Top 10 The Bear Moments That Made Us Happy Cry

Top 10 The Bear Moments That Made Us Happy Cry

Welcome to MsMojo and today we’re looking at moments from “The Bear’s” first two seasons that brought tears of joy to our eyes. As such, be on the lookout for spoilers ahead.

#10: Syd & Carmy’s Heart-to-Heart

Every character in “The Bear” is under immense amounts of stress, especially head chef Carmy and his second-in-command, Sydney. By the time we reach the penultimate episode of Season 2, their tension is palpable. Though they may argue, their friendship and shared love of food keeps the ship afloat. The dynamic between the two is lovingly summed up in a scene where they fix a table together. Carmy admits his faults, Sydney admits her fears, and they both admit they make each other better, and wouldn’t be able to do this alone. It’s a quiet but beautiful character moment between the two, capped off by Carmy giving Syd a chef’s coat with her embroidered initials.

#9: It’s the Thing

Season 2 introduces several new characters, including Sydney’s father, Emmanuel. While incredibly supportive of his daughter, he also remains cautious and unbelieving due to Sydney’s past failures. However, he comes through in the end. In the Season 2 finale, after a successful ‘Friends & Family’ night, Emmanuel finds Syd and offers the words of encouragement she needs. Not only that the food was incredible, but that this is ‘The Thing,’ calling back to a previous conversation about Syd’s desire to pursue this career. Considering she was in the middle of vomiting from all the stress, we can only imagine how badly she needed to hear it.

#8: Passing the Fire Suppression Test

Most of Season 2’s plot chronicles the group’s struggle to get their restaurant’s building up to code. One of their biggest hurdles is a fire suppression system test, which they fail a couple of times prior to Season 2’s eighth episode. With the restaurant’s opening right around the corner, the final test carries a lot of weight. Every character needs this restaurant to work, which is summed up by quick, internal flashbacks. When they do pass, viewers breathe a sigh of relief while the characters cheer and hug one another. It’s an incredibly wholesome scene, and one of few that features the entire cast feeling such joy.

#7: Pete Defends Donna

Most characters on “The Bear” have sharp edges, with one exception being Nat’s husband, Pete. His soft and positive demeanor has made him a punching bag of others, but also led to one of the best moments in the Season 2 finale. With Nat expecting her troubled mother, Donna, to show up to ‘Friends & Family’ Night, Pete happily heads outside when he sees her. However, Donna begs him to stay quiet, thinking she’ll ruin the one good thing her children have. Pete can’t hide his emotions, but keeps his promise and tells Nat not to hold this one against her mother. It’s a moment still tinged with sadness, but Pete is able to turn it into one of love.

#6: Tina Becomes Sous-Chef

When Carmy first arrives at his late brother’s restaurant, there are many not willing to change their ways. Tina is one of them, constantly butting heads with Syd in the early episodes. However, we learn that it's out of fear that she won’t be good at anything new. When Syd validates her, it signals a moment of change and the start of her growth. Tina becomes incredibly invested to the point where Syd recognizes how good she really is. In the Season 2 premiere, Syd offers her the position of sous-chef, which Tina graciously accepts with a heartfelt hug. She only needed people to believe in her, and we certainly do.

#5: The Chocolate Covered Banana

There were naturally a lot of emotional moments in the Season 2 finale. But one of the smallest was actually one of the more impactful. With the night winding down, Richie sends out a special dessert to Cicero, the restaurant’s financier, as a way of saying thanks: a chocolate covered banana. The act of gratitude calls back to “Fishes,” the season’s flashback episode, in which Cicero told a story about missing his late father after driving by a banana stand they’d visit when he was a kid. This small but kind gesture speaks volumes about how Richie has grown not only personally, but professionally. As Cicero gets choked up, we can’t help getting a little misty.

#4: Carmy’s Gift

Speaking of the flashback episode, “Fishes” is almost entirely composed of the most stressful familial moments imaginable. However, there is one bright spot, one touching moment between brothers that makes us swell with joy. Away from the rest of the family, Carmy gives Michael a Christmas present: a framed concept design of what their restaurant could be. Michael of course gets emotional, telling Carmy how much he loves it. And the subtly powerful performance from Jon Bernthal makes the scene even stronger. Unfortunately, the rest of the episode continues and the happy tears turn into sad ones. But we’re still exceptionally glad a moment like this got to be included.

#3: The Michael

One of the more laid back characters on “The Bear” is Marcus. The guy just wants to bake! And he’s a natural, developing a delicious dessert menu before the restaurant opens. Carmy’s one request is that the menu feature a cannoli as a therapeutic way to reclaim them from his messed up family. Marcus shows off his creations in Season 2’s penultimate episode, ending with the cannoli. He says he put a little bit of everyone into it, calling it ‘The Michael’ after his late boss. His love of their shared history and the stunned look on Carmy’s face as he struggles with what to say are sweeter than anything else Marcus could’ve come up with.

#2: Michael’s Letter

Most of the show’s ‘happy cry’ moments can be found in the second season, but Season 1 still had some strong ones. Under the assumption that his brother didn’t leave a note before taking his life, Carmy is surprised when Richie gives him one. The note is a simple declaration of love with Michael’s signature catchphrase, “Let it rip.” However, he also leaves Carmy a spaghetti recipe, noting that the small cans of sauce work better. From this one touching moment, the finale snowballs with glee, from the group finding Michael’s savings to Syd’s return to everyone enjoying a huge meal together. It ends the season much more positively than it started and is a wonderful way to set up Season 2.

#1: Richie the Swiftie

So far, Richie has had one of the best arcs on “The Bear.” Although aggressive and adamantly against change, his constant self-doubt made us feel for him. However, it wasn’t until his central episode in Season 2 where he finally found his purpose. After being sent to stage at a high-end restaurant, Richie sees how this type of customer service can provide such an enriching experience. He grows to believe in himself over the course of the episode, as well as in what Carmy is trying to do. By far the most joyous moment comes when Richie belts along to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” while driving. The relief and happiness he feels in this moment is infectious and we couldn’t keep the tears from falling.

Which moment from “The Bear” made you the most emotional? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to subscribe to MsMojo for more great videos every day!