Ceres (The Bear)

Template:Infobox television episode

Ceres marks the sixth installment in the debut season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. The episode, penned by Catherine Schetina and Rene Gube and helmed by director Joanna Calo, premiered on Hulu on June 23, 2022.

This series centers on Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a celebrated New York chef who comes back to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael’s struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment.

Plot

The narrative begins with a flashback featuring Mikey (Jon Bernthal) and Carmy preparing Mikey’s braciole, while Carmy, Sugar (Abby Elliott), and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) listen intently to Mikey’s tale.

In the current timeline, Sydney creates a risotto dish intended for the menu, but Carmy dismisses it; nevertheless, Sydney serves it regardless. Natalie arrives to discuss outstanding tax issues, prompting her and Carmy to hunt for missing paperwork. Meanwhile, Marcus experiments with donuts but falls behind on his other restaurant responsibilities. After gunshots strike and shatter the restaurant’s windows, Richie calls upon local gang members to investigate. When tensions escalate into a confrontation, Sydney calms the situation by offering leftover food; feeling excluded, Richie contacts the police about the gangsters.

Context

The episode’s title alludes to the statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, which crowns the Chicago Board of Trade Building, as well as to Ceres Cafe—a cocktail lounge located in its lobby known for potent drinks and generous servings.

Both Mikey and Richie incorrectly credit architect John Storrs with the statue’s creation; in fact, it was sculpted by John Storrs. The Art Deco Board of Trade structure was designed by Holabird & Root; atop its pyramidal roof sits the statue, embodying the building’s stylized architecture. Mikey points out that Ceres faces northward along LaSalle Street, turning her back toward the south.

Mikey shares an anecdote about unexpectedly arriving at a 6 a.m. party attended by hockey legends Denis Savard, Chris Chelios, Ed Belfour, and actor Bill Murray. Savard is recognized as a Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Fame member.

While recounting this story, Mikey prepares braciole, assigning Carmy to finish it with Parmesan cheese and rejecting Sugar’s idea to add raisins in order to maintain their mother’s traditional recipe.

The episode touches on themes of Chicago’s gentrification, mentioning neighborhoods such as Logan Square, Wicker Park, and Pilsen. The “bar next door” is inspired by the actual Green Door Tavern, which has been operating since 1921. Additionally, a Sweetgreen salad restaurant is set to open soon in the show’s fictionalized River North district.

Crooked John requests beverages like RC Cola and Green River soda—both iconic Chicago drinks with origins dating back several decades—to accompany his beef sandwiches.

Carmy employs the “cake-tester method” to assess whether chicken is cooked through by touch.

A notable guest at Beef in this episode is local meteorologist Tom Skilling.

Costuming

For the flashback scenes, costume designer Courtney Wheeler outfitted Carmy in a "gray long-sleeved henley" intended to evoke a casual and happier family atmosphere, reflecting Michael’s habit of cooking every Sunday—perhaps while watching the Bears game. Richie is dressed in a gray-and-maroon "Chicago tracksuit."

Filming

The flashback featuring Mikey inside the Berzatto household kitchen was shot in California. Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach mentioned that Jon's scene was the final take, which permitted some alterations in his appearance. Since Jon was concurrently working on American Gigolo and had just one day available, the Los Angeles setting introduced different lighting and temperature conditions, resulting in a brighter ambiance than usual.

Music

Songs featured in the episode include "Call the Police" by LCD Soundsystem, "Beat City" by the Flowerpot Men, "Peace Blossom Boogy" by Babe Rainbow, "Aphasia" by the Budos Band, and "Last Train Home" performed by John Mayer.

Food

At the conclusion of "Sheridan," Sydney proposes her dish of cola-braised short ribs accompanied by risotto, though Carmy critiques it as "not ready." Short ribs, generally sourced from the chuck or short plate sections, consist of alternating layers of meat and fat surrounding rib bones, necessitating prolonged, slow braising to achieve tenderness. As explained by Food & Wine, incorporating cola into the traditional wine and stock braising liquid adds a nuanced sweetness that enriches the sauce. The braising process involves searing meat before cooking it covered in liquid at low temperatures to develop flavor and softness. Risotto is an Italian dish where hot stock is gradually stirred into sautéed rice until it attains a creamy texture. Sydney’s risotto utilizes an étouffée stock base, which she crafted in "Sheridan" with Carmy's assistance in straining.

Critical reviews

Vulture awarded the episode a perfect five-star rating.

Den of Geek emphasized Bernthal's introduction as pivotal to The Bear’s enduring emotional resonance: "The Bear truly reached its finest form in season 1, episode 6 'Ceres,' when Mikey appears through a flashback. The poignant core of the narrative solidifies here and remains unshaken. Understanding each character's loss deepens their portrayal. Even Syd, who never met Mikey, faces his presence reflected daily in Carmy's baby blue eyes."

Retrospective reviews

In 2024, Hollywood Reporter positioned "Ceres" as the 16th best out of 28 episodes, highlighting Bernthal’s immediate ability to breathe life into Mikey, making viewers feel his absence nearly as deeply as those close to him. ScreenRant ranked it 15th among 28 episodes up to season three, describing it as one of season one's "more compelling" installments and commending Bernthal’s "exceptional" debut.

Also during 2024, Variety placed "Ceres" at number 10 on its list of top episodes from The Bear.

By 2025, Vulture ranked "Ceres" 20th out of 38 episodes, calling it "a very good episode," particularly appealing for those familiar with Chicago. Esquire rated it eighth among the best episodes from the first three seasons, noting that the harvest goddess motif symbolizes a turning point for The Bear as its characters shift away from their past toward Carmy’s vision. Richie’s crude behavior here foreshadows his significant development in season two.

A BuzzFeed critic watching season one in 2025 remarked, "Richie struggles with breaking free from established patterns. The show excels at conveying complex character depth through subtle expressions within concise 30-minute episodes."

Sources

External links

Transcript for S01E06 – "Ceres"