Close Menu
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • โค๏ธ CONTENT
    • CONTRIBUTOR DIRECTORY
    • DEAR READERSโœ๏ธ
    • MEET THE SOBER CURATOR
    • ๐Ÿ“ฐ PRESS ๐Ÿ“บ
    • THE SOBEES ๐Ÿ
    • CONTACT ๐Ÿ“ง
  • HAPPY EVERY HOUR
    • NA BEERS AND CIDERS ๐Ÿบ
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC WINES ๐Ÿพ
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS ๐Ÿธ
    • READY TO DRINK ๐Ÿฅค
    • BEHIND THE BAR ๐Ÿ‹โ€๐ŸŸฉ
    • NA TASTING EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • BREAK FREE
    • CODEPENDENCY
    • MASTERING MENTAL FITNESS ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ
    • MENTAL HEALTH ๐Ÿง 
    • RELATIONSHIPS ๐ŸคŸ๐Ÿฝ
    • SOBER NOT SUBTLE
    • SOBER POETRY ๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ
    • SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE ๐Ÿงฌ
    • WELLNESS AS A WAY OF LIFE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • #ADDTOCART ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
    • ASK MRS. (W)RIGHT โ‰๏ธ
    • COMING OUT SOBER ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
    • ๐Ÿ† CONTENT
    • โœ‚๏ธCURATED CRAFTS๐ŸŽจ
    • FASHION ๐Ÿ‘ 
    • SHOP ๐Ÿ›’
    • SOBER SPOTLIGHT ๐Ÿ”ฆ
    • SOBER CONTENT CREATION ๐Ÿ’ป
    • SOBER UNBUZZED FEED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • #QUITLIT ๐Ÿ“š
    • MOVIE REVIEWS ๐Ÿฟ
    • MUSIC ๐ŸŽถ
    • POPCULTURE
    • RECOVERY PODCASTLAND ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ
    • SOBER CURATOR PODCAST ๐ŸŽง
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBER SPORTS
    • TV SHOW REVIEWS ๐Ÿ“บ
  • TRAVEL & EVENTS
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBER RETREATS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
      • SOBER IN MINNEAPOLIS
      • SOBER IN NYC
      • SOBER IN SEATTLE
    • WHAT A TRIP! ๐Ÿงณ
  • SPIRITUAL GANGSTER
    • THE CARD DIVO ๐Ÿ”ฎ
    • CLASSY PROBLEMS
    • SOBERCAST
    • SOBERSCOPES
    • SOBRIETY IN FLOW ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ
    • THIRSTY FOR WONDER
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE ๐Ÿงฌ
    • STOICISM
  • RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESOURCE GUIDE
    • BREAK FREE FOUNDATION
    • FAMILY RESOURCES
    • GLOSSARY OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY TERMS
    • LGBTQ+ RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • RECOVERY STORIES
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • โค๏ธ CONTENT
    • CONTRIBUTOR DIRECTORY
    • DEAR READERSโœ๏ธ
    • MEET THE SOBER CURATOR
    • ๐Ÿ“ฐ PRESS ๐Ÿ“บ
    • THE SOBEES ๐Ÿ
    • CONTACT ๐Ÿ“ง
  • HAPPY EVERY HOUR
    • NA BEERS AND CIDERS ๐Ÿบ
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC WINES ๐Ÿพ
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS ๐Ÿธ
    • READY TO DRINK ๐Ÿฅค
    • BEHIND THE BAR ๐Ÿ‹โ€๐ŸŸฉ
    • NA TASTING EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • BREAK FREE
    • CODEPENDENCY
    • MASTERING MENTAL FITNESS ๐Ÿง ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿผ
    • MENTAL HEALTH ๐Ÿง 
    • RELATIONSHIPS ๐ŸคŸ๐Ÿฝ
    • SOBER NOT SUBTLE
    • SOBER POETRY ๐Ÿ–‹๏ธ
    • SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE ๐Ÿงฌ
    • WELLNESS AS A WAY OF LIFE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • #ADDTOCART ๐Ÿ›๏ธ
    • ASK MRS. (W)RIGHT โ‰๏ธ
    • COMING OUT SOBER ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ
    • ๐Ÿ† CONTENT
    • โœ‚๏ธCURATED CRAFTS๐ŸŽจ
    • FASHION ๐Ÿ‘ 
    • SHOP ๐Ÿ›’
    • SOBER SPOTLIGHT ๐Ÿ”ฆ
    • SOBER CONTENT CREATION ๐Ÿ’ป
    • SOBER UNBUZZED FEED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • #QUITLIT ๐Ÿ“š
    • MOVIE REVIEWS ๐Ÿฟ
    • MUSIC ๐ŸŽถ
    • POPCULTURE
    • RECOVERY PODCASTLAND ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ
    • SOBER CURATOR PODCAST ๐ŸŽง
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBER SPORTS
    • TV SHOW REVIEWS ๐Ÿ“บ
  • TRAVEL & EVENTS
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBER RETREATS CALENDAR ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ
    • SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
      • SOBER IN MINNEAPOLIS
      • SOBER IN NYC
      • SOBER IN SEATTLE
    • WHAT A TRIP! ๐Ÿงณ
  • SPIRITUAL GANGSTER
    • THE CARD DIVO ๐Ÿ”ฎ
    • CLASSY PROBLEMS
    • SOBERCAST
    • SOBERSCOPES
    • SOBRIETY IN FLOW ๐Ÿง˜๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ
    • THIRSTY FOR WONDER
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE ๐Ÿงฌ
    • STOICISM
  • RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESOURCE GUIDE
    • BREAK FREE FOUNDATION
    • FAMILY RESOURCES
    • GLOSSARY OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY TERMS
    • LGBTQ+ RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • RECOVERY STORIES
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
Home - Season 3 of The Bear Goes Deep Revealing More About Family, Feelings, and Fallout from Addiction and Then Stops Short
THE MINDFUL BINGE (TV SHOWS)

Season 3 of The Bear Goes Deep Revealing More About Family, Feelings, and Fallout from Addiction and Then Stops Short

10 episodes leave us only mildly satiated and starving for season 4
Lisa CBy Lisa CJuly 11, 20247 Mins Read
The Bear Season 3
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

FX’s highly anticipated Season 3 of the multi-award-winning series The Bear finally dropped on June 27th. And, of course, as all faithful fans did, I stayed up way past bedtime and binged it in 3 days. This one feels like a lukewarm appetizer, a setup for things to come, with miles of flashbacks filling in many backstories. However, the storyline only inches forward, resulting in everything and nothing happening simultaneously. While we get more into the psyche of characters we have come to love, multiple cliffhangers leave us starving for more and praying for Season 4.

The Bear Season 3 Official Trailer

It’s a Family Thing

 One thing that became even more glaringly obvious is that alcoholism is a family disease. If left untreated, the fallout can be extreme. The main characters, Carmy, The Bear’s head chef; Syd, his friend and partner at the restaurant; and his siblings, Mikey and Sugar, are all struggling with the pain caused by growing up with alcoholic parents. This trauma plays out differently for each of them. 

Sydney, who has crippling anxiety, is finally moving into her apartment after living with her father, who is in recovery from alcoholism. We have not seen evidence of trauma, but Sydney is suffering from crippling panic attacks. This is common in family members of alcoholics who are often caretakers and always worried about what could happen. The facade of having it all together is not working for her. While she is not seeking solutions for her anxiety, she is considering leaving the restaurant. No, Chef!

The Beef Before Carmy

Season 3 reveals more about the state of The Beef before Carmy took over running the family restaurant. We see that Mikey, his older brother, was considerate, kind, and unequipped to deal with the stress of daily life. This tracks as many oldest children of alcoholics end up caring for the home and other siblings, robbing them of their childhood. Mikey turned to drugs and alcohol for relief. But this kind of escape never ends well; piles of bills and pressure to succeed proved too much for him and left him nowhere else to run.

For the Love of an Alcoholic Mother

Sugar is still desperate for her motherโ€™s love. Her inability to set boundaries and see that she did not cause it, cannot control it, and cannot cure it is interfering with her relationships with her brother, Carmy, and husband, Pete. In an epic boundary failure, her mother ends up at the bedside during her labor. While this interaction does provide some comic relief, it drags on and evokes a feeling of being stuck in unhealthy patterns and behaviors. Still the ultimate people pleaser, Sugar wants to make sure everyone around her is getting help but cannot or will not help herself. 

Carmy is equally guilty. He encourages Marcus to let out his feelings while completely shutting out his own. Instead of vying for his mother’s love as Sugar does, he completely cuts her out of his life. After a stressful opening night of The Bear, he eliminates everything except work. This includes Claire and his cousin, Richie. We see some of the early days of his career as he works for some of the best chefs in the world. Although Carmy is talented and has all the skills and knowledge he needs to make The Bear a success, he continues to be his own worst critic and does not believe he deserves anything good. 

This is a common defense mechanism for adult children of alcoholics. The few good childhood experiences they had did not last. As adults, they try to soften the blow from the pain of disappointment by sabotaging anything good in their lives. Watching Carmy isolate and withdraw emotionally left me sad that he cannot yet recognize this pattern and feeling lonely for him.  Equally disheartening is his quest for perfectionism, further evidence of collateral damage from growing up in a chaotic environment with uncontrollable eruptions. His misery proves perfect is the enemy of good. And good can equal happy.

Jeremy Allen White, Lionel Boyce, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach in The Bear. PHOTO CREDIT: FX

Running to a Standstill

Season 3 is slower and heavier than the first two. The various forms of self-destruction exhibited by Syd and the Berzottos left me with the uncomfortable but all too familiar feeling of running on the proverbial hamster wheel of active addiction. Working nonstop to build a life while simultaneously tearing it down with untreated trauma and addiction does not allow for a happy life. It is as if the writers were intentional about wanting the audience to feel what addiction can do by making us sit in residual dysfunction. Watching it was like sitting in quicksand or trying to run through molasses but with people you really like. 

I want this cast of characters to get off that hamster wheel and have a happy life. We are just not there yet. Of those suffering, Carmy is the only one working on a solution; ironically, at the request of Sugar, who does not see her own issues, Carmy is still attending Al-Anon. But not enough. There is still hope for him to get involved with the program, work the steps, evolve, and help others, starting with his family and staff. Adding some Adult Children of Alcoholics meetings is not a bad idea either.ย 

To Be Continued

The ending of Season 3 leaves viewers with many unresolved questions and towering cliffhangers. What does the restaurant review say? Do Syd and Marcus finally hook up? What happens to Donna? Does everything go okay with Sugar and her baby? Do Claire and Carmy reconnect? Does Richie find love? Do Richie and Carmy forgive each other? Does Syd stay or go?

The Mindful Binge Sobees Score: 4.5 out of 5

The possibilities are endless and these outcomes can go a multitude of directions. With untreated addiction and trauma, possibilities narrow, and outcomes become more predictable. Because AlAnon is in the show, I hope this kind of help plays a bigger part in determining the fate of these characters. Although abrupt and unsatisfying, the season ends with โ€œTO BE CONTINUED.โ€ Reservations are made, and we will be patiently waiting for the main course to be served up in season 4. 

Need to catch up on The Bear? Check out The Mindful Binge for reviews of SEASON ONE and SEASON TWO.

The Bear bonus

The Bear’s creator, writer/director, Christopher Storer, and executive producer, Josh Senior, are the show’s music supervisors. And the soundtracks are on point! Plenty of variety and fan favorites like Beastie Boys, Taylor Swift, Weezer, and Trent Reznor exist. They are all worth a listen to, but Season 3 is fantastic. Looking for more sober song recommendations? Check out Play it Again.


The Mindful Binge TV Series Reviews

THE MINDFUL BINGE: Itโ€™s ok to indulge in a good TV series binge occasionally, as long as you do so mindfully. This section of the site explores TV series that feature addiction, recovery, and mental illness as one of the main storylines. Sober Curator Fun Fact! Weโ€™ve curated a PLAYLIST on our YOUTUBE channel with as many trailers as we could find.

Are movies more your thing? We get it. Sometimes, you need to escape for 2 hours without the commitment of an entire TV series. MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR has your back!

If you need ideas on what to sip on while you get in that screen time, check out our HAPPY EVERY HOUR section for a complete curated list of non-alcoholic beverage options.


best non alcoholic newsletter sober curator
Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

follow the sober curator on youtube

Subscribe to The Sober Curator on YouTube

Adult children of alcoholics sober celebs sober pop culture taylor swift The Bear The Bear Season 3 the mindful binge
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Lisa C
  • Website
  • Instagram

Lisa is a proud Texan living in Dallas. She works in media and has a passion for world travel, street art, festivals, and helping other alcoholics. Her current obsessions are Song Quiz with Alexa, Duo Lingo, Matt Maeson's music, the Enneagram, and seeing the northern lights.

Related Posts

Sober Dad Crew Episode 80: Alysse Bryson โ€“ Building a Sober Pop Culture Movement

Sober Dad Crew: Alysse Bryson โ€“ Building a Sober Pop Culture Movement

October 21, 2025
The Tiger by Gucci Demi Moore

The Substance โ€” But Make It Gucci

October 19, 2025
#QUITLIT Book Review_ โ€œUnSweetinedโ€ by Jodie Sweetin

#QUITLIT Book Review: โ€œUnSweetinedโ€ by Jodie Sweetin โ€” A Full House Starโ€™s Sobriety Story

October 19, 2025

Comments are closed.

The Wellspring by Thirsty for Wonder A Celtic Recovery Journey
Top AF Sober Travel Companies USA Today
Sober City Mobile App
SOBERSCRIBE AND GET ON THE LIST!
7 events found.
  • Week of October 27
  • Previous week
  • Next week
Notice
No events scheduled for October 27, 2025.
7:00 pm
Suzanne Warye w/ Casey McGuire Davidson | Seattle
October 28 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm PDT

Suzanne Warye w/ Casey McGuire Davidson | Seattle

Elliott Bay Books Seattle
$28.00
BigVision Halloween Fright Night
October 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

BigVision Halloween Fright Night

BigVision 309 Social Club 309 East 49th Street @ 2nd Ave, New York
$15.00
Notice
No events scheduled for October 29, 2025.
Notice
No events scheduled for October 30, 2025.
7:00 am
Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class
October 31 @ 7:30 am - 9:30 am PDT

Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class

$72.00
6:00 pm
Gay & Sober Presents:  HALLOQUEEN DANCE PARTY | MUSIC BY DJ E.N.
October 31 @ 6:00 pm PDT

Gay & Sober Presents: HALLOQUEEN DANCE PARTY | MUSIC BY DJ E.N.

The Manhattan Mirage 265 W. 37th Street at 8th Avenueย , New York City
See website
Soberoke Costume Party at Couve Collective Downtown Vancouver Recovery Cafe
October 31 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

Soberoke Costume Party at Couve Collective Downtown Vancouver Recovery Cafe

1009 West 13th Street Vancouver, WA 98660 1009 West 13th Street, Vancouver
Free
Ongoing
Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats
November 1 @ 7:00 am - November 8 @ 1:00 pm PDT

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

$3445 โ€“ $4995
7:00 am
Sober AF Entertainment: Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons @ Falcon Stadium (Air Force Academy โ€“ CO)
November 1 @ 7:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Sober AF Entertainment: Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons @ Falcon Stadium (Air Force Academy โ€“ CO)

Falcon Stadium 4900 Stadium Boulevard, Air Force Academy
See website
All Day
Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai with Bigger Life Adventures
November 2 - November 9

Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai with Bigger Life Adventures

$1999
Capetown, South Africa
November 2 - November 9

Capetown, South Africa

$4700
Ongoing
Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats
November 1 @ 7:00 am - November 8 @ 1:00 pm PDT

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

$3445 โ€“ $4995

Week of Events

Mon 27
Tue 28
Wed 29
Thu 30
Fri 31
Sat 1
Sun 2
November 1 @ 7:00 am - November 8 @ 1:00 pm <span class='timezone'> PDT </span>

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

November 1 @ 7:00 am - November 8 @ 1:00 pm PDT

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats If youโ€™re in recoveryโ€”whether newly sober or years into your journeyโ€”and ready to reconnect with your purpose, build meaningful connections,

$3445 โ€“ $4995
November 1 @ 7:00 am - November 8 @ 1:00 pm <span class='timezone'> PDT </span>

Rediscover Peace & Purpose in Antigua with Sober Travel Retreats

November 2 - November 9

Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai with Bigger Life Adventures

Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai with Bigger Life Adventures

November 2 - November 9

Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai with Bigger Life Adventures

Thailand Yoga, Culture, & Adventure Retreat in Chiang Mai Join us for a rejuvenating week-long yoga retreat near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the area

$1999
November 2 - November 9

Capetown, South Africa

Capetown, South Africa

November 2 - November 9

Capetown, South Africa

Capetown, South Africa Luxury reset, sightseeing, sobriety and safari in South Africa.

$4700
October 28, 2025 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Suzanne Warye w/ Casey McGuire Davidson | Seattle
October 28 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm PDT

Suzanne Warye w/ Casey McGuire Davidson | Seattle

Suzanne Warye w/ Casey McGuire Davidson Wellness writer Suzanne Warye discussesย The Sober Shift: A Modern-Day Guide to Living an Abundant Sober Life, alongside life and sobriety coach Casey McGuire Davidson.

$28.00
October 28, 2025 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
BigVision Halloween Fright Night
October 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

BigVision Halloween Fright Night

BigVision Halloween Fright Night Get ready for a spooktacular evening at 309 Social Club! Join us for Halloween Fright Night, a special movie night guaranteed to bring the chills and

$15.00
October 31, 2025 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class
October 31 @ 7:30 am - 9:30 am PDT

Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class

Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class Sober October Herbal Mocktail Class

$72.00
October 31, 2025 6:00 pm
Gay & Sober Presents: HALLOQUEEN DANCE PARTY | MUSIC BY DJ E.N.
October 31 @ 6:00 pm PDT

Gay & Sober Presents: HALLOQUEEN DANCE PARTY | MUSIC BY DJ E.N.

Gay & Sober Presents: HALLOQUEEN DANCE PARTY | MUSIC BY DJ E.N. TICKETS:ย  OCTOBER: $30 DAY OF/AT THE DOOR: $40ย  โ€‹ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 2025 Mark your calendars for aย night

See website
October 31, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Soberoke Costume Party at Couve Collective Downtown Vancouver Recovery Cafe
October 31 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

Soberoke Costume Party at Couve Collective Downtown Vancouver Recovery Cafe

Soberoke Costume Party at Couve Collective Downtown Vancouver Recovery Cafe Get ready to rock your favorite costume and sing your heart out at our Soberoke Costume Party - a night

Free
November 1, 2025 7:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sober AF Entertainment: Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons @ Falcon Stadium (Air Force Academy โ€“ CO)
November 1 @ 7:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Sober AF Entertainment: Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons @ Falcon Stadium (Air Force Academy โ€“ CO)

Sober AF Entertainment: Army Black Knights vs. Air Force Falcons @ Falcon Stadium (Air Force Academy โ€“ CO)

See website
View Calendar
The Sober Curator
Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok YouTube Pinterest
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • LINKS DISCLAIMER
  • EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • REFUND POLICY
  • DON’T SELL MY INFO
  • DATA SUBJECT REQUEST FORM
  • CONTACT US
© 2025 The Sober Curator - Benefits of a Alcohol Free Lifestyle

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.