Disney+ The Bear fans divided over season 3 after 'explosive' opening episode

The Bear has returned to Disney+ for its hotly-anticipated third season - but fans appear to be torn over the award-winning comedy. After an explosive first episode, some reckon the rest of the series is 'monotonous and tiresome.'

The FX show, which dropped earlier than planned this Thursday, stars Jeremy Allen White as chef Carmen 'Carmy' Berzatto. It follows his kitchen staff as they attempt to open a new restaurant in Chicago.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri and Molly Gordon are among those starring. Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Matty Matheson and Oliver Platt round off the cast.

The Bear, which debuted in 2022, has had an impressive awards run, winning 10 Emmys and four Golden Globes for its first season. It was also named an AFI Television Program of the Year for two years running.

The latest season will see Carmy's partnership with Sydney and his relationship with cousin Richie tested as his personal life contaminates his professional one. In the previous season, Carmy rekindled a connection with childhood friend Claire, but their relationship was impacted by the stress of the restaurant opening.

Some eager fans have already binged all 10 episodes of The Bear season three. Many took to social media to share their verdicts. Fans were quick to praise the opening episode, with some hailing it 'a literal art piece'.

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Posting on X, formerly Twitter, @mylesmendoza69 reckoned: "The season three premiere of The Bear is some damn good storytelling" as @jaxelburgh agreed: "The season 3 premiere of #TheBear was a literal art piece. That score; that editing; those stunning visuals; those emotional gut punches. It’s simply a perfect episode of television."

@NaikaVideo chimed in: "I don't think I'm being hyperbolic if I say that Episode 1 of THE BEAR, Season 3 was one of the best things I've experienced in a while when it comes to television" as @holly4brav0 declared: "the best first episode of any show ever. i was worried season 3 wouldn’t be as good but this is truly a work of art. #TheBear".

But others weren't as impressed with the rest of the series, with some slamming it as 'filler episodes'. @CautiouslyGood said: "After a freight train of a first episode, the rest of #TheBear season three was monotonous and tiresome. They spent too much time waffling on extra content and failed to culminate any of the themes they had been building."

@stumphomatic admitted: "season three of the bear kind of felt like a filler episode that lasted ten episodes. a whole filler season…" as @parkersrina wrote: "so i don’t necessarily think s3 of the bear is horrible. there were some good episodes (only three) but the whole season just felt like a filler season".

The Bear season three is available to stream now on Disney+.