FX surprised fans today with a new prequel episode of The Bear.
Titled “Gary,” the episode is set a few years before the events of the main series, following Mikey (Jon Bernthal) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) on a work trip to Gary, Indiana.
“Gary” was written by the two stars themselves and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. According to the official synopsis, "Gary" traces "the two friends' complicated relationship, uncovering new layers of Mikey's mental state while offering crucial insight into the man Richie is when audiences first meet him in Season One—adding emotional context that reframes their story from the very beginning," per Variety.
Because The Bear's main narrative begins after Mikey's death by suicide, the prequel offers a rare extended look at the two characters together—something the series has only glimpsed in flashbacks.
Moss-Bachrach announced the drop on Instagram.
“COUSINS! PRIMOS! CUGINI!!! Get ready for GARY!!!! We are so excited to finally share this little adventure with Richie and Mikey,” he wrote. “Making this was a dream come true. Thank you to the beautiful people of Gary, Indiana and as always Chicago, Illinois.”
“Gary” is now available to stream on Hulu. Meanwhile, The Bear is gearing up for Season 5, which, according to Jamie Lee Curtis, is its last. While the upcoming season doesn’t yet have a release date, it’s expected to arrive in June, like past seasons.
