly because the first 2 were absolutely incredible and I'm sure it wasn't easy to keep that going, but the show just had a very different vibe from earlier seasons. The story line seemed to lack a focus, especially the Sidney arc. I found her character the least likeable or believable. Then wedding was an all star cast but again, it was rather boring. Nothing really moved the story forward except to establish that it was all one big extended family and the dynamics that go with it. The ending was unsatisfying. Hard to root for anyone as there is no real winner or loser. No obstacle was overcome, just a shuffling of the deck. Even the countdown timer didn't get resolved. This entire season could have been paired down to 4 or 5 episodes with the same impact. Very little humor which was kind of a hallmark of the earlier seasons. Definitely worth a watch, just don't expect the caliber of the earlier seasons.

This show lost me this season. I feel like NOTHING happened other than that breakthrough between Carmen and his mom, which was very moving. Even that long conversation in the final episode felt like nothing, and I know it was supposed to be meaningful. I feel like they talked a lot but said so little and while that's standard for the show, I feel like when they had heart-to-hearts in previous seasons, they actually said things of substance, and something changed or moved forward as a result of those conversations. This time, it didn't feel that way at all. There was depth lacking as a whole, not only with Carmen, but with every character, so the credits rolled, and I'm left feeling like everyone and everything is stuck. Also, I'm getting sick and tired of cliffhangers at the end of every single fucking episode. It's getting OLD.

I liked this show when it was about the restaurant and not just relation problems