One of the many beloved TV shows that I haven’t watched a single episode of (yet), the FX on Hulu series The Bear is one of the most critically acclaimed and popular series out there today. It was recently announced that its fifth season is going to be its last – but while fans wait for that last batch of episodes, FX has given them a bit of a gift: a surprise prequel episode has dropped on the Hulu streaming service! This episode is called Gary and can be found on the service by searching that title.
What is the prequel episode about?
The Hollywood Reporter lets us know the hour-long episode follows Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) on a trip to Gary, Indiana, before the events of the main series. Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal, who are currently starring in a stage adaptation of Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway, also wrote the script. The Bear creator Christopher Storer directed the episode.
What is The Bear?
The Bear has racked up over twenty Primetime Emmy Awards over its run so far, including one win for Outstanding Comedy Series. Here’s the set-up: Talented young chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto inherits his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop after the suicide of his older brother, Michael. He comes home to Chicago to run it, leaving behind his world of working in Michelin-starred restaurants. He is left to deal with his brother’s unresolved debts, a rundown kitchen, and an unruly staff, while dealing with his own pain and family trauma.
The cast includes Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colon-Zayas, Edwin Lee Gibson, Matty Matheson, Oliver Platt, and Jon Bernthal.
Storer originally had a four-season plan for the series, but decided to tell one more season of stories about its characters.
Too often these days, viewers have to endure long waits between seasons of their favorite TV shows, so it’s refreshing to see that some still have consistency, even if they’re not on a network. The Bear is one of those consistent shows. It premiered back on June 23, 2022. The second season followed on June 22, 2023; the third on June 26, 2024; and the fourth on June 25, 2025. A premiere date for the fifth season hasn’t been announced yet, but there’s an obvious guess or two…
Are you a fan of The Bear, and are you excited to check out the prequel episode Gary? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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