I can’t believe The Bear Season 4 is repeating this Season 3 mistake that could cost the show

The Bear Season 4 will soon hit the screens, bringing back Jeremy Allen White as the award-winning New York City chef de cuisine, Carmy Berzatto. While I am excited about the FX show’s return, one aspect of the fourth season’s release is bothering me.

The new season will premiere on June 25, 2025, aligning with the previous installments, which were released in the last week of June. All episodes will be available on Hulu simultaneously, a strategy that worked well in the initial seasons but failed last year when Season 3 received dismal reviews from fans.

While viewers get to binge the entire fourth season, The Bear is known for its emotional storytelling, intense character arcs, and finely crafted episodes. For a show like this, the binge-drop strategy might do more harm than good.

Why I think The Bear Season 4 should not release all episodes at once

When The Bear Season 3 premiered in June 2024, it received the lowest ratings ever from the audience. While critics still spoke highly of the show, viewers felt otherwise, resulting in a mere 51% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

A major reason why Season 3 could not meet expectations was the way the episodes were released. I know, Seasons 1 and 2 also followed the same release schedule, but at that time, the show debuted with little mainstream hype. People did not know what to expect, and discovering the show all at once made it feel like a hidden gem.

On the other hand, by the time the series reached its third season, it had already acquired a dedicated fan base. When all 10 episodes of the season were released together, fans binged them and did not have the opportunity to fully engage with the emotions and ideas presented in each episode. They felt rushed to watch everything quickly before spoilers flooded social media.

The Bear tells a deeply emotional story that explores moving themes such as grief, stress, failure, and family struggles. Many fans expressed feeling drained or overwhelmed, yet they binge-watched anyway to stay part of the online conversations. This pressure to watch quickly detracts from the show’s true impact.

Releasing episodes weekly would allow each one to shine on its own. Fans could discuss one episode at a time, share theories, and build excitement throughout the season. When the full season is released at once, people talk about it for a few days and then move on. The show fades from conversation too quickly.

What is strange is that The Bear is one of the few FX on Hulu shows that still uses this binge-release format. Other popular shows, like Shōgun, are already following a weekly broadcast strategy. When The Bear Season 4 was announced, I hoped it could finally move away from the release-at-once schedule after the failure of Season 3.

However, FX has decided to stick with the strategy. The likely reason is numbers. Season 3 broke viewership records on Hulu, with over 5 million views in the first four days. That kind of success is hard to ignore.

From Hulu’s point of view, the binge format works well because it quickly attracts a lot of viewers. But just because something is popular does not mean it is the best choice for the story or the audience. The Bear is not just another TV show to binge and forget; it is carefully written, beautifully acted, and full of genuine emotions.

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It deserves to be experienced slowly, one episode at a time. However, by adhering to the binge model, I believe Season 4 is making the same mistake as Season 3, which could leave viewers feeling fatigued and rushed.

The Bear Season 4 will premiere on FX on Hulu on June 25, 2025.

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