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Fishes (The Bear)

From Alfawiki
Fishes
Company typeTelevision episode
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedJune 22, 2023; 3 years ago (2023-06-22)
Key people
Christopher Storer (director, co-writer), Joanna Calo (co-writer)
ProductsEpisode of The Bear
Websitewww.hulu.com/series/the-bear

Fishes (known on-screen as The Berzattos) represents the 14th episode overall and the sixth installment of the second season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. It premiered on June 22, 2023, via Hulu. The episode was helmed by series creator Christopher Storer and co-written by Storer alongside Joanna Calo.

This installment showcases several prominent guest stars, many of whom were not revealed prior to the season’s debut. At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, "Fishes" garnered nine nominations and secured four wins, including Outstanding Guest Actor awarded to Jon Bernthal and Outstanding Guest Actress to Jamie Lee Curtis.

Plot

Approximately five years before the restaurant’s launch, Carmy returns from Copenhagen to spend Christmas with his family. Present at the gathering are Carmy’s mother Donna, siblings Michael and Natalie, cousin Michelle with her boyfriend Stevie, Richie alongside his pregnant wife Tiffany, the Fak brothers Neil and Theodore, Uncle Cicero, and Donna’s intermittently present boyfriend Lee. Michael and Carmy caution Natalie against persistently asking their volatile, alcoholic mother if she is "okay."

Donna, inebriated, prepares a meal inspired by the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which Carmy dismisses as something no one truly consumes. Michael, Richie, and Stevie inform Carmy they recently encountered Claire, his childhood crush, and claim to have spoken favorably about him. Later on, Michael reassures Carmy that he desires what is best for him. Carmy presents Michael with a framed drawing of The Bear restaurant they intend to open together; while Michael is touched by the gesture, he exhibits signs of distress once alone.

Richie tends to Tiffany in Donna’s bedroom as they discuss the upcoming arrival of their child. Richie requests employment from Cicero to support his family; Cicero agrees after Tiffany unknowingly expresses gratitude. Michael entertains with stories from his travels until Lee interrupts with criticism of Michael’s repetitive tales and unsuccessful ventures. Natalie's boyfriend Pete arrives bearing an extra seafood dish he dubs "the eighth fish," which angers the Berzatto family who warn it brings ill fortune to Donna. Natalie promptly discards it. Michelle encourages Carmy to remain in New York to further his career, highlighting the detrimental impact of family dysfunction.

While waiting for dinner, Carmy attends to Donna in the kitchen; she expresses frustration over her unrecognized sacrifices for the family. Carmy attempts to console her but is told to rejoin the others at the table. After he leaves, Donna quietly breaks down in tears. During dinner, family members debate the origins of the Seven Fishes tradition. Lee shares his perspective; meanwhile, an intoxicated Michael repeatedly hurls forks at him. The tension escalates until Donna intervenes. Stevie offers an impromptu grace urging compassion; this causes Donna to break down emotionally. Despite warnings not to ask again, Natalie questions Donna’s well-being once more, triggering a profane outburst before Donna exits. When Lee mocks Donna’s behavior, Michael throws another fork at him; a fight nearly breaks out but is interrupted when Donna crashes her car into the living room, leaving Carmy and Natalie stunned.

Main

Principal cast members Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, and Liza Colón-Zayas receive credit but do not appear in this episode.

Guest appearances

Development

This episode was helmed by series creator Christopher Storer, with the script co-written by Storer and Joanna Calo. This marked Calo's fourth writing contribution and Storer's eighth time directing an episode. Calo mentioned that there were conversations about potentially releasing the episode separately as a Christmas special due to its comedic tone and seasonal timing.

Casting

The installment introduces several new characters brought to life by notable guest stars such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Gillian Jacobs, John Mulaney, Bob Odenkirk, and Sarah Paulson. Of these, only Odenkirk’s involvement was publicly disclosed prior to the season premiere. Additionally, Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Michael Berzatto from the first season.

Costuming

Tiffany is seen wearing a sweatshirt referencing 1989 following a scene depicting morning sickness. Carmy dons a French navy blue rugby-style polo shirt from the Palace X Ralph Lauren collaboration. The Fak brothers are outfitted in plaid shirts supplied by L.L. Bean.

Set decoration

Set decorator Eric Frankel characterized Donna’s residence as embodying "Italian Christmas with an '80s flair." Gillian Jacobs shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the intricately designed set enhanced her insight into the family dynamics and characters, emphasizing details such as a caricature illustration of Michael and the décor of Donna’s bedroom.

Filming

Distinct from other episodes, this flashback sequence was captured on traditional 35mm film. The shoot took place in a residence located in Evanston, Illinois, where the production team devoted four days to filming scenes on the first floor prior to shooting the extended dinner-table segment.

Lead actor Jeremy Allen White commended the efficient workflow and collaborative spirit on set. Meanwhile, Ebon Moss-Bachrach praised the strong rapport among guest performers and highlighted Jamie Lee Curtis’ standout portrayal.

Chris Witaske, who plays Sugar’s partner Pete, remarked that preparing for this episode was more demanding than usual due to numerous scenes involving complex dual-dialogue exchanges.

Showrunner Storer revealed that during the pivotal dinner argument scene, Bernthal switched from using a rubber to a plastic fork prop to achieve better realism.

B-camera operator Chris Dame documented roughly "9,000 inserts" for post-production editing purposes. A-camera operator Gary Malouf credited the production design team for crafting an immersive environment that enabled extensive shooting without requiring multiple retakes.

Frankel recounted that although Jamie Lee Curtis expressed interest in driving a car through the house set, safety considerations led to an alternative approach involving a hinged wall and staged destruction using several identical props.

Music

The soundtrack features tracks such as "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" by the Ramones, George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You", "Still the Night" performed by BoDeans, a song by Mina, Dorothy Olsen's "The Little White Duck", Lou Monte's "Dominick the Donkey", Lindsey Buckingham's "I Want You", Dean Martin’s rendition of "A Marshmallow World", "Something So Strong" by Crowded House, Steve Earle’s "When I Fall", Dean Martin’s "The Things We Did Last Summer", and finally, "The Christmas Song" by Weezer.

Food

This episode revolves around the traditional Italian-American Christmas Eve seafood feast known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or La Vigilia. Rooted in Roman Catholic fasting customs, this elaborate multi-course dinner reflects the symbolic importance of the number seven in both Christian and Jewish faiths, functioning as a cultural ritual that strengthens Italian-American heritage.

Donna’s curated menu features branzino, lobster, oysters Rockefeller, artichokes, roasted peppers, potatoes, and bread. The episode culminates with cannoli—usually sweet pastries filled with citrus-infused ricotta-mascarpone—though Carmy, Sydney, and Marcus experiment with a savory twist on this classic dessert.

Additionally, Carmy crafts a homemade lemon-lime soda reminiscent of "Sprite" using sparkling water (likely S.Pellegrino), fresh lemon and lime juices or flavorings, and sweetener to help ease Tiffany’s morning sickness.

Reception

GQ singled out "Fishes" as the premier episode of season two, applauding the strength of the ensemble cast. Brady Langmann from Esquire praised it as "one of the year's best."

The Los Angeles Times lauded both the episode itself and Curtis’ portrayal of Donna, with many critics considering her performance deserving of an Emmy.

Melanie McFarland of Salon.com appreciated how the episode balanced narrative depth and thematic complexity alongside its signature intensity. Vulture described watching it as "absolutely exhausting," highlighting its compelling writing and execution while forecasting significant Emmy recognition.

In 2024, Variety ranked "Fishes" fifth among top episodes of The Bear, dubbing it "the most thrilling episode" and a major creative milestone. Similarly, The Hollywood Reporter placed it fifth on their list, calling it "perhaps the single most harrowing hour" in the series but an outstanding contribution to The Bear's legacy. ScreenRant identified it as the finest episode through season three due to its originality and emotional impact.

By 2025, Vulture elevated "Fishes" to third place out of 38 episodes, noting its insightful depiction of each character. Collider ranked it fifth in their top 10 episodes list, emphasizing its enduring influence as a meticulously crafted installment. Meanwhile, Esquire named it second-best from the first three seasons.

Ranker.com recognized Stevie’s line to the Fak brothers—"'Do I have access to five hundred bucks? I absolutely do. I am a 43-year-old man'"—as the most memorable quote from the first two seasons.

Also in 2025, The Guardian included "Fishes" among the ten most intense TV episodes of recent decades, placing it alongside iconic moments from shows like Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones.

Accolades

Award Category Nominee(s) Outcome Ref.
76th Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series Christopher Storer Template:Won [1]
76th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series Template:Won [2]
Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Joanna Calo and Christopher Storer Template:Nom
76th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Contemporary Costumes Courtney Wheeler, Lariana Santiago, and Steven "Rage" Rehage Template:Nom
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Jon Bernthal Template:Won
Bob Odenkirk Template:Nom
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Jamie Lee Curtis Template:Won
Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling Ally Vickers, Angela Brasington, and Melanie Shaw Template:Nom
Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Ignacia Soto-Aguilar, Nicole Rogers, Justine Losoya, and Zsofia Otvos Template:Nom
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Single-Camera Comedy Series Joanna Naugle Template:Won
76th Writers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Joanna Calo and Christopher Storer Template:Nominated [3]

Sources


External links

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