The Bear season 3 proves it, Ayo Edebiri should direct her own film
The actor stepped behind the camera for Season 3 episode Napkins
The Bear season 3 landed in full on Disney+ on Thursday, 27 July, giving viewers the chance to experience new stories within the intense kitchen led by Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White).
Season 3 explores Carmy, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and the rest of The Bear staff's experiences now the restaurant is up and running, it's still as stressful as ever because Carmy continues to be a chaotic force in the kitchen. While the FX series' new episodes haven't entranced critics as previous seasons did, there is still some good to take away from the show, namely Edebiri's directorial debut.
Napkins, which Edebiri directs and is written by Catherine Schetina, centres on Liza Colón-Zayas' character Tina Marrero. Before we elaborate further, be warned that this article contains spoilers for The Bear season 3.
Napkins takes viewers back, back before Tina became a part of The Bear and explores the struggle she faced after being unceremoniously let go from her job after 15 years in employment. With a raised rent and her husband Davis (played by Colón-Zayas' real-life spouse David Zayas) already working two jobs to make ends meet, Tina re-enters the workforce with little success.
Read more: What's happened in The Bear so far?
The struggle to find a job, any job, weighs heavily on Tina's shoulders and after an open interview is cancelled last minute and her transport home is delayed she ventures, in frustration, into a local sandwich shop — you guessed it, The Beef.
When she's there Tina experiences firsthand the chaos of The Beef but also the beauty of it, the way in which the people who work there care about each other even if they swear and shout. She then shares a meaningful conversation with Mikey (Jon Bernthal) —Carmy's older brother whose death is the starting point for the whole show— after he notices her crying.
Edebiri proves to have an eye for the details in the episode, and it can be particularly felt in this quiet yet impactful scene shared between Tina and Mikey. It is a moment of genuine human connection where the characters are talking, but it also isn't just talking.
We get a better understanding of both Tina and Mikey through their conversation, and are moved by both their plights as they share their struggles both personally and professionally. The way the camera stays with them and holds that moment keeps viewers locked in, listening to the actors as they deliver Schetina's stellar script — it may seem simple on paper but its impact cannot be overstated.
Read more: Is The Bear based on a real restaurant?
The way Edebiri approaches Tina's character throughout the episode feels intimate and empathetic. The character is constantly at the centre of the frame, using close-ups when she is feeling the pressure of her current predicament, and highlighting her need for structure by showing the simple things she does in her morning routine everyday without fail.
There are very few other characters who make an appearance so it's the little things that need to draw us in, and Edebiri does exactly the right amount as director to convey Tina's story. It is similar to how episodes like Forks and Honeydew in Season 2 gave Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Marcus (Lionel Boyce) the space to entrance viewers onscreen on their own merit.
The Bear thrives when it examines its characters closely, whether they're in a shouting match or a quiet moment, and Napkins is the perfect example of this in Season 3. The new season may not be perfect, it may feel aimless at times, but Edebiri's Tina-centric episode helps re-centre things at the right time.
What it also does is prove Edebiri makes a wonderful director, she draws out incredible performances from her co-stars and skilfully presents the narrative so that it has a big impact. It's not an easy thing to do, by any means.
This may be her directorial debut, but it shouldn't be her last time behind the camera. After watching Napkins it is genuinely exciting to imagine what Edebiri could achieve with something longer than a 20-minute episode. The actor deserves to direct her own film, so let's hope she'll get the chance.
The Bear seasons 1 to 3 are out now on Disney+.
