Groundhogs (The Bear)

Groundhogs serves as the premiere episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. Marking the 29th installment in total, it was both penned and directed by series creator Christopher Storer, and debuted on Hulu on June 25, 2025, simultaneously with the entire season release.

The narrative follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), an acclaimed chef from New York City who returns to Chicago to take over his late brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment. With financial support from his uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) and assistance from cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), sister Sugar (Abby Elliott), and chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Carmy endeavors to elevate the deteriorating Beef into a sophisticated dining venue named the Bear.

In this chapter, the team grapples with the repercussions of a critical review published by the Chicago Tribune and devises plans to rejuvenate the restaurant. The episode was met with acclaim for its concentrated storytelling, tone, and acting performances.

Plot

A flashback depicts Mikey aiding Carmy in the kitchen. Mikey expresses concerns about his rental car business, prompting Carmy to suggest launching a restaurant as a way to create positive experiences. Mikey proposes a name superior to Carmy's initial choice, "Mikey's."

In the present timeline, Carmy arrives at work to find the Chicago Tribune review titled "BEAR Necessities Missing: The BEAR stumbles with culinary dissonance." While praising the food quality and sandwich window, the critic points out inconsistencies in the menu and a disorderly environment. Carmy and Sydney attempt to push forward, whereas Richie and Tina commit to making improvements after reading the critique.

Cicero drops by with a warning: they have two months to become profitable or face closure, based on financial data analyzed by The Computer. Richie confesses he has already hired essential staff—Jess, Garrett, and Rene from Ever—despite cautions against further expenditure. These new employees introduce a communication system intended to boost operational efficiency. During their initial combined shift, the team functions smoothly while Carmy anxiously monitors the countdown.

Context

The flashback featuring Carmy and Mikey likely takes place before "Fishes," since Carmy had previously staged at the French Laundry and worked at Ever prior to being sent by Chef Terry for advanced training at Noma. By the time of "Fishes," Carmy returns from Copenhagen bearing a sketch of the Bear restaurant as a Christmas present for Mikey. In the "Groundhogs" flashback, Carmy articulates his vision of a warm and welcoming restaurant—contrasting with the cold, chaotic atmosphere of the Bear—emphasizing the episode’s central question: Can The Bear be improved?

Reviews of the Bear establishment reflect varied business opinions. The Chicago Tribune critique was characterized by The Ringer as "not so much bad as disappointed." Decider summarized it as a venue "trying too hard," with major criticism targeting "culinary dissonance," which was interpreted as an atmosphere that felt "harmonically fucked."

The episode’s title alludes to Groundhog Day, a film directed by Chicago native Harold Ramis starring Bill Murray. The movie is featured during a crucial scene, reinforcing themes of repetition and transformation that align with The Bear’s storyline. The song "I Got You Babe" recurs as a thematic motif, accompanying sequences of polished dishes and increasing profits, symbolizing progress. Carmy’s repeated phrase "I got you" highlights his developing leadership role and support within the team. Cracked.com observed that the film’s allegorical use underscores the show's deliberate thematic sense of being "stuck," suggesting an impetus toward decisive advancement.

Development

In May 2025, Hulu announced that the season's premiere episode would be both written and directed by series creator Christopher Storer, marking his 15th time writing and 20th time directing for the series.

Costuming

Sydney is seen wearing scarves from Kapital, including the "rain smile" and "mirrored Fuji" designs, notably during the discussion of the Tribune review. Additionally, she dons scarves by Eloi, such as the "Weiners" hot dog bandanna and the Matisse-inspired "Soul Alphabet." In the episode’s closing segment, Sydney sports a Mur by Ayca scarf titled Life of Shapes.

Filming

The New York Times commended the episode’s visual narrative, highlighting scenes where Carmy sends undelivered texts to Mikey following his brother’s passing. The finale features a montage centered on clocks and timers that amplify the urgency and underscore The Bear’s overarching themes of time constraints and emotional tension.

Music

This episode includes tracks like Led Zeppelin's "That's the Way", Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe", The Who's "Getting in Tune", and Tangerine Dream's "Diamond Diary". Led Zeppelin’s heartfelt ballad accentuates a poignant flashback between Carmy and Mikey.

Food

During a flashback, Mikey is shown shelling and eating pistachios while Carmy prepares a sauce that Mikey criticizes for its excessive garlic. Carmy mentions Omega Restaurant & Bakery in Niles, Illinois as well as Homer's Ice Cream in Wilmette, Illinois, although neither location was used for filming.

Critical reviews

The episode "Groundhogs" garnered generally favorable critiques. Jenna Scherer from The A.V. Club awarded it a "B," applauding its return to fast-paced dialogue and emotional depth. Marah Eakin of Vulture gave it 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting the symbolic importance of the episode’s clock and ranking it as the 15th best among four seasons. A.J. Daulerio of Decider likened the show’s meta commentary to Lena Dunham’s response to criticism on Girls. Bryce Olin from Show Snob described it as a strong installment that refocuses Carmy’s narrative following challenges in season 3. Substream magazine emphasized Carmy as the pivotal character compelled to evolve, potentially too late if acting alone.

Retrospective reviews

In 2025, Vulture placed "Groundhogs" at number 15 out of 38 episodes of The Bear, observing that the episode heavily utilizes a recurring surprise-interruption motif—also present in the season four finale—and suggested this technique might be scaled back in future seasons.

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