The Bear separates itself from other dramas with its fast pacing, gripping performances, and peculiar setting of a small sandwich shop in Chicago. Although technically a drama, the explosive rhythm, and intensity give an adrenaline rush similar to an action film. The pacing here is reminiscent of the feeling throughout the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems or Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. Comparatively, the shorter episodic medium of the series makes the narrative a little less exhaustive than a feature-length film while still giving the viewer the ability to binge-watch if so inclined.
Update July 16, 2023: This article has been updated following season 2 of The Bear and the series being nominated for 13 Emmy nominations.
The series has a lot going for it; the set design, writing, and editing are all superb. But the series wouldn’t be anywhere without the very talented performances of the actors on-screen. And even though some of the beloved characters from season 1 did not get a lot of screen time in the new season, some new actors graced the screen with their presence as well. Here are the best characters of the series, ranked.
10 Jimmy “Cicero” Kalinowski
Known mostly as Uncle Jimmy, the character of Jimmy Kalinowski probably will not do very well on the likability scale, but we are not here to judge that. We know very well that even though he has a bad temperament, he has a heart of gold. He is a blood relative of the Berzattos and their uncle, who helped Michael with money. But even though Mikey died before being able to pay back the money, he did not hesitate to invest more money in the restaurant when Carmy took charge of it.
He might seem cold and heartless from the outside, but he has a big heart and loves his family a lot. Due to his trust in Carmy’s abilities and his investment, the restaurant was able to stay afloat and succeed. Veteran actor Oliver Platt did a tremendous job bringing the character of Uncle Jimmy to life.
9 Natalie ‘Sugar’ Berzatto
Natalie is the sister of the main character, Carmen. The show starts with finding out that Carmen and Natalie’s brother, Micheal, had killed himself, leaving the ownership of the restaurant in the hands of his two other siblings. Throughout the series, Natalie tries to connect with her brother but stays distant in the day-to-day operations of the restaurant. The character is played by Abby Elliot, who puts on a great performance, especially when communicating with Carmen and navigating the relationship between him and her husband, Pete. She gets an expanded role in season 2, helping expand the restaurant.
8 Neil Fak
Neil, referred to by many of his coworkers as “Fak” is not a full-time employee of the restaurant but serves an integral role as the handyman who seems to be available whenever something goes awry. He doesn’t have many lines throughout the first season, but whenever he does, there is always something witty and hilarious coming out of his mouth. He gets an expanded role in season 2. The character is portrayed by Matty Matheson, who is an actual chef.
7 Sydney Adamu
Sydney is played by Ayo Edebiri and is a new hire to the restaurant after Carmen takes over management. She and Carmen are the only two professionally trained chefs in the kitchen and is instrumental in the reorganization of the small sandwich shop. Sydney has a bit of a hard time adjusting to working with the tenured kitchen staff, who are attached to their previous operation style.
The character provides a good balance to the personalities in the kitchen and is passionate about helping the struggling shop turn a profit. As the series goes on, she begins to develop an even larger role in developing the restaurant.
6 Claire
Claire is a character that was first introduced in season 2 of the show but already made a place in the heart of the audience. Claire is the first love interest Carmy has in the series and is a kind and gentle woman who was childhood friends with Carmy and the other cousins. In a flashback episode, we can also see that the cousins of Carmy were trying to set him up with Claire.
But understandably, there has been a significant amount of backlash against Claire’s character. Netizens were seemingly mad at the character for embodying the dreaded “manic pixie dream girl” trope. On the other hand, there are also people who like her for her likable and gentle demeanor, as she acts as an anchor in Carmy’s life, which is filled with constant ups and downs. Many fans expect the show to continue into season 3, even though FX has made no such revelations yet. But if that is the case, we are excited to see how the character of Claire grows. Claire is played by Molly Gordon, famous for roles in Booksmart, Good Boys and recently both directed and starred in Theater Camp.
5 Marcus
Marcus is in charge of the kitchen’s bakery. Following the management of Carmen and the presence of Sydney in the kitchen, his passion for baking is re-invigorated, which inspires him to pursue donut making in the kitchen. His additional work in the kitchen adds a bit of stress to the already tension-heavy cooking space. Throughout the series, Marcus’s calm demeanor and affable personality make for a reprieve from the high-pressure environment of the other kitchen staff. The character is portrayed by Lionel Boyce; his character progression picks up in the latter half of the first season, and in season 2 truly comes into his own.
4 Tina
Tina starts the series very cold and standoffish. She refuses to adopt the new organizational strategies and picks fights with some of her coworkers. As the series progresses, she sees the change in the quality of food produced and eventually starts to admire the work that both Carmen and Sydney put in. The job changes from a chore to a duty for her community and is pivotal in de-escalating the tempers of some of her coworkers. She eventually adopts the policies and becomes one of the biggest supporters of the change, and is promoted to Sous-chef in season 2. The character is played by Liza Colón-Zayas, who brings a level of candidness and emotionality that is rare to see in a television series.
3 Ebraheim
Ebrahiem, like Marcus, is a point of calmness in the kitchen. He was quick to adapt to the new workflow following the ownership change. His speaking roles throughout the series are few, especially in the first few episodes of the first season. But, as the show progresses, we see more character development from Ebrahiem, and each line he speaks tells us more about his background. As he reads aloud a review for the restaurant, we learn he is proud of the work he has done. Later, in an attempt to calm down his coworker Richie, he relays a war story, showing us that he was a veteran of some type. Ebraheim is played by Edwin Lee Gibson, who does a fantastic job, and it will be interesting to see how the character progresses in season two.
2 Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto
The character Carmen is played by Jeremy Allen White, who is best known for his portrayal of Lip in the Showtime series Shameless. White does a great job in Shameless, but in The Bear, he really hones in on his acting ability and brings the performance to a new level. His range of emotions and the depth he portrays is unmatched by the other talented actors he shares the screen with. He can go from calm to aloof, and then to seething with anger in just a few moments.
White really puts on a captivating performance; the character Carmen is likable, relatable, and easy to feel for. The complex emotions that he goes through after the suicide of his brother are perfectly captured. If not for anything else, the performance of Jeremy Allen White makes this show well worth the watch and it is no wonder he score a recent Emmy nomination.
1 Richard ‘Richie’ Jerimovic
Closing out the list is Richie. He may not be the most likable character in this ensemble, but the character development we see throughout the season and the apt performance of a blue-collar, life-long Chicago resident puts him at the top of the list. Richie is Carmen’s cousin and had been working at the restaurant before Micheal died. He has a very hard time adjusting to Carmen’s management style and is often rebelling against his cousin’s orders.
We see a lot of Richie throughout the series, and some episodes seem to cover his hardships just as much as Carmen’s. He is a bit rough around the edges, but the writers of this show still find a way to have you rooting for him. Richie is played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who also appeared in The Punisher. His Chicago accent and similar mannerisms are incredibly believable and add a layer of immersion to the show that helps to separate the series from others.
