The Bear Season 4 Discussion with Alise Chaffins | The Austin B Media Podcast #42
Heads up: This article includes affiliate widgets for JustWatch. I may earn a commission if you sign up for a streaming service or make a purchase through these links.
Six-time guest Alise Chaffins returns to talk about Season 4 of FX’s The Bear, and there’s a lot to dig into.
In our nearly two-hour conversation, we discussed Carmy’s “apology tour,” Sydney’s challenges, Richie’s growth, Emmy category fraud, and our hopes for Season 5. The first hour is spoiler-free, so if you haven't finished the season yet, you can stream this episode safely before jumping into the full breakdown.
What's The Bear Season 4 About?
Following the fallout from the scathing review at the end of Season 3, Season 4 of The Bear serves as an "apology tour" for Carmy as he attempts to make amends and rediscover his passion. The season focuses on the improved, honest communication between Carmy, Sydney, and Richie, explores the heavy toll of burnout, and questions what success means for the crew and the restaurant.
Support Austin B Media
If you enjoyed this podcast, consider joining my Patreon.
Members get:
Early access to reviews and podcasts ($10 members get unedited episodes)
Exclusive monthly Film Club, where we watch a movie and discuss it together on Zoom
Community polls to help choose what I cover next
Behind-the-scenes research notes
Join here and help shape the future of Austin B Media!
Chapters
00:00- Intro Screen
00:08 - Guest Introduction
02:08 - Alise's recommendation: Andor & Peacemaker
03:24 - My recommendation: Novocaine
05:10 - Upcoming Discussion on Gen V Season 2
06:14 - Initial Discussion & What Drew Us to The Bear
09:27 - Evolution of the Seasons & Viewing Seasons 3 & 4 as a Single Story
13:35 - Character Regression in Season 3 & Hopes for Season 4
18:10 - Evolving Character Dynamics in Season 4
23:28 - Season 4's Story and Carmy's "Apology Tour"
27:47 - Standout Performances of the Season
35:42 - A More Subdued Direction & Cinematography
41:52 - Is The Bear a Comedy? The Category Fraud Debate
48:30 - Our Final Ratings for Season 4
51:24 - Looking Ahead to Season 5
53:13 - Spoiler Warning
53:52 - The Season 4 Finale
01:06:51 - Carmy's Storyline, Burnout, and Self-Reflection
01:12:24 - Carmy and Sydney's Dynamic as Friends & Colleagues
01:20:22 - Donna's Storyline and the "Tonnato" Episode
01:27:31 - Richie's Journey and Character Growth
01:35:21 - The Most Emotionally Impactful Moments of the Season
01:39:50 - Character Resolutions & Frustrations
01:46:19 - The Clock and Cicero's Decision
01:47:58 - Our Final Season Rankings
01:48:40 - Where to Find Alise & Outro
01:50:24 - Patreon Plug
01:50:36 - End Screen
Where to Watch The Bear Season 4
All four seasons of The Bear are now streaming exclusively on Hulu.
Where to Find Our Recommendations
Alise's recommendations: Andor & Peacemaker
All seasons of Andor are available to stream on Disney+.
Season one of Peacemaker is now streaming on HBO Max, with a second season set to premiere on August 21st.
My recommendation: Novocaine
Novocaine is streaming on Fubo TV, MGM+, Paramount+, and Philo.
Where to Follow Me
Where to Follow Alise
Until next time!
