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This article contains spoilers for The Bear season 5
FX’s buzzy, awards-grabbing comedy-drama series The Bear hit a rough patch with its third and fourth seasons, but went out on a high note in its fifth and final one this month.
Season 5 saw Carmy explore new opportunities as he interviewed for an internship at an architectural firm, while line cook Ebraheim seemingly saved the restaurant from ruin by proposing an expansion of the original sandwich shop model. As Chef Sydney took over from Carmy in the kitchen, the chaotic Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) was invited to a prestigious international hospitality seminar in Japan. The series concluded with Richie nervously aboard a plane, accompanied by back-of-house expediter Jessica (Sarah Ramos) as their romance finally flourished.
The Bear has arguably been just as interested (if not more so) in telling “cousin” Richie’s story as Carmy’s since the pivotal season 2 episode “Forks.” The installment threw Richie into a Michelin-star restaurant, where he absorbed a new philosophy and mindset after painstakingly cleaning forks for hours every day. Richie came out of the trip a fundamentally changed and mature man, with much more respect for himself and for the customers of The Bear. Of course, he was still just as easily drawn into a screaming match in the kitchen, but it seemed like Richie’s irresponsible and selfish days were fading into his rear view.
The Bear also dropped a surprise standalone prequel episode that focused on Richie, setting the stage for a final season that ended just as a new chapter in his life began. “Gary” was a character study of Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal), exploring their complex bond as they drove to Indiana with a mysterious package. Along the way, a cocktail of drugs, drink, and simmering resentment took hold of Mikey, and he ended up projecting his flaws and fears onto Richie. By the end of the special episode, the two had come to blows and were no longer talking. Later, Richie referred to the incident in a private conversation with Carmy, clearly still holding onto a huge amount of guilt and grief following Mikey’s suicide.
Carmy’s toxic influence over The Bear then dissipated after he stepped down as head chef at the end of season 4, and the remaining restaurant crew moved forward to fill his anticipated absence during the final season. But Richie understood that he had perhaps already perfected his role and become a respected leader. When he found out that he was also well regarded in his field, he suffered a panic attack, using his fear of traveling by plane as a loose cover for his anxiety at taking a big leap in his career. Yet Richie found comfort in those who believed in him during this more mature era in his life. Once a pain in the ass who antagonized those around him, Richie had evolved to become an essential team player.
The Bear choosing to shift its focus onto Richie in “Gary” and season 5 makes sense and also leaves a compelling potential spinoff featuring the character on the table. While Carmy’s journey revolved around perfectionism and trauma, he was finally starting to heal, and the show chose not to rehash his issues by having him spiral yet again in season 5 so that the character’s arc could feel complete. In contrast, Richie’s journey focused on the enduring importance of human connection and hospitality. It’s a different element of restaurant culture that could take The Bear’s universe in a new direction. His new romance with Jessica could also be a fascinating twist for Richie’s conflicts, which often play out through his relationships, unlike Carmy’s, which tend to play out internally.
Richie has slowly come to symbolize family and community in The Bear. Though FX and Hulu haven’t announced a continuation of the show yet, whether a spinoff, a special episode, or otherwise, we can imagine that a subsequent project about Richie’s ongoing growth would add something unique to the story that The Bear’s creator, Christopher Storer, set out to tell.
“Gary,” co-written by Moss-Bachrach, also proved that the actor has come to know and understand his character well enough to play around in The Bear’s sandbox without muddying its legacy. Hopefully, he’ll get a chance to portray Richie again if he’s interested.
All episodes of The Bear are available to stream on Hulu now.
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