Groundhogs (The Bear)

"Groundhogs" is the first episode of the fourth season of the American comedy-drama television series The Bear. It is the 29th overall episode of the series and was written and directed by series creator Christopher Storer. It was released on Hulu on June 25, 2025, along with the rest of the season. The series follows Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), an award-winning New York City chef de cuisine, who returns to his hometown of Chicago to run his late brother Michael's failing Italian beef sandwich shop. With the financial backing of his uncle Jimmy (Oliver Platt) and help from his cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), sister Sugar (Abby Elliott), and chef Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Carmy attempts to remodel the dingy Beef into a warm and hospitable fine-dining destination called the Bear. In this episode, the staff returns to work after the Chicago Tribune posts its review, dealing with the aftermath and how to proceed with the restaurant. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised its tone, focused storylines, and performances.