The third season of FX’s The Bear is a 10-course meal with an ever-changing menu.

“The Bear” returned to the table on June 26. The first season was about Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, who ran his brother’s family sandwich shop after his death. In the second season, the restaurant was converted into an upscale restaurant with the help of her colleague Sydney Adamu. In the latest season, the focus is now fully on the characters and the setting takes a back seat.

The past and present hardships of each character are presented front and center—from Jeremy Allen White’s portrayal of Carmy’s haunting past to fry cook Tina Marrero’s evolution into sous chef. The season’s shift from plot-driven to character-driven storytelling adds to the integrity of “The Bear.”

With minimal dialogue, the season opener, “Tomorrow,” is a masterpiece of writing and direction with its non-linear plot. The episode serves as both a recap of season two and a set-up for the nine episodes that follow. Focusing on the tomorrow of yesterday, the episode offers insight into Carmy’s state of mind, his trauma-induced need for perfection, and the pursuit of recognition from a renowned chef.

The camera follows Carmy throughout the season. Despite his precision in plating and his constantly changing menu, he is the only character who doesn’t give himself a chance to grow. While his character remains static, Allen White’s (“Shameless,” “The Iron Claw”) dedication to performance is anything but.

Carmy’s sister Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto breaks the supporting character barrier, making Abby Elliott (“Saturday Night Live”) an unsung actress who deserves recognition. Along with her mother Donna Berzatto, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, Elliot leads the episode “Ice Chips” about generational trauma and her fear of imparting everyone-pleasing traits to her newborn. Elliott and Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Halloween”) show off their acting chops by developing a realistic relationship – a mix of kin and stranger.

Sydney, played by Ayo Edibiri (“Bottoms,” “Inside Out 2”), must choose between a future at The Bear or the chance to run her own kitchen.

Sydney’s inner turmoil is one reason she is pushed aside in favor of her more privileged colleague, Carmy. The new job would require her skills and talents, but she has found a family in the newly opened restaurant The Bear. As Sydney weighs her options, she sees Carmy’s story in major newspapers.

In the kitchen, their ideas for dishes are rejected or revised because of his need for perfection and control.

Edibiri is more than just an actress. With “Napkins” she makes her directorial debut. The episode follows Colón-Zayas as Tina on her transition from unemployed to French fry cook and finally to her position as sous chef at The Bear.

The episode was nearly flawless in its portrayal of Tina’s character, from her weeks-long struggle to get a job without a degree to her accidental stumbling upon The Beef. The use of a curse word as a cheap way to portray the development of Richard “Richie” Jerimovich, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, was unnecessary without further criticism of the rest of the characters.

“Napkins” is a good example of the diversity in media that is becoming more common. But it’s not enough to just have a diverse story—there should also be a diverse production team. The episode was directed, written and directed by women and tells a woman’s story.

The emotional weight of “Napkins” was evident in Edebiri’s directing style. The camera lingered on a Puerto Rican magnet stuck to a refrigerator, but it remained hidden from Tina as she collapsed into The Beef. These small directorial choices are a sign of respect, not only for the story, but for the characters and actors.

These stylistic choices make it clear that the collaboration between Edibiri and Colón-Zayas (“IF,” “Law & Order”) is a masterpiece: a woman of color directs a story about a woman of color.

While the plot and progression of the overarching story are minimal, time is spent developing the series’ core characters without introducing new ones, setting the stage for a layered fourth season.

The third season of FX’s The Bear is now available to watch on Hulu and Disney+.