Summary

• The Bear is a highly stressful show that accurately portrays the intense pressure and chaos of the restaurant industry. Viewers are drawn into a high-stakes world where the line between triumph and disaster is thin.
• Episodes like "Forks" and "Bolognese" showcase the stress and tension felt by the characters, creating a palpable sense of anxiety and uncertainty. The show excels at building tension and keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.
• Despite its stressful nature, The Bear maintains its charm and delivers excellent storytelling. The intense moments and high-stress situations only add to the show's appeal.

The intense nature of FX’s the best shows of 2023 but also one of the most stressful. Across two intense seasons, The Bear masterfully depicts the relentless pressure and chaos that permeates the restaurant industry. The palpable stress the characters face becomes an integral part of the narrative, making it easy to root for them. With each episode, viewers are drawn into a high-stakes world where the line between triumph and disaster is thin, making The Bear an expert at building tension.

The Bear follows Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a talented chef who once worked at the most exclusive restaurants in the U.S. After his brother dies, he returns to his hometown to take over his brother’s sandwich shop. The regular stress of working in the kitchen is only amplified by the explosive personalities of the other chefs and the restaurant’s state of disarray. The Bear stands out as an incredibly tense show, and not many other series are as consistently nerve-racking as this one. While stress is synonymous with The Bear, it doesn't take away from its charm and excellent story — though some episodes are more intense than others.

8 “Forks” (Season 2, Episode 7)

While not necessarily the most stressful episode of The Bear, season 2's "Forks," portrays a level of healthy tension that pays off in a big way by the end of the installment. The stress stems from Richie's struggle to find his life’s purpose, which is a daunting experience for anyone. Richie stages at a renowned restaurant where he must wake up early, polish forks, and take orders, all of which feels pointless for him. His initial reluctance leaves viewers anxious about his potential failure and giving up. The uncertainty surrounding Richie's success makes this episode one of the series' more tense chapters.

7 “Bolognese“ (Season 2, Episode 8)

Tensions are high in The Bear season 2, episode 8, "Bolognese," as the crew prepares for a critical fire suppression test required for The Bear's opening permit. The investment in the restaurant's success amplifies the tension with each setback. Thankfully, relief arrives when Fak discovers that Michael disabled the fire suppression system in an insurance fraud attempt to burn down the restaurant. He manages to rectify the issue just in time for the test, resulting in a and finally granting The Bear the opportunity to open.

6 “Brigade” (Season 1, Episode 3)

Stress levels rise in The Bear season 1, episode 3, "Brigade." The installment starts with Carmy attempting to introduce The Bear's new kitchen brigade system. Sydney, entrusted with the responsibility of managing the changes, faces the difficult task of getting the team to adapt. Sydney's already stressful situation escalates when she faces a series of unfortunate events: a cut from a rogue box cutter, Tina accidentally destroying her sauce, Marcus concealing pounds of sliced onions, and Richie undermining her authority. The climax arrives with a massive vat of veal stock spilling in the walk-in, keeping tensions high through the ending.

5 “Sheridan” (Season 1, Episode 5)

The weight of the challenges in The Bear season 1, episode 5 is felt significantly after the power goes out in the titular restaurant. The staff tries to determine how they can preserve their food and continue service, as they can’t afford to close down. Sydney comes up with a plan: she sets up in the alley with a grill, resulting in an outdoor lunch. The level of stress increases as one thing after the other prevents the team from moving forward successfully. Fortunately, Sydney’s resourcefulness and perseverance calm things down by the end of "Sheridan," renewing the team's hope.

4 “Ceres” (Season 1, Episode 6)

Sydney's quest to add a new dish to the menu sparks tension when Carmy deems it unready, leading to her impulsive decision to serve it to a random customer. Naturally, this customer turns out to be a food critic. The dish receives glowing praise in the critic's review, adding to the chaos. Meanwhile, Marcus struggles to balance his doughnut experiments with his restaurant duties, and there’s stray gunfire that shatters the restaurant's windows. Later, a brawl ensues among the shooters, which Sydney diffuses by offering them leftovers. The whole season 1 episode is full of stressors, making it a whirlwind of drama inside and outside The Bear.

3 “Review” (Season 1, Episode 7)

One of the most chaotic days at The Bear happens in the season 1 episode "Review," which brings tensions to a memorable high. Every one of The Bear's characters seems to be going through something during this installment. Tina's tardiness due to her son's suspension creates complications, while Carmy's anger grows as Sydney serves her risotto to a newspaper critic. An argument between Sydney and Richie escalates, and to-go orders go wrong, causing further mayhem. This memorable 20-minute episode was shot in one single take, creating a sense of urgency as the team does their best to control the chaos unfolding around them.

2 “The Bear” (Season 2, Episode 10)

The The Bear has no shortage of drama as the restaurant plunges into chaos. The kitchen runs out of forks, a broken toilet crisis ensues, and a new hire is discovered smoking meth in the alley, leading to his instant dismissal. Carmy, overwhelmed by mounting orders, suffers a panic attack and accidentally locks himself in the fridge ahead of friends and family night, forcing Richie to take charge as expeditor and Sydney to become the new head chef. The team's relentless effort over two seasons to make the night a success — combined with the stakes surrounding Carmy's absence — makes this episode a real nail-biter.

1 “Fishes” (Season 2, Episode 6)

The Bear season 2's hour-long Christmas episode is full of guest stars, family drama, and a fork scene so stressful it lingers long after the credits roll. Not only does "Fishes" stand out as one of the best episodes of the series, but it also ranks as the most stressful episode of The Bear. The narrative is marked by overlapping outbursts, culinary mishaps, and intense close-up shots. This deliberate stylistic choice draws a poignant parallel between Carmy's tumultuous home life and the chaos of the kitchen, highlighting that he finds solace in unpredictable environments. This episode of The Bear is tense all the way through, giving thought-provoking insight into Carmy.