Really great opening episode. The Bear hit its strongest run of form in the final few episodes of S1 (as most debut seasons do) and it was natural to expect a stronger start to S2.
This premiere delivered. It has some staple moments that I missed during the show's hiatus, mostly the interplay between Carm, Richie and any characters those two interact with. Laugh-out-loud.
It also carries the classic 'The Bear' feeling which we all came to know so well. Tense, claustrophobic, nerve-wracking. Whilst S1 ended on a positive note for our characters, there's still a tremendous uphill battle in regards to the future of their restaurant.
Finally, it hits the emotional beats too. There was a scene between Tina and Sydney which was executed really well. For a 30-minute show, 'The Bear' succeeds really well in making us feel for its characters, and I expect (based on the opening sequence with Marcus) that we'll get similar doses of darker, emotional content, much like the ones that S1 hit us with.
Maybe I'm being over-the-top with my rating of a 9, perhaps because I've missed 'The Bear' a lot, but I think this was a very strong premiere that, in comparison to other 30-minute shows, hit all its beats quickly and concisely. Looking forward to the rest of this season!