For three seasons, FX's The Bear follows Carmen Berzatto, a talented chef who returns to his hometown of Chicago to take over his brother's restaurant after his death. Over the course of the series, audiences have seen hilarious mishaps, horrifying conflicts, and some of the most heartwarming moments in recent TV history. In this way, The Bear is a perfect mixture of comedy and drama; a balance that's hard to pull off.
On the surface, it may seem difficult to find a TV show that replicates the same thoughts and feelings as The Bear. It is notoriously chaotic and has a very specific setting and premise. There are not many series out there about cooking or restaurant culture. However, The Bear is not completely defined by its kitchen setting. In reality, it is the themes of trauma, the dynamic relationships, and the mix of humor and tragedy that truly set The Bear apart. Fortunately, there are many more series out there that follow the same line of thought.
10 Maid
A Mother Struggles To Herself & Her Child
A drama that is completely underrated but has a very similar tone to The Bear is Maid. Released in 2021, this series follows Alex, a young mother who decides to leave her abusive partner, despite lacking a job or any place to go. The mini series sees Alex try her hardest to keep herself and her daughter afloat, even when the world (and the government) seemingly wants her to fail. Margaret Qualley gives an outstanding performance as Alex.
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The main connection between The Bear and Maid is the sense of impending doom. In just about every episode of The Bear, especially in the early seasons, it feels as though the entire operation is going to fall apart. Carmy will not save the restaurant and all the characters will be left stranded. The same feeling pervades Maid as well. Each time Alex moves forward, she is forced backwards again. Her failure feels almost inevitable, yet she always manages to keep going. In this way, both shows are inspirational, but at a dread-inducing cost.
9 Sweetbitter
A Young Woman Begins Working At A 5-Star Restaurant
The only series on this list that shares The Bear's restaurant setting is Sweetbitter. The 2018 series centers on Tess, a young woman who has left her boring Midwest town to start an exciting life in New York City. However, she is quickly sucked into her new job as a server at a 5-star restaurant, where she forms strong yet painful connections with her many unique co-workers. Ella Purnell stars as the naive protagonist.
Unlike Carmy, who has already had his heart broken by the world, Tess is innocent and unprepared for this overwhelming change.
For those who really enjoyed being in the nitty-gritty of restaurant culture, Sweetbitter is a great alternative. Like Tess, audiences are thrown into the complex and high-stress world of fine dining, and it is only complicated further by all the interesting personalities that work within it. Sweetbitter is dramatic, intense, and sometimes heartbreaking. Unlike Carmy, who has already had his heart broken by the world, Tess is innocent and unprepared for this overwhelming change.
8 Hacks
An Aging Comedian & A Young Comedy Writer Band Together
Another dramedy series that deserves much more attention is Hacks. First released in 2021, the series follows Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comic who forms an unusual bond with an entitled comedy writer. Though the two couldn't be more different, they begin to see the world differently through each other, leading to moments of success and terrible failure. The show is led by the talented Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder.
Like The Bear, Hacks has an impressively high Rotten Tomatoes score after three seasons: 99%.
There are many ways in which Hacks intersect, but one of the biggest is the idea of suffering for your art. Carmy is an incredibly skilled chef, but he must sacrifice just about everything to be this good. In the same vein, audiences see how Deborah has given up so much in order to be famous, and even then, the trade-off doesn't always feel worth it. On top of that, Hacks perfectly toes the line between comedy and drama, giving The Bear fans another heavy dose of hard-hitting dramedy.
7 Dead To Me
Two Grieving Women Form A Bond - Despite Keeping Secrets
A show that gets as dark and uncomfortable as The Bear is 2019's Dead to Me. The series follows Jen, a woman who recently lost her husband in a hit-and-run and begins attending group therapy. There, she meets Judy, another grieving woman, and the two form an instant connection. The only problem is, Judy is keeping a massive secret from Jen that could not only upend their friendship, but their entire lives. Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini take on the lead roles.
More than anything, Dead to Me has the same air of intense tragedy that The Bear has. Although The Bear is often framed as a comedy, the show delves into some really hard-hitting topics, including mental health, abuse, and suicide. The same can be said for Dead to Me. Despite the fact that the show is often hilarious, it also revolves around some really grim material. Like The Bear, it is successful in making audiences feel a plethora of different emotions.
6 Barry
A Hitman Tries To Pursue Acting
For those who enjoy the more absurd and messy aspects The Bear, Barry is the perfect follow-up. The 2018 series follows the titular character, Barry, who is a skilled hitman who decides he wants to leave his life of violence behind, and instead, pursue acting. Of course, Barry cannot completely escape his violent past, and eventually, his job interferes with his newfound ion, ending in some very complicated situations. Barry, along with starring in it.
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There are many moments throughout The Bear that feel so wild that it's almost absurd. For example, Ritchie accidentally dropping his medication into the punch bowl at a kid's birthday party, leaving all the children sleeping on the grass, is quite ridiculous. Barry is this type of scene but raised up a notch. Barry's attempts to navigate his old life and his new dream are almost silly, yet the emotion in them is completely real, which is what makes the series so compelling.
5 Ted Lasso
An American Football Coach Takes Over A Soccer Team
One series that is Ted Lasso. First released in 2020, the comedy series follows the eponymous Ted, an American football coach who moves to England to coach the failing soccer team, AFC Richmond. Although everyone doubts his abilities, Ted quickly proves that his lack of soccer knowledge is of no consequence. In reality, it is his optimistic mindset and ability to create community that leads to Richmond's eventual success. Jason Sudeikis takes on the titular role.
Both Ted Lasso and The Bear set out to prove that working together and learning to understand each other can create something truly magical, whether it is on the field or in the kitchen.
To some, Ted Lasso and The Bear may seem like polar opposites. Where Ted Lasso is full of positive energy, The Bear can be completely dread-inducing. However, the shows actually share very similar themes. Both Ted Lasso and The Bear set out to prove that working together and learning to understand each other can create something truly magical, whether it is on the field or in the kitchen. Furthermore, Ted Lasso has just as many dark moments as The Bear has light ones. Take Ritchie's redemption arc as one example.
4 Fleabag
A Troubled Woman Tries To Get Her Life Back On Track
Carmy is somewhat of a morally gray protagonist, and another show that has a similar main character is Fleabag. Released in 2016, Fleabag follows a woman who is mourning the unexpected loss of her best friend. As a result, she begins making questionable decisions and refuses the help of those who want to help her, leading to an eventual revelation about how she is truly feeling. The series was created by and stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
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In general, Fleabag is a fantastic show for those who love dramedies. Fleabag is a wry and hilarious character who often finds herself in some very strange positions. However, it is her journey to self-acceptance that is truly captivating, and it mirrors that of Carmy. Audiences want Carmy to get better, even if it costs him his perfection, and seeing Fleabag finally break down her walls is a perfect representation of what Carmy needs in The Bear.
3 Beef
Two People Connect After A Roadrage Incident
For those who love all the shouting and violence in The Bear, the perfect show to watch next is Beef. With only one season so far released in 2023, Beef follows Amy and Danny, two angry people who first meet when they get into a roadrage incident. Seeking revenge, Amy and Danny become entangled in each other's lives, causing their worlds to start collapsing in on themselves in strange and unexpected ways. The series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun.
Beef is set to be an anthology series, and season 2 is slated to follow Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny.
Beef is one of the only shows on television that has the same level of rage as The Bear. For some, The Bear's chaos can be completely overwhelming, but for others, it is peak entertainment. Beef is the same way. Though it is difficult to watch Danny and Amy make such awful decisions, it is also satisfying to see their true colors come out. Yet again, audiences yearn to see these characters break free of expectations, even if it leads to difficult change.
2 Atlanta
A Young Rapper Tries To Make It Big
A show that could be considered a sibling to The Bear is Atlanta. The 2016 series follows Alfred Miles, a young rapper who is hoping to make it big in Atlanta. He is helped along by his cousin, Earn, and his best friend, Darius. Together, these men form an entourage with big hopes and a lot of drive, although their personal lives create messes that make success that much harder to come by. Atlanta stars Brian Tyree Henry, Donald Glover, and LaKeith Stanfield.
Despite having completely different settings and premises, The Bear and Atlanta are virtually the same show. Carmy and his staff want to create a 5-star restaurant while Alfred wants to become a successful rapper. Both Carmy and Alfred have loyal friends by their sides, although these individuals may cause more trouble than they should. Furthermore, both shows deftly mix comedic moments with serious forms of drama and tragedy. Based on these similarities alone, Atlanta is worth checking out for The Bear fans.
1 Succession
Three Siblings Vie For Their Father's Media Company
Finally, the best show to watch like The Bear is the HBO series, Succession. Running for four seasons starting in 2018, Succession centers on the Roy family, whose father owns the massive media company, Waystar Royco. As the Roy patriarch begins to show signs of illness, the three Roy children begin to compete to become the next CEO of the company. Over many seasons, the siblings and their peers make dangerous business moves and have public meltdowns, all for a shot at incredible wealth and fame.
The Main Cast of Succession |
The Characters They Play |
|---|---|
Brian Cox |
Logan Roy |
Jeremy Strong |
Kendall Roy |
Sarah Snook |
Shiv Roy |
Kieran Culkin |
Roman Roy |
Alan Ruck |
Connor Roy |
Matthew Manfadyen |
Tom Wambsgans |
Nicholas Braun |
Greg |
Succession is definitely a spiritual sibling of The Bear. Although the shows have very different stories and styles, they share many of the same themes: generational trauma, success over happiness, and failure to be true to oneself. Succession has countless moments of intense conflict, like The Bear, but is also absurdly funny. All in all, the race towards Succession's CEO is just as exciting as the success of the restaurant in The Bear.
The Bear
- Release Date
- June 23, 2022
- Network
- Hulu
- Showrunner
- Christopher Storer
Cast
Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto
Ebon Moss-BachrachRichard 'Richie' Jerimovich
WHERE TO WATCH
The Bear follows Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, as he returns to Chicago to manage his family's sandwich shop. Amidst personal and professional challenges, he strives to transform both the establishment and himself while navigating relationships with a diverse and gritty team that becomes his chosen family.
- Directors
- Ramy Youssef
- Writers
- Catherine Schetina, Alex Russell, Karen Joseph Adcock, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Stacy Osei-Kuffour
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu, Dis
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