top of page

The Bear (1.1)

This is the opening shot of the FX television series The Bear


Atop Chicago’s Clark Street Bridge, chef Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) comes face-to-face with a caged brown bear. Once released from its confines, the bear attacks, and Carmy wakes up in a restaurant kitchen.


The 70-second sequence is a dream, a memorable and attention-grabbing dream.


The Bear’s co-showrunner and writer, Joanna Calo, says this sequence was crafted to grab the viewers’ attention so they’d put their phones away. The writers wanted to “trick people into watching more,” she jokes. More seriously, she continues: “But it is a way to let people know you’re going to want to sit down for this and pay attention.”


Based on the popular and critical acclaim for The Bear, the intent behind this dream sequence worked: people are definitely paying attention. Watch a portion of this scene below.

YOU'RE ON SCREENSHOT:

60

Keep playing!

bottom of page