Surprise! FX just released a new episode of The Bear on Hulu ahead of the season 5 premiere.
The surprise episode—Gary—stars Jon Bernthal as Mikey and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Richie. Set before the events of The Bear season 1, Gary is an hour-long prequel that follows Mikey and Richie taking a trip to Gary, Indiana.
According to the episode’s official description, “The episode takes a look at 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—adding emotional context that reframes their story from the very beginning.”
Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach co-wrote the episode, while series creator Christopher Storer directed. Gary is not located on The Bear’s Hulu page. Instead, search Gary to find it on Hulu. Moss-Bachrach announced the surprise episode in an Instagram post.
“We are so excited to finally share this little adventure with Richie and Mikey,” Moss-Bachrach wrote in the caption. “Making this was a dream come true. Thanks to the beautiful people of Gary, Indiana and as always Chicago, Illinois.”
Will The Bear end after season 5?
It could be time to exit the kitchen
The Bear season 5 has no official release date. However, it is widely expected to premiere in June. The previous four seasons have all been released in June.
More importantly, is The Bear ending after season 5? There is speculation that The Bear’s fifth season will be its last. Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Donna Berzatto, hinted that the show was ending in a photo from the set she shared on Instagram. Curtis later told Access Hollywood that “the show is ending.”
Neither Storer nor FX has confirmed that The Bear will end after season 5. However, Deadline did report that the show would be coming to an end after this next season.
The Bear stars Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a talented chef who returns to Chicago to run his family’s Italian beef shop after Mikey’s suicide. Carmy resurrects the shop and eventually transforms it into his new restaurant, The Bear. The ensemble includes Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, and Matty Matheson.
Created by Storer, The Bear has received significant critical acclaim. The show has won numerous awards at the Emmys, Golden Globes, and the Actor Awards. The Bear has become one of Hulu’s biggest shows since its debut in 2022.
All four seasons of The Bear are now streaming on Hulu.
The arrival of another weekend means another opportunity for some escapism, and what better genre to provide that than science fiction and fantasy? Their advanced CGI capabilities, detailed lore, and ability to explore complex social issues in an allegorical setting are unbeatable at delivering on escapist entertainment, and that’s where we’re headed.
As you unwind this weekend, flip over to Amazon Prime Video and get lost in another world with these three proven sci-fi/fantasy shows to stream in the U.S.—our top pick being a surprisingly engaging reimagining of a classic historical legend.
3
The Magicians
A darker Harry Potter story for adults
With over 60 episodes across 5 spectacular seasons to immerse yourself in, The Magicians is a fantastic dark fantasy/sci-fi series based on the trilogy novels by Lev Grossman about a group of friends who discover that magic is real and adventurous but not always like you’d expect.
Quentin Coldwater (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Jason Ralph) is a highly intelligent but socially withdrawn 20-something-year-old secretly obsessed with a series of fantasy novels he read as a child about a magical land called Fillory. Outside of that, his life is super dull… until he’s mysteriously admitted to a secret, exclusive college of magic in Upstate New York. There, he’s introduced to a thorough, rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery, but the gift doesn’t bring the happiness, adventure, and meaning he thought it would. When he and his friends discover that the otherworldly Fillory really exists, their entire lives change in a flash.
While the magic is fun and all, the focus here lies on the consequences of using it and the complex emotions of series characters, who are flawed and navigating trauma. Fans of the genre will love the show’s witty, sometimes hedonistic take on magic education and fantasy tropes, which the show does a spectacular job of subverting by showing that magic is fickle and guarantees nothing. Furthermore, its blend of serious emotional stakes with whimsical meta absurdity and world-building makes it even more unique.
2
Humans
Blurred lines between humans and machines
A sci-fi must-watch for fans of the genre, Humans is based on the Swedish award-winning drama Real Humans, which explores themes of artificial intelligence sentience, human-robot interactions, AI effects on the future of humanity, and defining humanity in a way that feels topical and thought-provoking.
Set in a parallel universe where technology is highly advanced, and life-like humanoids called Synths are the must-have machines for every household, the core story follows a small group of sentients trying to survive in a world that views them as property. The drama kicks off when the Hawkins family purchases a used Synth, who is not who they think she is, leading to suspenseful consequences full of high stakes for their family life. It also explores how society treats Synths, drawing parallels to racism and sexism.
Humans is grounded and emotional in its otherworldly exploration of AI and consciousness in a near-future world, excelling at analyzing their social, moral, and familial impacts. Rather than focusing only on apocalyptic threats, the series hones in on one family’s daily interactions with their Synth. Fans of shows like Black Mirror and Westworld will love it for its much more intimate and character-driven look at technology.
1
The Winter King
A less-fantastical version of Game of Thrones
I am always down for getting into a good fantasy series, especially if it revolves around the whole King Arthur-Merlin legend. Right now, you can stream 2023’s The Winter King, which reimagines the Arthurian legend from the perspective of a former warrior who narrates the series as an elderly monk.
A gritty adaptation of Bernard Cornwell’s Warlord Chronicles about King Arthur, the series is set in a brutal, war-torn Britain following the Roman withdrawal. The story details the obstacles and struggles Arthur Pendragon (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Iain De Caestecker) faces as he rises in rank from an outcast warlord to the leader and unifier of broken British kingdoms. With the Saxon forces invading through little resistance, Arthur must navigate treacherous political landscapes while also contending with his doomed romance with Guinevere (Hotel Costiera‘s Jordan Alexandra).
What’s so watch-worthy about this series is its structured framework as a chronicle of events told through flashbacks by former warrior-turned-monk Derfel (Rogue Heroes’ Stuart Campbell). It’s a genuinely compelling interpretation of a legendary time in history, so expect a super-dark, otherworldly portrayal of 5th-century Britain rife with plenty of power struggles, detailed battle scenes, bloody warfare, pagan rites, vengeance, and heavy, ornate royal robes.
The fun doesn’t stop here, though. No matter your genre interests, Prime Video has an excellent selection of shows to help you relax, unwind, and escape straight into another world. Despite the platform’s recent price hike, the subscription is still worth keeping for all the gems that just keep on coming in droves. Stay tuned, because more is in store, and we’re the ones who’ll always have you covered.
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