The Bear & The Transformative Power of Serving Others

"At a certain stage, it becomes less about skill and more about being open. To the world, to yourself, to other people"

One of the criticisms about The Bear is that it is not a plot driven show. It is propelled by the characters and how they change, grow and, often, collapse. Thing move forward through people making decisions rather than circumstances happening to them. This is how life works and why the show feels a thousand times more real than any reality show.

At various points we see the various characters enter periods of dramatic transformation where they find themselves in new ways and the common thread to these experiences is the service of others.

The most dramatic example of these transformations is to Richie/Cousin in the episode 'Forks' - perhaps the best episode of the series so far. He has been sent to work at the best restaurant in Chicago by Chef Carmy and he receives this opportunity like a punishment or a torture or a forcing of his hand - does his cousin want to get rid of him?

But what he initially perceives as the fussy, uppity, stick-up-the-arse methods of fine dining he soon finds out originates from a hyper-sensitivity to the experience of the customer. He witnesses a collective silence over a single smudge. Not because the smudge itself is a crime but because their commitment to serving the patrons is absolute. The perfectionism is rooted in desire to treat the humans that eat there with the highest possible dignity. Food - and an experience - that is fit for royalty.

The commitment to serve others to the highest possible standard has two effects: it gives a clear purpose to someone whose life is otherwise chaotic. And it immediately provides a greater sense of personal dignity. Richie treats himself better, feels better, acts better almost over night. And he’s not the only one…