The Bear Season 2 Unveils the Most Chilling and Memorable Family Christmas Episode Ever!

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WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for the season 2 finale of The Bear! The Christmas episode of season 2 of The Bear is considered to be the standout installment of the highly-praised series. It provides a haunting portrayal of the characters' troubled family history. Continuing the success of the first season, The Bear season 2 has received a 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with particular praise given to its star-studded flashback episode. Titled "Fishes," episode 6 of The Bear season 2 takes us back five years in time, depicting the Berzatto family gathering for Christmas at the home of Carmy, Sugar, and Mikey's mother Donna, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.

The feel-bad Christmas episode of The Bear showcases the Berzattos on the most stressful day of the year, with their deep-rooted traumas and unresolved conflicts coming to the surface. It is widely regarded as the best episode of the season. As Donna busily prepares the elaborate Seven Fishes meal for the Christmas episode, tensions rise between Carmy and Mikey, Sugar incessantly worries about her mother's well-being, Lee attempts to exert control over Mikey, and - tragically, considering what occurs later - Richie is shown happily married. The tension builds with each increasingly anxiety-inducing scene, leading to a climactic Christmas dinner where Lee and Mikey exchange insults and throw forks, while a drunken Donna crashes her car into the house.

The Bear Season 2's "Fishes" Is One Of The Greatest TV Episodes Of 2023 So Far

The Bear's Christmas Episode Is A Highly Compelling & Painful Portrait Of Family Dysfunction

The Bear season 2, episode 6, "Fishes," exemplifies the perfect blend of haunting, beauty, heartbreak, hope, and disaster that captivates viewers. The final moments of the episode, much like Carmy, leave us in a state of shock and yet not entirely surprised, rendering us speechless. With its exceptional direction, phenomenal acting, gripping screenplay, intense close-ups, and unexpected cameos from The Bear season 2, "Fishes" emerges as one of the most remarkable television episodes of 2023. It stands shoulder to shoulder with other noteworthy installments such as "Church and State" in Succession and "Long Long Time" in The Last of Us.

In contrast to a dysfunctional family trying to find peace and resolution during the holidays, The Bear takes advantage of its Christmas setting to delve deep into the complex and raw psyche of the Berzatto family. Despite their efforts to present a happy holiday facade, Christmas often magnifies the anxieties and conflicts within dysfunctional families. Paradoxically, high expectations associated with the season can lead to even greater disappointments and heightened discord. By the time dinner arrives, the true roles and trauma responses of each family member become evident, paving the way for the tumultuous conclusion of The Bear season 2.

Donna, the family matriarch, is a well-known figure who strives for a perfect holiday centered around tradition and love. However, her own high expectations become overwhelming, causing even the slightest mistake to feel catastrophic. Despite knowing that alcohol only worsens her anxieties, self-loathing, and anger, Donna turns to drinking as a coping mechanism. Mikey, too, puts on a happy facade and enjoys sharing stories with friends, but his uncle Lee's criticism for his drug abuse, failed business plans, and insecurities takes a toll on him. When Mikey returns intoxicated, his hot-tempered violence and lack of self-restraint, which Lee had berated him for, are further fueled as he childishly throws forks at the dinner table.

In just one hour of television, The Bear season 2 effectively and painfully explores the deep-seated family dynamics of the Berzattos, which have been festering unresolved for years, if not decades. The show's flashback Christmas episode sheds light on why Carmy, Michelle, and Uncle Jimmy avoid getting involved in the family's conflicts and instead focus on enjoying the holiday. It becomes evident that the Berzattos suffer from a curse of denial, preventing them from truly experiencing a peaceful holiday. By the end of The Bear's Christmas episode, Carmy's associations between food, family, and trauma, as well as the origins of his perfectionism, quick temper, and frustration, are tragically revealed.

"Fishes" Brilliantly Breaks TV Christmas Episode Tropes

The Bear's special holiday episode sparked concerns that it would follow the same path as Ted Lasso season 2's surprising Christmas episode, which diverted from the main plot to focus on a heartwarming tale of goodwill among the team. However, contrary to expectations, the FX/Hulu series took a different approach. In episode 6 of The Bear season 2, instead of showcasing the Berzatto family's rare moment of happiness in the past, it delves into their lowest and most traumatic moments, with familial resentment and feuds intensified by the holiday season. The episode is not merely a lighthearted holiday inclusion; rather, the flashback and setting of The Bear provide crucial insight into the dynamics of the Berzatto family under claustrophobic and high-stress conditions.

Unlike many TV shows' Christmas episodes that bring about a Christmas miracle or a joyful reunion among characters, The Bear's episode serves as a backdrop for the tragic betrayals, fatalities, and shattered hopes and happiness that lie ahead. The show does not subscribe to the notion that all family conflicts can be set aside for a single day of peace on Christmas. Instead, it presents a somber reality that aligns with Carmy and the Berzattos' story. This approach not only stays true to the ongoing narrative and the characters' growth in subsequent years but also elevates The Bear's "Fishes" to one of the most emotionally disheartening holiday-themed episodes possible.

The chefs at The Bear are not indulging in Secret Santa, baking Christmas cookies, or singing carols. Instead, The Bear's Christmas episode revolves around Lee brutally conveying to Mikey that he is destined for insignificance, Donna impulsively driving her car into her own house, and Carmy experiencing dissociation as he fixates on the cannolis that will leave a lasting traumatic impact for the next five years. This portrayal is authentic and heart-wrenching, despite still offering glimpses of hope through the parallel storylines of Richie, Tiff, and Uncle Jimmy. These stories serve as a deliberate departure from the nostalgia-infused Christmas episodes commonly showcased on television.

The Bear’s Christmas Episode Cameos Avoid Stunt Casting Cliches

The Bear's Christmas episode is brimming with renowned guest stars, such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Bob Odenkirk, Jon Bernthal, Sarah Paulson, and John Mulaney, who assume the roles of the Berzatto family members. Instead of simply relying on the allure of surprise, the show resists the temptation to overpopulate the episode with famous actors. Instead, it intelligently leverages the immense talents of these guest stars, allowing them to breathe life into their flawlessly flawed new characters. Consequently, their presence transcends mere gimmicks, creating a truly remarkable ensemble.

Curtis's guest role in the episode is likely to secure her an Emmy nomination, given her chilling performance as the family's unpredictable matriarch. In fact, the emotional depth of The Bear's holiday installment is largely carried by its guest stars, overshadowing the main cast. Bernthal portrays the troubled "man of the family" in the absence of his father, while Paulson plays the cousin who acknowledges her family's flaws and attempts to help Carmy escape them. Odenkirk takes on the role of a power-hungry individual who clashes with Mikey, and Mulaney plays an unrelated friend who unconditionally loves the dysfunctional family. Together, these performances make The Bear's Christmas episode undeniably captivating.