The Bear fans declare secret episode a 'masterpiece' as Disney+ drops surprise prequel
The Bear has stunned fans with a surprise prequel episode on Disney+ and Hulu ahead of the show's fifth and final season.
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Devotees of The Bear have been left astonished as a brand new episode has materialised unexpectedly on Disney+ in the UK and Hulu in the United States.
The critically acclaimed FX series chronicles troubled gourmet chef Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto (played by Jeremy Allen White) as he endeavours to launch a new fine dining establishment in the heart of Chicago.
Meanwhile, Carmy and the remainder of his troubled family continue grappling with the loss of his brother, Mikey (Jon Bernthal), resulting in heated clashes in the kitchen.
Today (Tuesday, 5th May), viewers have been gifted the surprise release of a new prequel episode, simply entitled 'Gary', in advance of The Bear's fifth and final series, reports the Mirror.
The flashback occurs before the events of the opening series and follows Carmy's cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) travelling to Gary, Indiana for a fishing excursion with Mikey.
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A synopsis discloses the pair face "unexpected challenges and local personalities" during their journey while also revealing the intricate layers of their relationship.
The hour-long special episode of The Bear will prove enlightening to audiences, who will learn even more about Mikey's mental condition before his tragic death alongside vital context clarifying how Richie becomes the man they encountered at the beginning of the opening series.
It was co-written by Moss-Bachrach and Bernthal and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. Moss-Bachrach announced Gary's release on Instagram, describing it as a "dream come true" to produce.
Fans were left overjoyed by the surprise release, which arrives ahead of The Bear's eagerly awaited final season, expected to premiere in June in line with the release schedule of previous series.
One Instagram user replied to the post: "THIS IS EVERYTHING OH MY GOD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS."
Another claimed to have watched it immediately, declaring it a "masterpiece".
A further viewer predicted: "This is going to destroy me."
Conversation continued on X, where one user wrote: "3 minutes in. Already know im gonna sob."
Meanwhile, a Redditor commented: "A prequel about a buddy-roadtrip, likely exploring Mikey's deteriorating mental health? Awesome, can't wait to cry."
The Bear: Gary is available to stream on Disney+.
