Warning: this article contains spoilers for The Bear season 3.

Season 3 of Hulu’s The Bear features the return of Olivia Colman’s Chef Terry – and strengthens one of the show’s best episodes in the process. Alongside Colman, The Bear season 3 features several cameos, including some from celebrity chefs. These appearances aren’t just a fun Where’s Waldo? of fine dining. They provide meaningful context to Carmy’s growth as a chef and offer insights into the personal demons that hound him.

The Bear season 3 builds its narrative towards a climactic season finale, set at the funeral for the Chicago restaurant Ever. The funeral dinner brings Carmy, Sydney, and Richie together with some of the country’s top chefs, each trading war stories from their experiences in the fine dining trenches. This is a significant moment for The Bear team, as Ever restaurant and its head chef and owner, Colman’s Chef Andrea Terry, hold particular importance in Carmy and Richie’s personal and professional progress.

The Bear Season 3 Finally Shows Olivia Colman’s Chef Terry Training Carmy (Just Like Richie)

The Full-Circle Moment Connects The Bear And Ever Restaurants

In episode 1 of The Bear season 3, “Tomorrow,” Carmy reflects on his past and the various influences that have guided him through his professional career. The episode shows the highs and lows that have fed his ambitions and neuroses, highlighting the gamut of experiences that many people in the fine dining industry face. At one end of the spectrum is the abusive chef, David Fields (Joel McHale), who barks orders at his staff and berates Carmy at every opportunity. Chef Terry and Thomas Keller are at the other end of the spectrum with their nurturing and patient approach.

Chef Terry runs her kitchen with the silent precision of a fine Swiss watch. Her dulcet voice commands her team, demanding perfection without the abuse and trauma. She sees Carmy’s potential and chooses to nurture it, not through mind games and negativity, but by building his confidence and guiding him in the right direction. In the episode’s flashback scenes at Ever, Chef Terry tells Carmy to fire the meat for another five seconds. This is the attention to detail that gets Michelin stars and where “every second counts.” It’s also the mode of instruction that Carmy thrives in.

Chef Terry first appeared in The Bear‘s popular season 2 episode “Forks,” mentoring Richie. From this initial appearance, it was clear that the Ever restaurant was an important step in Carmy’s career, but it was never clear how or why. Colman’s role in season 3 provides key context for this while also highlighting the strong connection between The Bear and Ever restaurants. It provides an apt parallel to her influence on Richie in “Forks,” proving just how important Chef Terry is to the trajectory of both Carmy and Richie’s careers and their management skills.

Why The Bear’s Season 2 Episode “Forks” Is The Show’s Highest-Rated Episode On IMDb

The Episode Finally Gives Richie The Opportunity To Grow

“Forks” is The Bear‘s highest-rated episode on IMDb because it’s the first time Richie is given an opportunity to improve himself and become more than a one-note cliché. Like Carmy, Richie learns how to manage a restaurant that operates at the highest level and sees how every tiny detail matters. Through the repetitive action of cleaning forks – much like Carmy’s repetition of shucking peas in “Tomorrow” – Richie finds his own form of zen. Colman’s return in The Bear season 3 makes “Forks” an even richer episode in hindsight, proving that Chef Terry’s impact extends further than previously thought.

Source: IMDb