The Bear has surprised fans by releasing a new one-off episode ahead of the hit show’s forthcoming fifth and final season. The episode, titled “Gary,” is now streaming on Hulu and serves as a flashback story following Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) on a work trip to Gary, Indiana.
The official logline states that the episode explores the two friends’ complicated relationship, uncovering new layers of Mikey’s mental state while offering crucial insight into the man Richie is when audiences first meet him in Season 1. The episode was written by Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal themselves, who are currently starring together in Dog Day Afternoon on Broadway.
Moss-Bachrach announced the episode on Instagram, writing: “COUSINS! PRIMOS! CUGINI!!! Get ready for GARY!!!! We are so excited to finally share this little adventure with Richie and Mikey. Written by me and [Jon Bernthal]. Directed by the one Christopher Storer. Making this was a dream come true.” He encouraged fans to search “Gary” on Hulu to watch.
It was reported earlier this year that the fifth season of The Bear is likely to be its last. Recurring guest star Jamie Lee Curtis alluded to the potential ending in an Instagram post, writing: “FINISHED STRONG!” In an interview with Access Hollywood, Curtis confirmed the show is ending, stating: “Everybody’s confirmed the show is ending. I don’t understand why that’s such a [big deal].”
The series, which follows Jeremy Allen White’s fine-dining chef returning to Chicago to run his family’s struggling sandwich shop, premiered to huge acclaim in 2022. It has received multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series in 2023, with White, Ayo Edebiri, Moss-Bachrach and Storer all winning individual awards. Liza Colón-Zayas won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2024, and Curtis won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
