The Bear was an absolute mess this season.
The show's typical intensity was put on the back burner, and there was essentially zero narrative focus. Was that intentional? I don't know. Did it work? No.
There were some great moments while exploring supporting characters like Tina and Marcus, which added some depth to the show, but the season juggles too many themes, diluting its impact.
My biggest gripe was that this season felt bogged down by pretentiousness and excessive celebrity cameos that add little to the story. The detailed attention to restaurant culture feels overindulgent, overshadowing character development and narrative progression.
Minor spoilers:
I'm willing to give the final season the benefit of the doubt, but my god what a let down.