In the latest season of the popular show, The Bear, fans were treated to ten exciting episodes filled with stellar moments, including the highly acclaimed premiere and the Ayo Edebiri-directed episode titled "Napkins." However, the season finale left viewers hanging on a frustrating cliffhanger that drew comparisons to another hit series, The Walking Dead.

Similar to the infamous Walking Dead cliffhanger where fans had to wait a whole year to discover who Negan had brutally attacked with his bat, The Bear season 3 concluded with the arrival of a highly anticipated restaurant review from the Tribune. Despite words flashing on the screen, viewers were left unaware of the actual content of the review, adding to their frustration.

While some viewers speculate that the words shown may indicate a mixed review, others believe that the intention was to keep the audience in the dark. Throughout the last few episodes, the character Carmy is shown imagining both positive and negative potential reviews of the restaurant, suggesting his own stress and anxiety surrounding the impending review.

However, upon closer examination of the words displayed, such as "confusing, sloppy, innovative, inconsistent, simple, complex, excellent, culinary, and stale," it becomes apparent that several pairs don't logically fit together within a single, genuine review. For instance, the contrasting concepts of "simple and complex" or "innovative and stale" raise doubts about the authenticity of these words. This further supports the idea that the review may be a result of Carmy's own imaginative anticipation.

The handling of this cliffhanger has received a significant amount of backlash from fans. Since around episode 6, viewers have been eagerly awaiting the outcome of the restaurant review, and to end the season on such an unresolved note breaks with the show's tradition and leaves many feeling unsatisfied.

Previous seasons of The Bear concluded with definite resolutions, whether they were happy or not. Season 1 ended with the exciting discovery of Mikey's money to start a new restaurant, while Season 2 showed a successful restaurant launch but also brought challenges like conflicts with Ritchie and Carmy losing Claire.

While the goal may not always be a happy ending, what mattered was that there was closure. In this case, leaving the confirmation of whether the review was positive or negative as its own kind of cliffhanger could have added a different level of tension and anticipation for the next season. Overcoming a challenging review could have been a compelling storyline, even if it seemed unlikely.

It is worth noting that throughout the show, the restaurant has received mostly positive feedback on its dishes. The only issues mentioned were Ritchie's sometimes sloppy service and occasional long wait times, which are often attributed to Carmy. As a result, it is unclear why a restaurant review would be negative solely based on the food. Nevertheless, fans will have to wait a year to see how this storyline unfolds, a decision that has generated disappointment among viewers.

In conclusion, the third season of The Bear has left fans frustrated with its cliffhanger ending. The ambiguous restaurant review and the decision to leave it unresolved have sparked mixed reactions. The show's creators may have intended to create anticipation, but many viewers believe it was an unnecessary frustration that deviated from the show's established traditions. As fans eagerly anticipate the next season, only time will tell if their concerns will be addressed and their questions answered.