Summary

• The Bear continues to be a hit despite mixed opinions on season 3 and an ongoing genre debate, sparking controversy.
• Season 4 is likely to bounce back from season 3 and continue the series' success, with reports suggesting filming has begun.
• The Bear's decision to enter the comedy category at the Emmys has sparked debate and controversy over its true genre identity.

Throughout its three seasons, Critics and audiences were divided on The Bear season 3, but although there were some mixed opinions, the show still remains in good standing and is one of TV's biggest hits thanks to its wonderful writing alongside its memorable characters.

Although The Bear season 4 is still unconfirmed, reports suggest its renewal is inevitable and that the next installment may have even begun filming. The next outing will give FX's beloved series the perfect opportunity to bounce back from its divisive third season and put the show back on top. However, even if The Bear recovers its nearly spotless reputation, it will still struggle to shake its biggest controversy. Judging by its Emmy history, the show's historic nominations look set to continue The Bear's 2024 award streak while reigniting a major debate in the process.

The Bear Season 2 Has Broken The Record For Most Emmy Nominations For A Comedy Series

The Bear Season 2 Is Following Up Its Previous Emmy Success With Even More Nominations

After the remarkable award success of season 1, The Bear season 2 followed this up by setting a new Emmy record. In 2009, 30 Rock received a total of 22 nominations, creating history in the comedy category. The NBC comedy held this record for 15 years, but The Bear has impressively managed to sur it, with The 76th Emmys revealing the show has been nominated for 23 awards. Although the series already won six Emmys in early 2024, only season 1 was eligible, since the ceremony was supposed to take place in 2023 before being delayed due to Hollywood strikes.

The Bear season 2's ending perfectly capped off an emotional and hilarious rollercoaster, leading to overwhelmingly positive reviews across the board, and thankfully, its wonderful storytelling is once again being recognized by the Emmys. Having officially created history, The Bear season 2 looks destined to win even more awards than its first installment and add to the show's legacy, making it one of the most renowned modern comedies around. Unfortunately, this will only create more drama surrounding The Bear, and its biggest debate looks bound to resurface after the latest batch of nominations.

The Bear's 2024 Emmy Nominations Continue The Show's Comedy Vs. Drama Controversy

The Ongoing Debate About Which Genre The Bear Belongs In Just Got Worse

Debates about which category The Bear belongs in have plagued the show ever since it first ran for Best Comedy, and this looks set to continue at September's Emmys. Despite its dramatic nature, The Bear has once again decided to enter the comedy category at the Emmys and will presumably do so for the remainder of its tenure. Clearly, the creators feel the series is more comedic than dramatic, as its dark humor is a huge selling point, but not everyone agrees that The Bear is part of this genre, creating some minor controversy.

Although this may not seem important, The Bear's comedy vs drama debate has been a huge talking point, and the recent nominations will only make things worse. The Bear cleaned up during the previous award season and was one of the biggest winners, largely due to the show avoiding other dramas. With even more Emmy nominations to its name for season 2, the wonderful award streak doesn't look like stopping anytime soon, which will only further split opinions. Sadly, this debate risks taking away from The Bear's potential success, proving it is a much bigger controversy than it seems.

Is The Bear A Comedy Or A Drama? (& Why It's Important)

The Bear Is More Of A Drama, Making Its Emmy Success Controversial

While the conversations about The Bear's genre may seem trivial, clarifying what category it belongs in is actually more important than it may sound. There is no denying The Bear uses both comedy and drama well, but despite what its Emmy nominations may suggest, the show is more of a comedic drama than a dramatic comedy. Without The Bear's gripping story and stress-filled deadlines, it wouldn't be the critically acclaimed series that has become so popular. Its lighthearted moments and hilarious arguments play an equally crucial role, but they are less prominent than the overall dramatic tone.

Given how stacked the drama category tends to be every year, The Bear sliding into the comedy section gives it a far better chance at being nominated, and more important, winning.

Therefore, The Bear should realistically be up for Best Drama, rather than Best Comedy. Given how stacked the drama category tends to be every year, The Bear sliding into the comedy section gives it a far better chance at being nominated, and more important, winning. Over the years, several great drama shows have missed out on deserved accolades due to the competition simply being stronger, but entering another category isn't a fair loophole. Other dramas have utilized comedy to make their shows better but weren't eligible to run for Best Comedy, and rightfully so.

Had The Bear entered Best Drama at the latest award ceremonies, the series would have had to compete with Succession, meaning it may have won far less, despite still being a stellar show. While The Bear may have a better story than its recent competition for Best Comedy, it isn't necessarily funnier, making its latest win over legitimate comedies controversial. Therefore, the series should compete with other dramas as it is a better reflection of where it stands against more similar shows, and it would allow more traditional comedies the chance to earn a well-deserved award.