‘The Bear’: Who Are the Berzattos From Season 2’s Christmas Episode?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for FX’s The Bear Season 2 Episode 6 “Fishes.”]
The Bear knows how to feed its fans, and after the FX series delivered an undisputed hit in its first season run, the latest chapter is raising the bar, particularly when it comes to guest stars.
The most intense installment of the second season, Episode 6, “Fishes,” is also its glitziest, with a star-studded cast of characters portraying the Berzattos and their extended family and friends. While some characters are familiar, others aren’t, but that doesn’t make them any less recognizable.
Centering around a Christmas holiday roughly five years before the planned opening of Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) new restaurant, The Bear, he joins his family, including his mother Donna (Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis), siblings Michael (Jon Bernthal) and Nat (Abby Elliott), and others including cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) for a hectic gathering.
As the camera pans around at a dizzying breakneck pace, new famous faces are introduced at a speed with which you may blink and miss them… that is until they sit down for family dinner. Donna’s at the helm of it all, overseeing her version of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian holiday tradition in which seven fish dishes are prepared and served.
Various buzzers beep and chime, keeping you on your toes as long-simmering tensions, unbeknownst to viewers, create untimely sparks among the guests, with a particularly tense standoff between Michael and Uncle Lee, played by Better Call Saul‘s Bob Odenkirk. There to try and be a peacemaker is Stevie, a close friend of the family played by John Mulaney. Needless to say, there’s a lot to keep track of, especially in the episode that is over twice as long as most normal installments of The Bear, clocking in at roughly an hour and six minutes.
Below, we’re breaking down all of the major guests at the get-together ranging from your fan favorites to the most jaw-dropping guest stars.
FX’s The Bear, Season 2, Streaming now, Hulu
Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White)
Everyone knows Carmy, but at this point in time he’s a little on the outs with his family after leaving to study his craft. Still hopeful about working alongside his brother, Carmy shows Michael his designs for the future restaurant, unaware he’d someday do it alone.
Michael Berzatto (Jon Bernthal)
Certainly the life of the party, Carmy’s older brother Michael regales guests with tales that he’s supposedly shared more than once. Upon a closer listen, fans might even hear him repeat the Bill Murray story from Season 1. This closer look at him shows the emotional cracks that ultimately led to his demise. Called out by his Uncle Lee, Michael is made to feel like a failure by some of the people closest to him, and in turn, he copes with drugs.
Nat Berzatto (Abby Elliott)
Fondly referred to as a mom in the restaurant this season, it’s clear she takes on a maternal role within the family as well, pouring out booze to keep it out of her mother’s hands, keeping watch over her siblings, and seeking help from others in handling the chaotic situations unfolding. Her desire to know that everyone is OK is heartbreaking to watch.
Donna Berzatto (Jamie Lee Curtis)
The matriarch of the Berzattos, Donna is scattered and frantic. She feels underappreciated and reiterates it throughout the episode, even if she has several sets of hands ready and willing to help. Her energy in the kitchen hints at what viewers might recognize from Carmy’s time on the line. When she finally does sit down for dinner, one simple question from Nat — is she OK? — sets her off. She walks away, and the table is unaware that she’s about to make a bold move by driving her car into the house. While no one is injured, they’re all surely traumatized, making Donna’s lack of presence in her kids’ lives understandable, at least in the present.
Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)
Richie is also a fixture at the party, bouncing back and forth between the upstairs and downstairs as he looks in on his pregnant wife Tiffany. He serves as a bit of a buffer between Michael and his family, working to neutralize some situations. At the party, he’s desperately seeking additional work, turning to Uncle Jimmy, as he looks forward to becoming a father. The episode shows off a softer side of the man the Berzattos call “Cousin.”
Tiffany Jerimovich (Gillian Jacobs)
Tiffany is suffering from an upset stomach due to her pregnancy. Lounging upstairs away from the chaos, she shares a sweet and comforting moment with Richie as they talk about their future. The reality of where they end up makes the scene slightly bittersweet. A through line of the season also happens to be that Richie’s daughter loves Taylor Swift, and considering Tiffany is wearing a T-shirt with the singer, we can only assume it was because of her influence that she does.
Cousin Michelle (Sarah Paulson)
A cousin to the Berzattos, Michelle lives in New York City, and in a conversation with Carmy, she hints that he should go there and stay with her in order to pursue his dreams. He must end up following this plan as viewers learned in Season 1 that he did work in New York City before his brother died. Michelle seems eager to provide a buoy in the chaotic ocean that is Carmy’s life, making her a benevolent figure in this intense installment.
Stevie (John Mulaney)
Stevie is tied to Michelle and serves as a bit of a peacekeeper among the guests at the party, even delivering grace at dinner, revealing why he’s thankful for the meal and everyone’s presence. A little different from everyone else in attendance, he claims to appreciate the familial welcome he’s provided by the Berzattos, even if that doesn’t last long.
Uncle Lee (Bob Odenkirk)
He’s an uncle of the Berzattos, though the title is used in loose terms as viewers know it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s blood-related. Still, Lee plays an antagonistic role towards the end of the episode, berating Michael after the Berzatto throws forks at him while sitting at the table. (Michael was angry that Lee called him out for repeating stories and being unable to finish projects or business ventures.) The tension eventually leads the man to tell Michael he’s essentially worthless, no doubt contributing to the man’s lack of self-esteem.
Uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt)
Uncle Jimmy floats around the party making conversation and attempting to defuse tense situations, but efforts can only go so far when it comes to a volatile environment like this.
Pete (Chris Witaske)
Seen for the first time this season in this episode, Nat’s husband Pete makes the mistake of bringing an eighth fish dish to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. He receives the kind of flack fans have become familiar with since his introduction in Season 1.
Neil Fak (Matty Matheson) & Theodore Fak (Ricky Staffieri)
Brothers Neil and Theodore are on site as friends of the family and bring a little levity in the form of their matching outfits. It isn’t quite enough, though, to bring them out of the dark side of this episode. Still, they make a festive duo among the at-times dour crowd.
