Since its premiere in 2022, The Bear has taken television by storm. Its strong appeal to audiences in its three seasons has been its capture of the anxiety of both working and managing a kitchen, among other things. While they could be capable of airing better episodes in the future, the show's Magnum Opus is its Christmas episode, titled "Fishes."
This was the first episode to take place entirely in flashback, which gave viewers a glimpse of what holiday get-togethers were like for the Berzattos, Richie, Jimmy, and Fak. This episode is regarded as the show's best because it explains why the main characters are the way they are, and it sheds light on the inner turmoil they all dealt with before the show canonically began.
This episode provided a murderer's row of star cameos, including Jon Bernthal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Gillian Jacobs, and John Mulaney, and their presences helped make this show's best episode to date.
It all culminated in the most tense episode in a show whose calling card is in fact, its tension, making it the best one. Because it takes place in flashback, there's also four tragic storylines in "Fishes" that are exexucted flawlessly.
4. Carmy and Mikey truly were close
Not that this wasn't in doubt beforehand, but seeing the two interact was a heartwarming subplot, which of course, makes it all tragic knowing Mikey's fate.
Even though Mikey had barely been featured in the show, it was clear how much of a yin he was to Carmy's yang. While Carmy is soft-spoken, antisocial, antagonistic, and a perfectionist, Mikey is laid-back, boisterous, charismatic, and friendly.
It was clear on the surface that the two knew how to exchange barbs with one another early on in "Fishes." Mikey takes tiny jabs at Carmy because he knows how easy it is to annoy him, while Carmy takes massive swipes back at his brother to get him off his case. And despite all of that, it was clear how strong of a bond they had.
This was evidenced when Carmy later showed Mikey his dream restaurant where they would work together, which moved the latter to tears.
When this episode sheds light on how strong their brotherly bond is, it makes Mikey's death all the more depressing knowing that the foundation of Carmy's dream restaurant was working with his brother.
3. It was the beginning of the end of Richie's marriage
Before "Fishes" aired, it was already well-established that Richie Jeramovich was a bit of a loose cannon. He wanted to make his mark but didn't know how. That fateful Christmas dinner of 2018 showed a truly softer side of Richie by portraying his marriage to Tiff (whom viewers knew he later divorced).
The episode demonstrated that Richie and Tiff clearly loved each other, but it also showed that Richie's issues would ultimately be what would end the marriage. Richie was already struggling as provider, which was not good since Tiff was pregnant at Christmastime.
Making things worse was when Tiff nearly caught Richie lying at dinner. After thanking Jimmy for giving Richie a job, Jimmy almost lets it slip to Tiff that such a job was never offered. Because Jimmy is your friendly neighborhood loan shark, he saves Richie from an awkward conversation.
Up to this point, no one knows what was the breaking point in their marriage, but that was the first sign to Tiff that, besides Richie not having any prospects, he was also willing to be dishonest with her about them.
Even though Jimmy told Tiff he gave Richie a job, either he ultimately never actually gave him one, or Richie didn't hold the job for too long.
Though he's hot-headed and stubborn, Richie always means well, which is why it's so hard to see that his own demons would ultimately kill a marriage that he clearly never wanted to end.
2. Mikey was really spiraling
In the one prior flashback with Mikey before "Fishes," his hair is moosed, and he's clean-shaven. Contrast that with "Fishes," where his hair is a mess with a grimy beard, symbolizing how bad of a place he was in years before his suicide.
It was already established that Mikey was addicted to painkillers. Like with drug addicts, his addiction made him erratic, unpredictable, and aggressive. Though Mikey was well-liked by his friends and family, "Fishes" demonstrated how much his addiction was destroying him internally.
His likability sugarcoated that he was a wreck, as evidenced by his laundry list of failed business ventures. When Uncle Lee, whom Mikey antagonized a few scenes earlier, calls him out on the fact that he can finish stories but can't finish business plans, Mikey, who's hinted to be drugged up, escalates the situation further.
When Mikey taunts Lee by throwing forks at him, Lee provokes Mikey even further by antagonizing him by repeating the lines, "You're nothing!"
This scene demonstrates the little control Mikey had over his emotions, like addicts typically do when they are impaired. Even with everyone begging him to stop, Mikey's drugged-out rage was too strong for him to be rational. Since Mikey is portrayed as a good person despite his substance abuse, it's sadder that it only got worse from here.
Keep in mind that this dinner took place on Christmas 2018, and Berzatto died almost four years later. If that's the state he was in back in 2018, it's hard not to think how much worse it may have been for him in his final days.
1. How the Berzattos act finally made sense in the worst way
"Fishes" was an integral episode because many wondered from the beginning why Carmy was so uptight, and Sugar was so nurturing. The episode gave the simplest answer, in the harshest of ways: their mother, Donna Berzatto.
Curtis stole the show as Donna, as her chain-smoking and progressively drunker state as she prepares the Seven Fishes for Christmas dinner only made her more emotionally abusive. Carmy is a perfectionist because of Donna's abuse, while Sugar's motherly persona comes from how often she tries (and fails) to comfort her abrasively drunk mother.
Even when the two try to be there for her as she's clearly heading towards an emotional breakdown, their words ultimately don't do a thing.
After her first appearance, it became pretty clear how much of a mark Donna left on her kids, especially since the show hinted that everyone knew beforehand her outburst was inevitable from previous Christmas dinners.
The biggest problem with interacting with people like Donna is that you can't win with them no matter your intentions. Part of that is influenced by the fact that she's quite drunk to cope with the stress of preparing the Seven Fishes, but it is tragic to know that Carmy doesn't go home for Christmas to avoid her and that Sugar only turned to her mother as a last resort once she does into labor.
"Fishes" was The Bear's first hour-long episode because they knew how much would be unpacked, and it did not disappoint. By delving into the Berzattos' Christmas dinner, their story became more of a Shakespearian tragedy.
"Fishes" can be streamed on Hulu.
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