What The Bear Season 4's ending means for Season 5 and beyond

Indian Express

12 hours ago

Jeremy Allen White's The Bear Season 4 has rolled out to mixed reviews, with many feeling the show has started to lose its grip. While the visuals still pop and the food shots are great, the buzz just isn't what it used to be. Fans are now left wondering if Season 5 is even in the cards or if the makers will pull the plug, especially since the dip in excitement had already set in back in Season 3. Here's the full lowdown on where things stand and what might come next.
The Bear Season 4 ends on a cliffhanger, but not as abrupt as Season 3. From the start, the restaurant's in bad shape, kicked off by a scathing review from the Chicago Tribune. But Carmy doesn't give up on that Michelin star dream. By the end, after some deep emotional healing, he makes the tough call, and plans to leave. Carmy tells Sydney he doesn't love being a chef anymore. After building his dream restaurant and fixing fractured bonds, he's ready to walk away. He changes the partnership agreement, pulls his name out, and gives Richie a bigger role, all while Sydney and Richie are stuck dealing with the emotional fallout. Meanwhile, Jimmy's countdown clock hits zero. The Bear either turns a profit, scores a Michelin star, or shuts down. Season 4 wraps with one final tease, a twist that might finally change things. If it works, the show could bounce back. If not, The Bear is headed down the same messy, bleak spiral as Carmy himself.
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No, The Bear hasn't been officially renewed by Hulu or FX yet. But the show hasn't been cancelled either. Season 4 premiered on June 25, 2025, with 10 episodes, with no midseason break or two-part release strategy. And, while there's no renewal news yet, there's enough in the finale and behind-the-scenes comments to believe Season 5 could be in the works.
FX head John Landgraf had dropped a hint about The Bear's future back in 2024 while talking to Variety. He made it clear that the decision lies with creator and showrunner Chris Storer. If the makers feel there's still more story to tell, they might go ahead. But if they believe this is the right place to end it, they won't stretch it just for the sake of another season. 'I mean, obviously, I'm hoping he has more than one more season of story to tell. But not to the extent that if there were one great season or three mediocre ones, I'd rather have one great one. You just have to follow the creative,' Landgraf said.
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If we're going by story setup, yes, Season 5 is very likely. There's no way you set up this kind of emotional cliffhanger, mystery diner, and Michelin-star tease only to end with Carmy spiralling down. However, makers have earlier said that viewership, reviews, and buzz will play a big role now. If renewed, expect Season 5 to follow Carmy's life outside the kitchen, how the team runs The Bear without him, and whether the restaurant finally gets that star.
If it returns, you can also expect the core cast to make a comeback, including Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson, Abby Elliott and possibly Jon Bernthal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Oliver Platt, and Gillian Jacobs, making some appearances.
Season 1: Carmy tries to save his late brother's sandwich shop.
Season 2: He turns it into The Bear, a fine-dining restaurant hoping for a Michelin star.
Season 3: Carmy becomes obsessed with food, ruining his personal relationships.
Season 4: He's trying to make amends and fix what's broken, and decides to quit.