It's been a long wait, but season 3 of The Bear is almost here.
Admittedly, it's a bit disappointing that Hulu has once again dropped all the episodes at once, as a series as sensitive as this deserves the months of debate that can only come at a time when most fans are at the same stage in their viewing journey.
But I digress!
Our disappointment at Hulu's programming decisions is more than outweighed by our excitement at the prospect of returning to the kitchen with Sidney, Fuck, and the rest of the spectacularly dysfunctional and suspiciously un-Italian-sounding Verzatto family.
And “dysfunctional” seems to be the key word this season.
In the trailer below, Sydney uses the adjective to describe the chaotic kitchen of the upscale restaurant she and Carmy opened at the end of “The Bear” Season 2.
The Bear Season 3 trailer brings Carmy back to the kitchen
“Show us something that works,” Carmie and Richie replied in unison.
Substitute “family” for the word “kitchen” and that exchange pretty well sums up the gist of the show.
Tolstoy said, “Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” and the Belzatto family is so ridiculously unhappy that it makes us crave pasta with the most exotic sauce we've ever heard of.
Anyway, the big question now is, what does this season have in store?
The second season finale of The Bear had a completely different feel to it than the conclusion of the first season.
Season 1 ended with Carmy's triumphant discovery of a stack of bills that his late brother had hidden inside a can of tomato sauce.
(How all this stolen merchandise went undiscovered at an Italian sandwich shop is a question best left unexplored.)
The Claire Problem in 'Bear': Why is she so disliked, and how will it affect Season 3?
Season two saw the neurotic chef grappling with a different type of family legacy: the short-tempered and emotional dysregulation that seems to plague all of the Belzattos (except for Abby Elliot's Sugar).
Trapped in his own walk-in refrigerator and enraged by his fate, Carmy hits his lowest point in the season two finale.
Now he's more reliant than ever on friends, family and business partners — an uncomfortable situation for a fiercely independent culinary master.
“Karmy pushes himself more than ever before and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his passion,” a press release from Hulu and FX said.
“Their commitment to culinary excellence will push our staff to new heights and deepen the bonds that hold our restaurants together.”
'Succession,' 'The Bear,' and 'Beef' Dominate Awards Season: Is this the start of a new golden age of TV?
“As our team grows, each member will strive to provide an even higher level of service in their role,” the statement continued.
“In the restaurant industry, you’re never in a stable position, and with a constantly changing situation come new challenges and opportunities.
“Our chefs have learned that every second counts, and this season will show if they have what it takes to survive until tomorrow.”
Well, it looks like there'll be plenty of drama unfolding when “The Bear” returns on June 27th.
And I'm sure the show will continue to provide some much-needed humor to soothe our souls from time to time.
The series has already been renewed for a fourth season, and is reportedly being filmed at the same time as season three.
That means the tradition of Carmy looming over your summer like a human storm cloud will continue for at least another year.
Well, at least he'll make you some tasty gnocchi after ruining your mood.
What do you think, TV fans? Are you excited for another '90s alt-rock intoxicating trip to Chicago? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Tyler Johnson I'm an Associate Editor for TV Fanatic and other Mediavine O&O sites. In my spare time I enjoy reading, cooking, and of course watching TV. You can follow me on X or email me at TV Fanatic.