Jaw-Dropping Twist: The Bear Season 2's Unforgettable Christmas Dinner Episode Revealed by Star!

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the actor who portrays Richie, recently discussed the filming of the Christmas episode in Season 2 of the popular Hulu series, The Bear. This critically acclaimed show follows the journey of Carmy Berzatto, an award-winning chef who decides to leave the high-end culinary world behind and return to his hometown of Chicago to manage his late brother Mikey's Italian beef sandwich shop. Episode 6 of The Bear's second season, which became available on June 22, takes viewers back to a chaotic Christmas dinner at the Berzatto family home, when Mikey was still alive. Packed with appearances from various guest stars, this episode provides further insight into the history of the Berzatto family.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Moss-Bachrach shared his thoughts on filming the Christmas episode in Season 2 of The Bear. While each episode of the show is typically filled with chaos, the hour-long flashback episode titled "Fishes" posed additional challenges due to its moments of intense psychological and emotional turmoil. Moss-Bachrach specifically highlights a scene in which Mikey throws forks at Uncle Lee (portrayed by Bob Odenkirk), describing it as "problematic, gnarly, and downright ugly." Below, you can read more about what he had to say.

The experience was unique. It went beyond just having amazing guest stars; it was an exceptional moment in cinema or television that exposed a deeply-disturbed night. Creating it was thrilling. Although I have a deep affection for our usual set, ensemble, and crew, which feels like home, working with different individuals who brought diverse energy to the table was like hosting a dinner party. The foreign actors brought an incredible energy that I was worried might overshadow the story with their own celebrity status. However, they were all fully dedicated to serving the story and remained humble.

During the scene at the dinner table, where Mikey throws silverware at Uncle Lee, after every cut, everyone would sit in silence for a few minutes. The situation was problematic, disturbing, and downright ugly. Personally, I prefer to rest and reset between takes, especially during emotionally-charged scenes. Maintaining that energy level throughout the day is challenging and draining. If I don't take breaks, I become fatigued and unable to give my best performance. I like to engage in light conversation or play chess on my iPhone to switch gears. Staying in that emotional space all day is not beneficial for me, so I have found this method works best.

The Bear Season 2's Christmas Episode Is One of The Best TV Episodes of 2023

The Christmas episode of The Bear season 2, released on June 22, quickly gained recognition as an instant classic and one of the best television episodes of the year. It was compared to Succession season 4, episode 3 "Connor's Wedding," which also received acclaim. Similar to the episode that featured the death of the Roy family patriarch, The Bear season 2, episode 6 delves deeper into the generational trauma of the Berzatto family. It introduces Donna, Carmy and Mikey's alcoholic mother, portrayed brilliantly by Jamie Lee Curtis. The episode concludes with Donna having an emotional breakdown and driving her car into the living room.

Apart from exploring the disturbing dynamics within the Berzatto family, the episode also introduces various new characters portrayed by notable guest stars. This adds to the entertainment factor of the episode. Alongside Jamie Lee Curtis and Bob Odenkirk, guest appearances include Sarah Paulson from American Horror Story, John Mulaney from Saturday Night Live, and Gillian Jacobs from Community. With its exceptional storytelling, the episode is likely to receive significant recognition at the Emmy Awards for The Bear season 2.

Source: Rolling Stone