One of Jon Bernthal's Best Performances Takes Less Than 10 Episodes To Binge

Published Nov 7, 2026, 5:47 PM EST

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

Sign in to your Collider account

Editor's note: The below article includes discussion of suicide.

Jon Bernthal has worked steadily in Hollywood for decades now. His versatility means that he's taken on projects as diverse as The Walking Dead, American Gigolo, and His & Hers. He brought The Punisher to life in multiple projects, appeared on the big screen in this summer's massive hit, The Odyssey, and won over audiences with his Broadway debut in Dog Day Afternoon. But there's one more project that Bernthal absolutely shines in, and it only takes nine episodes to binge.

Jon Bernthal Plays a Surprising Role in 'The Bear'

The Bear premiered on Hulu in 2022 and quickly earned dedicated fans and rave reviews. The comedy series (although some people are still arguing whether it should have been classified as a drama) tells the story of a complex chef named Carmen "Carmy" Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White). Carmy has been trying to make it as a professional chef in the fine dining world, but decides to return to his hometown of Chicago after the death of his older brother, Mikey (Bernthal).

Carmy takes over the family business and, over five seasons, transforms it from the Original Beef sandwich shop into a fancy restaurant called The Bear. A heartwrenching yet beautiful portrayal of a dysfunctional family and the far-reaching effects of trauma and addiction, The Bear became a pop culture favorite as well as a critical darling, with 22 Emmy wins throughout its run.

Because Mikey has already died by suicide before the first episode takes place, The Bear introduces his character through flashbacks that emphasize him as a massive presence that casts a shadow over the actions of many characters. When Carmy's big brother is first introduced in Season 1's "Ceres," he seems joyful, boisterous, and funny, and his strong relationships with his siblings and his "cousin" Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are obvious. But the trauma behind Mikey and his addiction is much more prevalent in Season 2's "Fishes," which spotlights the many toxic qualities of the Berzatto family at Christmastime. Mikey is explosive and off-balance, evidence of the emerging mental health struggles that lead to his untimely death. Season 3 delivers a glimpse at Mikey's kinder, more charming facets when he hires Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) to work at The Beef, while the "Gary" prequel episode released between Seasons 4 and 5 follows Richie and Mikey on a misguided errand. The alternating sides of his personality are evident — fun-loving and adventurous one minute, belligerent and angry the next.

Some actors require a lengthy amount of time to develop their characters, yet in a short amount of screen time, Bernthal forms a fully three-dimensional individual whom viewers innately understand. While Mikey is only meant to be a supporting presence, Bernthal's grounded, authentic performance highlights why so much of the story is centered around the aftermath of his character's death. In the hands of a lesser actor, Mikey would have been a footnote to the series, but thanks to Bernthal's portrayal, he becomes the heart of The Bear.

Bernthal won a much-deserved Emmy for his work in The Bear Season 2 and was later nominated two more times. Although he only appears about once per season, his episodes serve as proof of his immense talent. The Bear has come to a close, with the final season wrapping up this past June, but it's still worth a binge to catch every awe-inspiring minute of Bernthal's performance.

The Bear

9 10