Honeydew (The Bear)
| Company type | Television episode |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | June 22, 2023 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
| Products | Episode of The Bear (TV series) |
Honeydew represents the fourth installment in the second season of the American comedy-drama series The Bear. It is the 12th episode overall, penned by supervising producer Stacy Osei-Kuffour and directed by Ramy Youssef. The full season, including this episode, was made available on Hulu on June 22, 2023.
The narrative centers on Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto, a celebrated New York City chef who returns to his native Chicago to manage his deceased brother Michael's struggling Italian beef sandwich establishment. In this chapter, Marcus journeys to Denmark to master three distinctive desserts, working alongside a seasoned pastry chef.
Critics widely praised the episode, highlighting guest actor Will Poulter's portrayal and Youssef's direction. It frequently appears in rankings of the series' top 10 episodes.
Plot
With the grand opening scheduled in seven weeks, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) and Natalie (Abby Elliott) discuss complications related to a trademark. Natalie confides her pregnancy to Carmy, requesting discretion; however, their conversation is overheard due to a collapsed wall, and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) reveals he was already aware.
Marcus (Lionel Boyce) is assigned the challenge of devising three innovative desserts and entrusts his bedridden mother to a nurse's care. While in Copenhagen, he resides on a houseboat before meeting pastry chef Luca (Will Poulter), who maintains a rigorous and disciplined culinary method. Although Marcus initially finds it difficult, he gradually grasps Luca's philosophy. Their relationship deepens as Luca recounts how encountering an experienced chef (implied to be Carmy) taught him to balance ambition with life outside the kitchen, prioritizing personal happiness over culinary supremacy.
One evening, Marcus aids a Danish man caught in a fence following a bicycle mishap. Later, during a phone call with Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Marcus admits feeling homesick for Chicago; Sydney encourages him to prioritize self-care as a means to better support his mother. Back in the kitchen, Marcus successfully replicates a dish suggested by Luca and enjoys it wholeheartedly.
Context
Addressing the "DBA" complication inherited from Mikey, restaurateur Abe Bream explained in GQ magazine that taking over an existing location often means assuming its prior challenges. These include longstanding violations, incomplete work, and navigating bureaucratic obstacles such as securing a liquor license. Resolving these issues demands considerable time and financial resources, frequently involving an expeditor and multiple intermediaries within a complex regulatory framework.
Development
In May 2023, Hulu revealed details about the episode "Honeydew," written by supervising producer Stacy Osei-Kuffour and directed by Ramy Youssef. This episode marked Osei-Kuffour's inaugural writing credit and Youssef's first time directing for the series. Notably, it was also the initial episode not helmed by series creator Christopher Storer or showrunner Joanna Calo.
Writing
Lionel Boyce observed that the script effectively portrayed a tense and demanding atmosphere, highlighting Marcus' lack of experience in the restaurant sector. He pointed out that Marcus gains respect through diligent effort, illustrating the mentality necessary for elite dining establishments.
Moments depicting Marcus reaching out to his mother and assisting a Danish man after a bicycle mishap emphasize the significance of non-verbal cues and "quiet acts of service" in fostering connections.
Casting
This episode includes a guest role by Will Poulter, who was highly eager to participate, admitting he "literally begged" Storer for the part. Poulter described the role as transformative for his career. To embody his character, he spent several months training in London eateries to build a credible backstory and develop an authoritative yet non-aggressive kitchen presence. His scenes were completed over two days. Poulter also contributed to the creation of Luca's tattoos, which were executed by the production’s art team.
Costuming
The navy shirts worn by Marcus and Luca during scenes at the Noma bakery are loop-wheeled cotton T-shirts manufactured by The Strike Gold.
Filming
Director Youssef sought to establish a contemplative mood in episode four while capturing both the city's energy and the artistry of desserts. To ensure authenticity in portraying the restaurant environment, Youssef and Boyce spent two weeks in Copenhagen studying Noma’s layout and receiving training on-site.
Filming took place at various locations such as a houseboat on Frederiksholms Kanal, Noma and its surrounding gardens, Hart Bageri in Holmen, Nyhavn, Poulette’s in Nørrebro—known for its vintage neon signs and signature chicken sandwich—Joan’s Pølser at Kongens Nytorv, Rosenborg Castle Gardens, and stations along Copenhagen Metro’s City Circle Line. Kitchen sequences set in "Noma" were filmed in Chicago at After, near Ever.
The individual involved in the bicycle accident is played by Martin Kongstad, a Danish novelist, screenwriter, cultural commentator, and food critic who writes for prominent Danish media outlets.
Editing
Producer Josh Senior recommended giving Marcus’ episode a more reflective tone compared to typical Bear installments. Editors Joanna Naugle and Adam Epstein lengthened certain shots to emphasize Marcus’ meticulous baking technique, immersing viewers subtly into his world without deviating from the show’s established style.
Music
The "Honeydew" episode’s soundtrack included selections such as "Holiday Road" by Lindsay Buckingham, "I've Been Loving You Too Long" performed by Otis Redding, "Tezeta (Nostalgia)" by Mulatu Astatke from Ethiopiques, and "Welcome" by Hermonia & Eno '76.
Food
Executive chef Curtis Duffy from Ever crafted the "minty Snickers bar" dessert: a layered cake featuring coconut cream set with gelatin on top, a middle layer infused with mint shiso, and a base composed of chocolate-caramel sauce, finished with a crisp cracker garnish.
Critical reviews
The episode "Honeydew" received widespread praise from critics. Justin Charity of The Ringer emphasized Marcus' struggle for mentorship as he hones his culinary skills under workplace stress. Alex Abad-Santos from Vox underscored the episode's depiction of talent as a cooperative effort rather than a rivalry, highlighting the importance of community in achieving success. Marah Eakin of Vulture awarded the episode a flawless 5-star score, commending Lionel Boyce’s composed performance as Marcus amid intense adversity. A.J. Daulerio writing for Decider praised director Ramy Youssef for effectively visualizing Marcus’ educational journey. Additionally, a Salon.com commentator pointed out the episode’s distinct "homoerotic undertones."
Retrospective reviews
In 2024, Variety placed "Honeydew" second in its ranking of the top 10 episodes of The Bear, noting its emphasis on gentleness, patience, and subtle "nonverbal communication" as a refreshing contrast to the series’ typically hectic tone. The episode was lauded for offering a novel viewpoint while remaining connected to the overall narrative. That same year, The Hollywood Reporter ranked it eighth out of 28 episodes, describing it as "a love letter to one of the most important food cities in the world" and recognizing the introduction of Will Poulter’s character Luca, who plays a pivotal role in supporting Carmy and mentoring Marcus. ScreenRant positioned "Honeydew" fourth among those 28 episodes, highlighting its distinctiveness and strong potential for repeated viewing.
By 2025, Vulture placed "Honeydew" fifth in a list of 38 episodes, praising Ramy Youssef’s direction along with Marcus’ development as a pastry chef. Collider ranked it seventh on their top 10 episode list, celebrating it as a "beautiful character study" focused on Marcus. Meanwhile, Esquire listed "Honeydew" sixth among the best episodes of The Bear that year.
See also
- List of The Bear episodes
- The Bear season two
- Previous episode: "Sundae"
- Next episode: "Pop"