The Bear's "Forks" is the most inspiring and feel-good episode of television I've seen in years.

After Ted Lasso's hokey, overwrought, bloated third season that forgot the difference between uplifting and saccharine, The Bear comes along and shows us how it's actually done. This episode - charting fuckup Cousin Richie's sudden transformation into a passionate and enthusiastic team player - was such an unexpected delight, and brilliantly constructed from start to finish.

It's honestly incredible how much the episode accomplishes in just half an hour. The first third is spent establishing Richie as a fish out of water, placing him in the stark, foreboding environment of a fine-dining restaurant (Chicago's Ever). This section itself sets a very unique atmosphere for the show, visually reminiscent of "Severance" in the cold blues and oppressive sleekness, with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' "Waves" score being used to create a feeling of both mystique and isolation.

And then everything jolts to life as we see Richie slowly learn the value of hospitality and attention to detail, and it's just the most inspiring thing to watch. That whole sequence - of him learning how they wait tables, delivering (and serving) the deep dish pizza, and correctly answering the pop quiz about the restaurant, followed by him ripping through the streets in his car to Taylor Swift (his daughter's favorite artist) - made me grin like an idiot. And then we get that beautiful coda featuring a surprise appearance from Olivia Colman, which showed us the intimate, selfless humanity behind all the intense routine and regalia at the restaurant.

I honestly feel there's a lot to learn from this episode, not just about the fine dining industry, but about the joys of applying yourself and committing to a greater cause. It shows how personal transformation does not always have to be a protracted, arduous process - sometimes it's as simple as an attitude change, which can occur almost overnight if you simply make an effort to show up and give a shit. Small things - like Richie reading a book about the value of hospitality the night before work, as well as the way his coworkers notice his confidence and quickly grow fond of him - went a long way in constructing what was not just an uplifting but deeply reassuring episode that tells us it's never too late to begin again. Simply choosing to be more present and live with more intention can bring about instant and lasting change - one that could rewrite your very conception of yourself.

Submitted July 12, 2023 at 01:23AM by TheTruckWashChannel https://ift.tt/Jl31rCz