'The Bear' is back with its strong performances intact

By Linda Holmes,

Eric Deggans, Liz Metzger, Jessica Reedy, Mike Katzif

Published July 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM EDT

Ayo Edebiri in The Bear's fourth season. — Ayo Edebiri in *The Bear*'s fourth season.

The Bear is back for a new season. The FX on Hulu series sees Carmy and Sydney (Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri) trying to get the restaurant they opened together on its feet before they run out of money. Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is thrown by his ex-wife's approaching wedding and what it's going to mean for him. Plus there's scallop drama, secret negotiations, and guest stars both new and old.

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Linda Holmes

Linda Holmes is a pop culture correspondent for NPR and the host of Pop Culture Happy Hour. She began her professional life as an attorney. In time, however, her affection for writing, popular culture, and the online universe eclipsed her legal ambitions. She shoved her law degree in the back of the closet, gave its living room space to DVD sets of The Wire, and never looked back.

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Eric Deggans

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic.

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Liz Metzger

Jessica Reedy

See stories by Jessica Reedy

Mike Katzif