Five Reasons To Watch The Bear Season 4

1. A New High-Stakes Deadline

Just when you thought the kitchen couldn’t get any more intense…

Season 4 kicks off with the restaurant facing financial, reputational, and emotional pressure after a mixed review from the Chicago Tribune. Investor Cicero ramps up the anxiety by introducing a new clock - a literal countdown showing how much time The Bear has before it runs out of money.

This added urgency pushes the team into overdrive, forcing them to confront personal limits and fears. Every decision and mistake is more visible than ever - a perfect recipe for the tight, electric pacing we’ve come to love from The Bear.

2. Masterclass in Restaurateuring

One of the most rewarding parts of watching The Bear is how much you learn about the restaurant world, without ever feeling like you’re stuck in a boring lecture.

Sweeps, for example, ups his sommelier skills by visiting a wine expert, who teaches him (and us) everything from which wines pair with mushrooms to how to tell if a red can work with fish.

That’s just one example in a long list. Smaller moments, like Sydney experimenting with a new dish or Richie optimising front-of-house operations, provide insights into just how much passion and precision go into making a fine-dining restaurant tick.

3. Tasty Soundtrack

The Bear’s soundtrack is its own character at this point, providing unforgettable emotional scaffolding. Think Sufjan Stevens’ atmosphere-setting ‘Chicago’ in S1E7, or Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ soundtracking Richie’s tearjerking personal turnaround in Season 2.

Season 4 keeps the needle drops coming, with standout tracks from Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, St. Vincent, Oasis, Van Morrison, and more. It’s a mix of well-known hits and deep cuts that’ll have you scrambling to make a few additions to your Spotify playlists.

4. Exciting New Characters

The Bear wouldn’t be the hit it is without its lovable yet complicated characters, Season 4 adding some new faces to the mix.

There’s the crew Richie dubs the “non-negotiables”: a sharply dressed, no-nonsense team of restaurateurs who help whip the kitchen into shape, challenging Carmy’s already fragile grip on control.

Then there’s the adorable TJ, the child of Sydney’s cousin, who shares an episode with the sous-chef and helps her reflect on a big career decision. These additions fit nicely, shaking things up and driving the story forward without upsetting the complex web of relationships.

5. Continuation of Inspiring Storylines

What makes The Bear’s characters so compelling is their authentic growth, facing setbacks that only serve to make their victories feel so earned.

Carmy is still chasing perfection and pushing people away, but this season shows him beginning to realise the emotional toll it’s taking on himself and others. Sydney, more confident than ever, is shaping the kitchen and the menu, yet the weight of a looming decision she can’t talk to anyone about leaves her isolated.

Richie, whose arc remains one of the show’s most rewarding, has come a long way from the foul-mouthed argumentative presence he was in early seasons, but still falters when faced with attending his ex’s wedding.

Even supporting characters like Tina, Marcus, Sweeps and Ebraheim quietly remind us that it’s never too late to upskill, grow, and turn your life around, especially if you have the right chefs in your kitchen.

• Stream all episodes of The Bear season 4 now exclusively on Disney+. Sign up or watch here. You can view The Bear S4 trailer below.