Brigade (The Bear)
Brigade marks the third installment in the debut season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. This episode, penned by series creator Christopher Storer and directed by Joanna Calo, debuted on Hulu on June 23, 2022.
The narrative follows Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a celebrated chef from New York City, who returns to his hometown of Chicago to take charge of his late brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment.
Plot
Carmy participates in an Al-Anon meeting to gain insight into his brother’s battle with addiction. Within the restaurant, he introduces a kitchen structure modeled after the brigade de cuisine, entrusting Sydney with its management despite her feelings of being unprepared and frustrated. Although initial challenges arise, the team members—particularly Marcus, the dedicated baker—start embracing their new responsibilities. Sydney confronts Carmy regarding his absence and expresses concerns about the hierarchical system; Carmy acknowledges that their cooperation is essential for the restaurant’s success.
Context
The episode’s title alludes to the kitchen brigade system created by 19th-century French chef Auguste Escoffier, who organized kitchen roles similarly to a military brigade, designating over twenty distinct culinary positions. War veteran Ebra draws a comparison between military and kitchen brigades by remarking, "I was in a brigade once. Many people died."
The blue aprons handed out by Carmy are Travail bib aprons produced by the French manufacturer Bragard.
Sydney directs the staff to clean the "lowboys," which are compact refrigerators located beneath countertops, commonly found in professional kitchens.
Casting
Molly Ringwald appears as a speaker in Carmy’s Al-Anon group, offering reflections on relationships affected by addiction.
Costuming
The aprons distributed by Carmy originate from the French brand Bragard's Travail bib apron line. The aprons used throughout season one were surplus items from the French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley, previously rejected due to an incorrect shade of blue.
Filming
The scene featuring Carmy gazing over Lake Michigan was shot near the Drake Hotel along Michigan Avenue.
Music
Songs featured include "In Too Deep" by Genesis and "Oh My Heart" performed by R.E.M..
Food
The family meal showcases Ebra’s chicken, a seasoned dish combining meat and vegetables that holds cultural significance within Somalia and Somali-American communities.
Critical reviews
BuzzFeed lauded Ringwald’s brief appearance as "too good to overlook." Carmy’s decision to appoint Sydney as sous-chef and implement a French-brigade style hierarchy generates friction as original staff members adjust to new leadership. This tension underpins much of the anxiety present throughout season one. Another BuzzFeed piece emphasized the importance of Sydney and Carmy’s conversation behind the restaurant, identifying it as a key moment shaping their relationship over the first three seasons.
Retrospective reviews
In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter placed "Brigade" 22nd out of 28 episodes, highlighting how changes in the restaurant provoke "Carm and Syd's first major fight, swiftly followed by their first makeup, and the memorable line: 'Fuck brunch'." ScreenRant ranked it 27th among 28 episodes across three seasons, noting that Sydney’s solitary challenges with the staff make it "a draining watch" that captures kitchen chaos but "struggles to match up with the rest of the series."
By 2025, Vulture positioned "Brigade" 16th out of 38 episodes, describing it as a "formative" chapter within season one.
See also
- Comprehensive list of The Bear episodes
- Season one of The Bear
- Prior episode: "Hands"
- Following episode: "Dogs"