Bob Odenkirk plays Lee in The Bear in a memorable season 2 episode, but his role is a more significant one than it initially seems. The star-filled Christmas episode of The Bear season 2 features plenty of cameos from actors like Jamie Lee Curtis, Sarah Paulson, John Mulaney, Jon Bernthal, and Better Call Saul star Bob Odenkirk, the latter of whom portrays the largely mysterious Uncle Lee. While Lee is only seen in the flashback episode of The Bear season 2, his appearance suggests there’s much more left unsaid about the character and how he factors into Carmy’s past and present story.
Several members of the Berzatto family tree are introduced in The Bear season 2, including blood relatives and unofficial additions. While the flashback to Christmas at the Berzatto home five years ago could have gone the route of a heartwarming family gathering, the holiday is filled with chaos, animosity, and long-held resentments finally bubbling to the surface. Next to Sugar and Donna’s conflicts, the biggest fight is between Uncle Lee and Mikey, which involves Mikey throwing forks at Lee while Lee accuses Mikey of being “nothing.” The characters’ enmity is seemingly rooted in a long, deep history that the show has yet to explore, making Lee’s role in The Bear and his connection to the Berzattos’ past incredibly intriguing.
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Uncle Lee Is A Close Friend Of Carmy’s Family In The Bear Season 2
Lee’s Past Is Tied To Carmy’s Father
Similar to Richie earning the “cousin” title despite not being a blood relative, Bob Odenkirk’s The Bear character Lee Lane isn’t really related to Carmy and the Berzattos. Rather, Uncle Lee has a close relationship with the family that has earned him the affectionate “uncle” title, although no characters seem to be particularly affectionate towards him. This is confirmed in The Bear’s season 2 premiere when Carmy, Sugar, and Sydney meet with Uncle Jimmy about the money-stuffed tomato sauce cans. Sugar reminds Carmy that Lee is “Uncle Lee Lane,” but Carmy gruffly replies, “That’s not our uncle.” Sugar compares Lee’s relationship to Richie not actually being a cousin, reiterating that Lee isn’t a blood relative.
The Bear season 2 doesn’t confirm how Lee factors into the Berzatto family’s history, but he was likely a good friend or business partner to Carmy, Sugar, and Mikey’s father. Carmy’s dad hasn’t been revealed and his fate has been left a mystery, but Odenkirk’s Uncle Lee may help fill in these gaps. Since he’s absent from Christmas, it’s possible that Carmy’s father died and Uncle Lee tried to step up and fill his role within the extended Berzatto family clan, potentially even trying to begin a relationship with Donna. This would certainly help explain why Mikey hates Lee so much, as Mikey would be his father’s “successor” as the oldest child.
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How Uncle Lee Is Connected To Mikey’s KBL Tomato Cans From The Bear Season 1
Is Lee Another Investor In The Bear?
In The Bear season 1’s ending, Carmy finally opens the KBL tomato cans left by Mikey, soon discovering that his deceased brother had left him around $300,000 hidden inside the sauce. It was unclear what KBL stood for in relation to Mikey’s debts throughout The Bear season 1, but the answer was finally provided by Uncle Jimmy in the season 2 premiere. He revealed that KBL stood for “Kalinowski Berzatto Lane,” which are the surnames of Uncle Jimmy, Carmy, and Uncle Lee. Mikey owed the $300,000 to Uncle Jimmy but left it for Carmy to fund the restaurant instead, so it’s still unclear what role Bob Odenkirk’s Lee in The Bear played in the loan and why his name is included.
Uncle Jimmy, Carmy’s father, or Mikey, and Uncle Lee may have been investing in various businesses or even getting into illegal schemes for some time. Therefore, Mikey may have proposed an idea but taken money from Uncle Lee to give to Carmy instead, perhaps as a way to spite Lee even after death. Alternatively, Lee in The Bear may have had a stake in the Original Beef of Chicagoland restaurant, so he would have been included in Mikey’s previous plans to franchise the place. However, Lee investing in The Beef likely would have warranted his inclusion in the plans for The Bear during season 2, similar to Uncle Jimmy being roped into the finances.
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Will Uncle Lee Return In The Bear Season 3?
Carmy May Have To Deal With Uncle Lee Looking For His Share
It is not revealed what happened to Lee in The Bear season 2 after the Christmas episode, so it’s unclear if he’s still living in Chicago. Since Carmy refers to him in the present tense during The Bear season 2, episode 1, it doesn’t seem that Lee died within the past five years. Consequently, it’s possible that Bob Odenkirk’s Uncle Lee will return in The Bear season 3 to get back his claim to Mikey’s KBL money or a potential stake in the new restaurant. Considering The Bear season 2 doesn’t dive into Lee’s history with the Berzatto family, he’ll likely appear in season 3 to explore his real relationship with Uncle Jimmy, Mikey, and potentially Carmy’s father.
The Bear
- Release Date
- June 23, 2022
- Cast
- Jeremy Allen White , Ebon Moss-Bachrach , Ayo Edebiri , Lionel Boyce , Liza Colón-Zayas , Abby Elliott , Oliver Platt
- Genres
- Comedy , Drama
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Disney+
