- MMW Rating 🌙 8/10 • 2026
- 1 Season • 1 Episode • Avg 60 min • ~ 1 hrs
- Disponible con subtítulos en español.
- Available on: hulu
Description (No Spoilers)
“Gary” is the surprise prequel episode to on [Hulu](https://www.hulu.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com), and honestly… it feels completely different from a regular episode of the series.
The episode follows Mikey and Richie during a road trip to Gary, Indiana, where they have been asked to deliver a mysterious box for Jimmy. But the real story is not the delivery itself — it is the friendship between them, how close they once were, and how much pain Mikey was already carrying long before the events of season 1.
What makes this episode so powerful is that you finally understand more about Mikey’s mental health struggles while also seeing Richie before all the growth he experiences later in the series. It completely changes the way you see their relationship and adds emotional weight to moments from previous seasons.
And even if you have never watched The Bear before, this episode still works surprisingly well as a standalone story because the emotional core is so strong.
John Bernthal delivers one of the best performances of the entire series here, and those final seconds feel very intentional… especially knowing season 5 premieres June 25 and has already been confirmed as the final season.
Why I Recommend It
I recommend “Gary” because it gives you a completely different perspective on Mikey and Richie’s friendship while also expanding the emotional layers behind The Bear.
This is not an episode filled with kitchen chaos or nonstop screaming. Instead, it slows everything down and focuses on grief, loyalty, friendship, mental health, and the version of Richie that existed before the audience ever met him in season 1.
Even as a standalone episode, it works beautifully because the writing and performances feel incredibly personal and real. And John Bernthal absolutely carries this episode in a way that makes you understand why Mikey’s presence has always been felt throughout the series even after his death.
• Perfect if you love character-driven stories with emotional depth
• One of the strongest performances in The Bear so far