Does anybody else watch Mythic Quest? I love Mythic Quest—the first season in particular. It features a career-redefining performance from Rob McElhenney, and it ALSO features a surprising—and as it turns out kind of pioneering—midseason episode that breaks with the ongoing narrative to focus on two totally new characters (played by Jake Johnson and Cristin Millioti, which is why you’re not mad about it when it get suddenly sprung on you). It tells a totally separate story that, in the end, is only very loosely (geographically, and somewhat thematically) connected to the main story. It’s a bold move that really makes the season, and of course it is one that is built on the backs of famous one-off episodes that break the logic of their show’s usual milieu. I’m talking about episodes like “American Bitch” from Girls, and “Join the Club” from The Sopranos. Neither episode is a hard break, like Mythic Quest, but what they helped establish is the tone needed to pull it off. They found a way, within the modern TV lexicon, of putting a little asterisk in your mind before you’re really sure what you’re watching.
“Napkins,” the sixth episode of the third season of The Bear, is another episode in that tradition. It is a flashback episode about how Tina found her way from 15 years at a payroll job for a candy factory to a line cook gig at The Beef. Knowing where Tina is at now, on her way down a culinary journey of self-actualization, it’s stirring to realize what put her there — a free cup of coffee from Richie, and a sympathetic chat with Mikey.
Quick note but Long Grove Confectionary is now the second real Chicago-area business depicted as nearing financial collapse on The Bear. Chicago folks must A. really love this show or B. very deeply believe that any publicity is good publicity.
The episode walks us through Tina’s frustrating job search with the usual Bear flair. Ayo Edebiri, in the director’s chair, seamlessly picks up the House Style. A lot of clocks and zooms. (Why am I am humming John Prine all of a sudden?) P.S. What is the clock budget on The Bear?
Also of note, Tina’s husband, played by Bautista from Dexter, is her actual husband! That’s fun.
But really, the entire episode exists so we can witness an extended and lovely conversation between Tina, at a low moment, and Mikey Berzatto (Jon Bernthal, doing a little Wayne Jenkins in the background, just for fun), at his usual level of medium-shitty. It’s a showstopper. Both of these actors are so lovely and warm, with such a gift for connection — it’s all in their eyes. It’s wonderful to just watch them talk. It’s a long scene and I wanted it to be twice as long.
(Minor points deducted for including the exchange we already saw in episode 1. Part of the magic of that episode is the notion that all of those actors and all of those locations were marshaled just for that. I know that Jon Bernthal doesn’t come in for two lines unless Kevin Feige is changing his mind about the Daredevil TV show again, but I want to believe that he does. And does it matter that Mikey bragging about Carmy happened during his first-ever talk with Tina? Maybe. But not really. I’d rather think that they just talked in that room together a lot over the years. (How many years, by the way? Like, the person in the clothing store who laughs off Tina’s attempt to apply for a job is a very current person. That is iPhone 15 facial hair, you know?))
It’s amazing how different each glimpse of Mikey is, and yet cohesive. Amazing how well we feel like we know the guy, and feel his loss a little harder every time.
I loved the way Tina and Mikey pushed each other for more details — to explain their thinking and elaborate on it. It’s a good lesson on how to talk to people, honestly, and it’s an honest reflection of how the world really works. You can apply on Linkedin all you want, but the real opportunities come and find you when you’re out there talking, not looking for anything from anyone, just enjoying connection where you find it.