Beef (The Bear)

Beef (The Bear episode)
Company type	Television episode
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	June 22, 2023; 3 years ago
Founder	Christopher Storer
Headquarters	Chicago, United States
Products	Television episode

Beef serves as the opening episode of the second season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. It is the ninth episode in total, with both writing and directing credits attributed to series creator Christopher Storer. The episode debuted on Hulu on June 22, 2023, coinciding with the release of the entire season.

The narrative follows Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a celebrated chef from New York City who comes back to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment. In this installment, Carmy and his crew initiate plans for renovating the restaurant but quickly confront unexpectedly steep expenses.

Critics widely praised the episode, highlighting the cast's performances and the fresh story arcs introduced in the new season.

Plot

Marcus (Lionel Boyce) makes a visit to see his mother, who is gravely ill, before returning to work. Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and his team discuss renovation estimates that could surpass $95,000. Carmy comforts Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), who feels uncertain about his future role, assuring him he will not be dismissed but warning about the demanding nature of the position.

Natalie (Abby Elliott), appointed as project manager by Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), alerts Carmy that costs might escalate due to IRS regulations and other unforeseen factors. The three consult Cicero (Oliver Platt) regarding a loan of $500,000. After Carmy pledges repayment within 18 months or closure accompanied by transferring property valued at $2 million, Cicero consents. Later, Natalie advises Carmy that profitability is unlikely until eight months after renovation completion, which itself will require at least six months.

While assessing staffing and operational logistics, Sydney invites Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) to join as her sous-chef; Tina agrees. That evening, Carmy, Sydney, and Natalie convene at the restaurant to establish timelines. Although aware of the risks involved in aiming for a three-month opening, they decide to move forward with their plans.

Context

A seasoned restaurateur observed that Carmy's rough financial calculations were significantly off base, underscoring the necessity for an experienced manager like Natalie on the team. Elliot, who had a limited role during season one, gains a more prominent presence in this season. The restaurateur also commented that a budget of $300,000 is reasonable for restaurant construction, whereas $850,000 approaches what he termed "fuck you money," implying that the final setup depicted in the show could be achieved more economically.

Development

In May 2023, Hulu revealed that the second season would commence with an episode titled "Beef," both written and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. This episode marks Storer's fifth time writing and sixth time directing for the series.

Costuming

Sydney’s distinctive white overalls are identified as Carhartt's "railroad stripe bib," exemplifying practical workwear choices essential to maintaining authenticity within the kitchen setting.

Set decoration

A poster for the film Rounders is displayed in the restaurant’s basement; notably, Brian Koppelman, co-writer of Rounders, later joined the cast portraying Uncle Computer.

Music

Season two incorporates songs such as "The Show Goes On" by Bruce Hornsby, "Handshake Drugs" by Wilco, "Transcendental Blues" by Steve Earle, and "New Noise" by Refused, contributing to the vibrant tone of the series.

Release

The episode, together with the entire season, debuted on June 22, 2023.

Critical reviews

"Beef" garnered widespread praise from critics. Marah Eakin of Vulture awarded it a flawless 5 out of 5 stars, highlighting the series' signature manic energy and bold vision. A.J. Daulerio from Decider focused on the team's resurgence under intense pressure, while Arnav Srivastava of The Review Geek gave it 4 out of 5 stars, commending its suspenseful tone and seamless continuation from the prior season. Karl R De Mesa at Show Snob described the episode as dynamic and effective in laying the groundwork for future developments.

Rafa Boladeras from MovieWeb placed this installment seventh in the season’s ranking, drawing attention to a pivotal emotional exchange between Carmy and Richie. Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic ranked it ninth, noting the ambitious narrative arc that raises expectations for the season’s dramatic intensity.

Retrospective reviews

In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter positioned "Beef" at number 14 among 28 episodes, observing that the second season opener of The Bear introduces a more optimistic tone than its predecessor, suggesting fresh opportunities amid persistent struggles for the characters. ScreenRant ranked it 20th out of 28 episodes spanning up to season three, emphasizing its contribution to the series’ evolution with enhanced complexity following a raw initial run.

By 2025, Vulture listed "Beef" as the 12th-best episode among 38 total entries, describing it as "a masterclass in storytelling."

External links