David Miller

It was just depressing and sad watching this guy try so hard to make friends without success. He gets rejected and slowly unravels leading to a separation from his wife and ultimately jail. I just felt bad for him and don’t know what the point of the movie was. Also, I struggled to find any humor in watching a guy’s life fall apart while just trying to make a friend…. That’s funny?

Let me first say… Holy guacamole this is some television at its absolute finest. The Bear “lets it rip” and “can fuk” with other master class creations such as The Wire, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, Ozark etc. Revisited the first three seasons in anticipation of S4 (I recommend just to savor the current flavor) and crushed the current one like a run away freight train of child like ignorance of bed times to ride with the Bears till the wheels fell off. The writing, acting, and directing are off the charts amazing. The show, without rewriting some synopsis you can easily snag literally anywhere online is an emotionally driven cornucopia of life, family, food, passion, love, grief, coming together, entropy, and ultimately moving on… more on that at the finish of this ramble in my one spoiler rant about the final moments. There is so much candor, creativity in storytelling, and respect for the audience/profession of cooking and running a restaurant/food and the city of Chicago (shout out to the Midwest and wicker park Bucktown circa early 2000’s where you woo’d me and let me hang my hat for five great years). The show takes food and just extrapolates everything life related out of it short of some Degrass Tyson Alan Watts level musings. One thing I feel is important to impart on anyone just jumping into the fray of this Drama with a capital D; the intensity of the character’s interactions in extreme emotion that reflect children that got maybe nicked with a little Down’s can be off putting. Actually their communication is so annoyingly poor with each other that it’s a disservice to folks with special needs. That aspect of the show stuck in my craw a little at times thinking these individuals could not navigate anywhere that they have managed in actual existence. But watching them clean up their shenanigans and get their shite together GRADUALLY along the journey, was all the more rewarding. Plus I spent 14 years or so in kitchens on my professional come up to pay for school… and restaurant drama is its own animal. Lastly THAT ENDING: I get it. It characterized the themes of moving on and letting go in a very real and authentic way. But after all that time spent watching these characters come together after one of their own chose to leave their world in the most gut wrenching way… it felt a little like a betrayal to the audience to see the main one choose to bounce and focus on their own sh*t in a similarly intentioned way (everyone and the restaurant is better off without me). It was an honest ending that doesn’t just wave some Disney happily ever after wand over everything. I didn’t crave that type of goodbye either, but in not repeating old patterns of push emotional things down, stoicism, yelling, and isolation… I really wanted Carmy to realize his personal growth was because of operating within the family not outside of it. And while he lost his passion for food, maybe he could find a sense of putting his big boy pants on just showing up for work and the people you care about for a while whilst you heal yourself. Just unselfishly do your job and let others lead for a change being a part of something vs being THE something. Anyway, just my gut reaction which I will stew in for a min and maybe change my mind later.

A Ted Lasso successor you are most certainly not my friend. If it wasn’t for Luke Wilson… being Luke Wilson and Mitts character, I’d throw down the Ol’ Zero stars. She is the absolute most insufferable, self involved, unlikable, character I have ever come across in any form of media in my entire existence. The cat from a Confederacy of Dunces is a distant second maybe but his qualities serve a purpose to the story at least… just unbelievable that someone green lighted a script with her in it. I had to google others thoughts on her just to work through my bewildering angst towards her character. Santi, the leader character is only slightly more redeemable in moments, but is essentially a talented but unappreciative brat. I almost fell out my chair when Zero (they) asked Santi if “he felt safe” to have a public conversation with Owen frickin Wilson while he had spent the entire episode trying to make amends with him. I’m all for inclusion, diversity, acceptance of all our own individual uniqueness, but where along the way did that also include scrapping empathy, saying please, thank you, sorry, listening to one another like adults and communicating with understanding. They got trampled by needing to having your feelings and seeking reasons to be outraged and offended.

I was struck by the development of the female characters. In their relationship to each other and those who navigate in, out, and around them and their world. Their grace, compassion, joy, and at times emotional stoicism… sassy-ness is palpable and easily transferable to the viewer’s own facial expression. A fact that personifies great storytelling and tremendous acting. The pacing of the yarn and character’s manner is so relaxed and warm, yet there is mystery, murder, and a healthy amount of fun adult shenanigans. I liked that these came without typical drama, shame, or judgement, but as just a natural part of life. The focus stays on the story, the relationships, as well as the easily accessible and all too familiar rollercoaster of family dynamics. All wrapped up in this spectacular setting, which serves as a more than appropriate stage for this all to unfold. I was entertained throughout and appreciated the transference of positive feelings the show generously rewards you with (all the feels). If I may be so inclined to make a suggestion to the reader… watch it on one of “those days” where the world gets at you (currently in America we are apparently waging a war on diversity and with each other 😔) for a welcomed escape. And wash it down with your favorite adult bevi. Cheers ☺️, and apologies if my grammar took some hiatuses in areas like run-on-sentences and excessive adjective use.

Hooked, Hardy in his element and at his finest.

It breaths life, whispers in your eddies, and effuses into lacy vapers of ones consciousness for a moment… longer if you are lucky

Heavy handed, cheesy, poor acting, unrealistic reactions / emotions not consistent with character development. Men not respecting boundaries or personal freedom... and it always works out in the most amazing way for these saints. Though, it IS a Poor man’s This is Us with attempts to make u cry every 5 min. which can be rather successful