The Bear Secures a 97% Rotten‑Tomatoes Rating in Its Final Season

I’ve unfortunately lost most of my Apple TV subscriptions, and my recent watchlist was largely dominated by quality programming. While some viewers are disappointed with season 2 of “The Last Airbender” on Netflix, a bright spot still remains on television: FX/Hulu’s “The Bear” is returning for its final, fifth season.

All eight episodes of the upcoming season were released simultaneously—an uncommon move for non‑Netflix series—bringing “The Bear” to the top of the conversation. Its critical acclaim has peaked with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, a benchmark that places the show in the upper echelon of contemporary television.

• The Bear season 1 – 100% critic score
• The Bear season 2 – 99% critic score
• The Bear season 5 – 97% critic score
• The Bear season 3 – 89% critic score
• The Bear season 4 – 84% critic score

While critic approval has risen, audience scores were noticeably lower for seasons 3 (54%) and 4 (68%). The final season will test whether the series can sustain its momentum with viewers as well as critics.

Uncommon in the television landscape, “The Bear” delivers season‑length runs almost every year, with a new season debuting just days after this week’s release date, June 25. The fifth season comprises eight episodes, complemented by a preceding special, “Gary,” effectively adding two extra segments to the slate.

The show has often been described as a program that “should have ended while it was at its peak,” yet season 5 appears to have stabilized the series, at least from a critical perspective. Over its run, “The Bear” has garnered 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, including a record 11 wins in a single year for the comedy category—an accolade that has sparked discussion over its categorical placement.

Lead actor Jeremy Allen White—famed for his role in “Shameless”—continues to be the series’ standout performer. Since “The Bear” premiered, he has also appeared in the acclaimed “The Iron Claw” and the musical biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” where he convincingly captured Bruce Springsteen’s vocal style. Most recently, he had a cameo in the final installment of the Star Wars saga, “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

The conclusion of “The Bear” seems inevitable; the series cannot realistically continue indefinitely. Viewers have eight episodes and roughly four hours to discover how the cast and crew’s stories culminate.

Source link