At the heart of The Bear is the idea of growth through change. Carmen’s return isn’t just a case of him stepping in to manage a sandwich joint—oh no, that would be too easy. He’s bringing new ideas, fresh techniques, and a whole new level of culinary expertise to a place that’s been stuck in its ways for years. You can imagine how well that goes over. Spoiler: not well, at least at first.

But this is where the magic happens. The pushback Carmen faces from the staff—people who are used to doing things their way—slowly gives way to acceptance and, ultimately, transformation. One of the standout characters for me is Marcus, the head pastry chef. Marcus starts out content with making bread, nothing fancy, just bread. But under Carmen’s influence, he evolves. He dives headfirst into perfecting pastries, even traveling overseas to elevate his craft. That journey of growth? It’s inspiring, and it speaks to the idea that we’re all capable of more than we think, as long as we’re open to it.

Then there’s Tina. She’s initially hesitant, resistant even, to Carmen’s newfangled ways of doing things. But as time goes on, she finds herself excelling beyond what she ever thought possible. Watching Tina transform from a reluctant cook to a full-fledged chef is one of the most rewarding arcs of the show. And let me tell you, Lisa Colon-Zayas, who plays Tina, absolutely earned her Emmy for this role. She brings a depth and authenticity that’s hard to come by, and she became one of my favorite characters in no time.

There’s a moment in the show, between Tina and Jonathan Bernthal’s character (Carmen’s brother), that I won’t spoil for you. But it’s easily one of the rawest, most real scenes I’ve ever witnessed on television. It’s the kind of scene that makes you sit back and say, “Wow, this is why I watch TV.”