The Bear Season 3 hit Hulu over the past week, and the reaction has been far from the universal praise of Season 1 or 2. The Bear premiered in June 2022 as part of the FX on Hulu brand and, over a few weeks, became one of the most talked about new shows, propelling it into a cultural phenomenon and making its second season a bigger deal. That success led to various awards and a very high bar for Season 3 to meet, which, based on the audience and critical reaction, it has not met. The Bear, in many ways, has become a victim of its own success.