‘The Bear’ is a comedy-drama television series produced by Christopher Storer that has been made available on Hulu. It features Jeremy Allen White (‘Shameless’) as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, an accomplished chef who, following the passing of his brother, returns to his hometown of Chicago and takes over a struggling restaurant enterprise. The tensions and expectations of the fine-dining restaurant industry are effectively captured in the series. The title of the show, however, can seem strange to some viewers considering the setting and narrative roots in the culinary and food industries. Here is everything you need to know about the origin of the show’s moniker, “The Bear.”
Why is the Show Called The Bear?
The focus of “The Bear” is chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, who manages Michael “Mikey” Berzatto’s restaurant The Original Beef of Chicagoland. Carmy relocates back home after Mikey commits suicide, putting behind his glitzy New York career as a chef. However, as a small business owner, Carmy is rapidly made aware of the difficulties in managing his own restaurant. Despite his brother’s suggestion that Carmy find another job away from his family’s tumultuous existence, Carmy perseveres despite the difficulties since he has always dreamed of running the business with him.
It was revealed in the first season that Mikey had given Carmy the nickname “The Bear,” which is a representation of his fortitude and ability to persevere through the most trying circumstances. When we catch a glimpse of Carmy’s life in New York, it is clear that this is the case. The nickname has deeper importance because Carmy chooses to call his new eatery “The Bear” when he opens it in season 2 in remembrance of his brother’s devotion to him. The tale of “The Bear” does not, however, end here, as a flashback in the sixth episode exposes the true source of the moniker.