Cliff Notes – Fans think TV show once called a masterpiece ‘needs to end’ after season 5 announcement
- FX has confirmed that The Bear will return for a fifth season in 2026, despite mixed reactions from fans regarding its longevity.
- While the show has received critical acclaim, some viewers feel it should conclude, citing a desire for resolution and a belief that the narrative has reached its natural end.
Fans think TV show once called a masterpiece ‘needs to end’ after season 5 announcement
The Bear will officially be coming back for a season five — but not all fans are best pleased about the Disney Plus renewal.
The fourth season of the kitchen nightmare awards darling arrived last week, with all episodes streaming just in time for a weekend binge.
Just days later, FX confirmed the Chicago sandwich joint turned haute cuisine restaurant coincidentally called The Bear will return with a new season in 2026.
By some miraculous feat of scheduling, the show’s stars Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will all be back for the fifth instalment — despite all having a suite of upcoming film projects.
FX Chairman John Landgraf confirmed the renewal in a statement, saying: ‘The Bear continues to be a fan favorite worldwide and their response to this season — as seen through incredibly high viewership — has been as spectacular as any of its previous seasons.
‘Year-in and year-out, Chris Storer, the producers, cast and crew make The Bear one of the best shows on television, and we are excited that they will continue to tell this magnificent story.’
However, the renewal news hasn’t been met with the warm reception you might expect for a show once universally beloved.
After all, season one still holds a 100% ‘fresh’ rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes and has been dubbed a ‘masterpiece’ by both critics and fans.
Yet when the renewal news was shared on Reddit, @RawEnergyHD declared: ‘It needs to end I think. I think there’s a couple loose ends but should not continue much longer tbh,’ with many joining the comments to agree.
‘I enjoyed season 4 a lot more than 3, but yeah it really needs to wrap it up. This is not a show that can go forever,’ replied @TheSecondEikonOfFire.
Metro’s thoughts on The Bear season 4
TV Editor Sabrina Barr shares her take…
For me, the fire that fuels the show now feels like more of a gentle flame than a blaze. Enough to warm my heart, but not enough to give me that feeling of satisfaction I so sorely crave.
I am still invested in The Bear and the characters who I’ve followed since the series first launched in 2022. However, despite the fourth season boasting 10 episodes, I was left wanting more. Or at least, more fire.
I’m glad Carmy is reaching a point of finding greater peace – it’s what he needs, and he deserves more balance in his life. But the chaos of The Bear is one of the reasons why people around the world fell in love with the show. And even with a literal ticking clock looming in the kitchen of the restaurant, I feel as though season four could have picked up the pace.
Responsible-Worry560 added: ‘It’s pretty much at the end line. Almost all the loose ends are tied at the end of season 4. Only the financial part of the restaurant is a mess now.’
However, not everyone wants the show to bow out just yet. @5am281 countered, writing: ‘Or they just keep making seasons for people like myself who enjoys spending time with them?’
‘I would love to see the show do this if it ends after 6 seasons,’ @NoahStewie1 wrote, with a suggestion for the direction the show could go.
‘Season 5 would act as the final season for the show and season 6 would be an epilogue season with each episode devoted to a character each showing us what they have moved on to and how working at the Bear taught them the skills they use at their current work.’
The Bear is available to stream on Disney Plus.