As The Bear gears up for its fourth season, set to premiere on June 25, 2025, on Hulu and Disney+, fans are eager to dive back into the chaotic world of Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto and his Chicago restaurant crew. Season 3, released on June 26, 2024, left characters at pivotal moments, setting the stage for high-stakes drama in the fine-dining venture, The Bear. Here’s a quick recap of where key characters stand, based on their final moments in Season 3, to refresh you before the new episodes drop.
- Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White): Carmy, the award-winning chef haunted by his past, ended Season 3 reading a critical Chicago Tribune review of The Bear, which could determine the restaurant’s fate. His financier, Uncle Jimmy, warned that a bad review might force him to pull funding. Carmy’s loud curse after reading it leaves the review’s tone ambiguous—possibly mixed, with words like “excellent” but also “inconsistent.” His relentless pursuit of perfection strained his relationship with sous-chef Sydney, whom he’s inadvertently pushing away by overriding her input with daily menu changes. Personally, Carmy remains estranged from his love interest, Claire, after his Season 2 freezer meltdown, and has made no move to reconcile. His anxiety and tendency to spiral suggest he’s on the brink of a breaking point.
- Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri): Sydney, Carmy’s talented sous-chef, faced a career-defining dilemma in Season 3. Overwhelmed by Carmy’s controlling behavior and feeling underappreciated, she suffered a panic attack at her house party after receiving a lucrative offer from Chef Adam to lead his new restaurant with co-ownership. Her indecision about leaving The Bear, coupled with not signing the partnership agreement with Carmy, leaves her future uncertain. Sydney’s move to a new apartment signals a desire for change, but her loyalty to the crew and her dream of creative control at The Bear keep her torn.
- Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach): Richie, Carmy’s “cousin” and front-of-house manager, continued to shine after his transformative Season 2 stint at Ever. In Season 3, he attended Ever’s closing dinner, grappling with the end of an era and his mentor Chef Terry’s retirement. He’s also navigating personal challenges, hesitant to attend his ex-wife Tiffany’s upcoming wedding to Frank, which was teased in the Season 4 trailer. Richie’s fatherly moments with daughter Evie and his clashes with Carmy highlight his growth, but his emotional struggle with change could fuel tension at The Bear.
- Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto (Abby Elliott): Natalie, Carmy’s sister and The Bear’s project manager, gave birth to a daughter in a gripping Season 3 episode, with her mother, Donna, coaching her through labor. Sending Donna a photo of the newborn suggests a tentative mending of their strained relationship. As a new mother, Natalie’s grounded presence contrasts with the restaurant’s chaos, but her worries about passing on family dysfunction to her child linger. Her role in keeping The Bear financially afloat will likely intensify in Season 4.
- Tina Marrero (Liza Colón-Zayas): Tina, the veteran line cook, had a standout flashback episode in Season 3, revealing her journey to The Original Beef. Her last appearance was at Sydney’s house party, enjoying herself among the crew. Tina’s loyalty and culinary growth, honed at culinary school in Season 2, make her a stabilizing force, but she’s frustrated by Carmy’s erratic menu changes, which could spark conflict.
- Marcus Brooks (Lionel Boyce): Marcus, the pastry chef, continued to innovate in Season 3, drawing inspiration from everyday moments, like crafting a purple dessert inspired by a flower. He was last seen at Sydney’s party, focused on his craft after his Season 2 training in Copenhagen. His quiet ambition and dedication to “sleight of hand” techniques, taught by Carmy, position him as a creative anchor, though he may seek more recognition in Season 4.
- Ebraheim (Edwin Lee Gibson): Ebra, the Somali line cook, struggled with his messy beef window station in Season 3, overwhelmed by orders. After a rocky adjustment to culinary school in Season 2, he rejoined the team, but his challenges suggest he may need support to keep up with The Bear’s fine-dining pace. His presence at Sydney’s party showed his commitment to the crew.
- Neil Fak (Matty Matheson): Neil, the lovable handyman-turned-waiter, was a steady presence at Sydney’s party and throughout Season 3. His childish energy and loyalty keep the team’s morale high, but his role in Season 4 may involve more front-of-house responsibilities as the restaurant faces scrutiny.
- Gary “Sweeps” Woods (Corey Hendrix): Sweeps, the former minor-league baseball player turned runner, shared his backstory in Season 3, revealing he was banned from baseball after using performance-enhancing drugs. He found renewed purpose at The Bear, last seen at Syd’s party, and his sommelier skills may play a bigger role in Season 4’s upscale setting.
- Donna Berzatto (Jamie Lee Curtis): Donna, the chaotic Berzatto matriarch, appeared in Natalie’s delivery room, offering rare support during her granddaughter’s birth. Her presence at Tiffany’s wedding, teased for Season 4, suggests more family tension, but her bond with Natalie may soften her volatile influence.
What to Expect in Season 4:
The Season 3 cliffhanger—centered on the restaurant review, Sydney’s potential departure, and Carmy’s personal and professional isolation—sets up a tense narrative. The trailer hints at a wedding episode, likely Tiffany’s, which could reunite the crew outside the kitchen. Financial pressures from Uncle Jimmy, the pursuit of a Michelin star, and the team’s ability to gel under Carmy’s rigid leadership will drive the drama. With Season 3’s mixed critical reception (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) noting its fragmented storytelling, Season 4, filmed back-to-back, aims to refocus on the crew’s dynamic and resolve lingering conflicts.
