TV: The Bear

[Fripp]

S3 was ... not good. I'm not sure what Storer thinks he's doing. It was like a film school project - all style, no story. He's got some redeeming to do with S4.

 

[trojansoilers]

S3 was ... not good. I'm not sure what Storer thinks he's doing. It was like a film school project - all style, no story. He's got some redeeming to do with S4.

I noticed this during the most recent season of 3 shows that I watch, The Bear, House of the Dragon, and Cobra Kai.
The plot never really advanced much, and there wasn't a whole lot happening. I wonder how much the writer's strike affected the shows that are now coming out.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Can't think of a single funny line or moment from that show but I can think of dozens from Succession off the top of my head.

(no i dont think the fak bros are funny and frankly at this point it seems like they just try to shoehorn them in to keep that "comedy" tag)

You Snyder-cut mother f***ers!

 

[kook10]

I noticed this during the most recent season of 3 shows that I watch, The Bear, House of the Dragon, and Cobra Kai.
The plot never really advanced much, and there wasn't a whole lot happening. I wonder how much the writer's strike affected the shows that are now coming out.

During the strike you couldn't have a writers' room, but many people worked on their own projects at home. If you look at the s3 writing credits, most of them were written by the creator/showrunner Christopher Storer. My guess is that he had it mapped out and was writing during the strike. Also, reading the credits, it looks like Napkins might have been a spec script (one where someone writes the whole thing on their own and hopes a show buys it), because it was credited entirely Catherine Schetina who was otherwise listed as a Story Editor (a low level position) and had little to no other experience. Possibly Ice Chips was done beforehand too.

The show wasn't picked up until afterward (Nov) and had a pretty quick turnaround. That would lead me to believe they had all the scripts in hand, because usually a writers room is +/- 20 weeks before production starts. That might also explain why s3 was more conceptual with less dialogue.

 

[Stylizer1]

I noticed this during the most recent season of 3 shows that I watch, The Bear, House of the Dragon, and Cobra Kai.
The plot never really advanced much, and there wasn't a whole lot happening. I wonder how much the writer's strike affected the shows that are now coming out.

I find that many shows go through this. Probably they don't think too far a head just in case the show gets cancelled. Come back with a kick ass 4th season to sure up the rest of the series.

 

[Peasy]

Could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that it was originally going to be 3 seasons, but FX wanted them to stretch it to 4. If so, would make a lot of sense.

 

[Stylizer1]

Could be wrong but I thought I read somewhere that it was originally going to be 3 seasons, but FX wanted them to stretch it to 4. If so, would make a lot of sense.

There is a similar series from the UK called Boiling Point. It actually started off as a movie and then finished of with a 4 part series. Good watch.

 

[Epictetus]

Pretentious is how i'd describe it.

 

[Stylizer1]

Pretentious is how i'd describe it.

I would say that's what they were going for.

 

[hoyster]

Just finished the 3rd season and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Was it as good as the first 2 seasons? No. It's not meant to be a plot heavy show so no idea why people are complaining about that.

 

[Jussi]

 

[Shareefruck]

I've been just catching onto this recently, I'm very early into the third season, which is basically where the first hints of hiccups have been for me and I'm stalling/procrastinating because of all the negatives I've heard about the reception.

The first two seasons + the first episode of S3, though, have been phenomenal. Probably the most won over/impressed/endeared without reservation I've been by a Western acclaimed show since that early-mid 2000s golden age, personally. (I've had far more reservations/gripes/lukewarmness about the stuff from that Game of Thrones/Breaking Bad period, personally)

I don't totally agree that S2 is better than S1, though. Higher peaks/greater ambitions, maybe, and the aims of S1 felt a lot simpler, which isn't a bad thing at all, but I think S1 held together more cohesively for me and gave me more of a "wow, that pretty much felt note-perfect" feeling (that Claire episode, don't remember if it was 2x2 or 2x3 or parts of both, felt weaker than the rest of the series for me). I kind of agree that the S2 finale was far from the best, as well (I actually initially mistook the penultimate episode for the finale, and I think I liked the season more when I was under that impression-- The Donna/Pete stuff got me, but the freezer/Claire/Ritchie situation not as much).

One thing I particularly love about it is how many notable characters there are for me (most acclaimed modern shows only have one or two that grab me, if I'm lucky, IMO-- Severance has none, for my money), but they each win me over in pretty different/somewhat odd ways that I can't quite put my finger on. Marcus gives me this calming ASMR-like feeling, Tina's actress can just give an expression/look that instantly has my heart, things like that.

Fack didn't strike me as a negative in the first two seasons (although I wouldn't outwardly call him funny), even the 2nd Fack inclusion in 2x6 was fine, but I am dreading the multiplication/John Cena inclusion.

Also, I was somewhat charitable about Severance in a "better than nothing" kind of way initially, but the moment I watched The Bear, I instantly went "Nah, in hindsight, outside of the premise, Severance kinda sucks."

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Cant wait.

Season "3" was definitely a step back from seasons 1 and 2, but given that season 3 and 4 were filmed back to back and are meant to be viewed more as a Part A and Part B of one big season, I wonder if season 4 turns out to be really good again, does it change the perceptions of season 3 at all.

The thing is Season 3 was still solid at least IMO... To me we're basically talking about a scenario where season 1 and 2 were both a 9.5/10(Quite frankly Season 2 was a 10/10 for me), and then Season 3 was a clear step back but still like an 8/10.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I thought season 3 suffered from buying its own hype and trying to push cinematography as the story. The plot didn't advance nearly enough, there weren't enough moments of tension or comedy, I wasn't left with anything wanting to drive me further to the next episode. It was beautifully shot, but that can't be the substance of the show.

 

[Jussi]

I thought season 3 suffered from buying its own hype and trying to push cinematography as the story. The plot didn't advance nearly enough, there weren't enough moments of tension or comedy, I wasn't left with anything wanting to drive me further to the next episode. It was beautifully shot, but that can't be the substance of the show.

Yeah, it got too artsy fartsy.

 

[trojansoilers]

Seasons 1-2 were damn near perfect for me, the story didn’t progress much in season 3 but I suspect 3&4 were supposed to be one season split into two parts. Can’t wait

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Cant wait.

Season "3" was definitely a step back from seasons 1 and 2, but given that season 3 and 4 were filmed back to back and are meant to be viewed more as a Part A and Part B of one big season, I wonder if season 4 turns out to be really good again, does it change the perceptions of season 3 at all.

The thing is Season 3 was still solid at least IMO... To me we're basically talking about a scenario where season 1 and 2 were both a 9.5/10(Quite frankly Season 2 was a 10/10 for me), and then Season 3 was a clear step back but still like an 8/10.

Season 3 was so frustrating to me that I’m not sure I want even bother with season 4 out of spite and pettiness.