FX’s critically acclaimed kitchen drama The Bear returned June 25, 2025, for its fourth season—and immediately lit a fire under the internet. All 10 episodes dropped at once on Hulu, giving fans another deep dive into Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and the chaotic restaurant they’re struggling to elevate.
With returning showrunners Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo at the helm, Season 4 welcomes back the core ensemble along with a handful of celebrity cameos, including Jon Bernthal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brie Larson, and Bob Odenkirk. Despite the star power, this season is generating more debate than ever.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 4 holds an 80% critic rating—still fresh but noticeably lower than its predecessors. Metacritic holds a similar trend with a score hovering around 72, reflecting a consensus that while the show maintains its emotional heft, its pacing and narrative momentum may be slipping.
Rotten Tomatoes scores for all #TheBear seasons 👨🍳
S1 — 100% 🍅
S2 — 99% 🍅
S3 — 89% 🍅
S4 — 81% 🍅 pic.twitter.com/SIEI3kOSze— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) June 26, 2025
Reviewers are split. TVLine hails the season as “an absolute triumph,” while Collider praises its character arcs and cathartic storytelling. NPR and The Daily Beast applaud its emotional nuance, especially in episodes like the widely acclaimed Episode 4.
Others aren’t convinced. Vanity Fair, Forbes, and GamesRadar describe the season as “repetitive” and “overstuffed,” questioning if the show’s introspective pivot has dulled its once-electric edge.
Audience Reaction: Love It or Leave It
Fans appear just as divided. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score fluctuated from highs of 88% down to a mixed 51%, eventually settling near 80%. While longtime viewers appreciate the show’s deeper emotional themes, others miss the high-stakes adrenaline and chaotic energy that defined earlier seasons.
can we talk about this scene? the shots, the light falling in carmy, CARMYS FACE, the whole saying nothing but saying it all ok who directed this ep #thebear #TheBearSeason4 pic.twitter.com/GRhPH8Qb3M
— romy ✮ (@strvngelock) June 26, 2025
Even professional chefs weighed in. While many praised the authenticity of the kitchen stress and tight dialogue, some critiqued the show for leaning too heavily into the “tortured chef” trope. According to The Times, it gets the pressure right, but lacks the camaraderie that’s equally essential to the culinary world.
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