Make your order! We have another delicious needle drop from Taylor Swift. Bear Season 3, and like its memorable musical moment in Season 2’s “Forks,” the song is related to our good man, girl daddy, and proud Swiftie, Richie Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
season after season Bear sets up a slapping soundtrack, but Season 2’s use of “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” as a means to emphasize Richie’s newfound purpose and self-love certainly took things to the next level. One year later, Bear is back with another fan-favorite Swift song that not only sets the mood, but also helps introduce viewers to Tiffany’s (Gillian Jacobs) fiancé Frank.
Spoilers for Bear Season 3 forward.
Early on in Season 3, Episode 4, “Violet,” Richie and his daughter Eva share a sweet heart-to-heart in which she expresses some confusion about what her mother’s recent engagement means for her father. Regardless of what Richie is feeling inside, he stands by Tiffany and Frank in front of his girl and gives her the green light to call her soon-to-be stepdad whatever she wants. When the two arrive at Frank’s house later in the episode, Eva greets Frank with his chosen name (Waldo, as in “where is he”) and we learn that the mystery man is played by another charming Season 3 guest star, Josh Hartnett. (A well-known fan of Bear!) Not only that, but when Frank opens the door to his house to let Eva in, Taylor Swift’s “Long Live (Taylor’s Version)” plays in the background in another perfect reveal.
For those who need a refresher on Taylor Swift (Bear‘s Version), in Season 2, Episode 3, we witnessed a tender moment between Richie and Eva that ended with them hugging and him saying, “I love you. And I also love Taylor Swift. She just needed a break.” In episode 6, which went back five years to a time when Richie and Tiffany, also a Swiftie, were together, Tiff was wearing a1989shirt for Christmas dinner. Throughout the second season, Richie tried to get three tickets to the Eras Tour for his family, and in episode 7 he succeeded. However, instead of agreeing to go to the concert with him, Tiff broke the news that she was engaged to Frank, meaning Frank and Richie’s choice to set the stage for a Swift song brilliantly comes full circle.
The fast ones know that the Speak Now (Taylor Version) The track has a long duration of 5:17 and Bear sets a stunning 3:41 into the song as the soundtrack to Frank and Richie’s bro chat. As Swift sings about a magical moment for the history books, a once-in-a-lifetime feeling, crashing into walls and moving mountains with a loved one, Frank awkwardly tells Richie that he “feels really bad” for not telling him. before asking Tiff to marry him.
The topic is a clear source of discomfort for Richie, but he’s been doing his best to stay strong and motivated since the engagement. His initial gruff and seemingly nonchalant “I’m not his father” response to Frank’s admission of guilt seems like self-preservation. But when he gets to “you don’t need my permission,” his words sound softer and more genuine.
“I also know this may be a little strange. And I don’t want to increase the rarity. I want things to go well. And you and I will probably spend a lot of time together. So, and I like that,” Frank continues frantically in another piece of solid casting from Bear. “Whatever. I’m talking too much.”
As Taylor continues to sing passionate lyrics, because, as a reminder, “Long Live (TV)” is still playing in the background! — Tiff’s new man asks directly if Richie is sure he “is” okay: “that” is the engagement, the wedding, the baggage of everything, and his new role as Waldo. Richie, a classy actor who wears suits and processes his emotions, says, “I’m sure.” And instead of taking the win, Frank not only asks if he’s going to the wedding, but he also asks when he and Tiff can come to The Bear. My boy! Come on! “LONG LIVE (TAYLOR’S VERSION)” is playing, and this man is probably feeling all the emotions! Fortunately for Richie, the conversation cuts out, as does Taylor’s song. And in the moments that follow the scene, viewers simply think: “What absolute flexibility.”
Narratively, the song’s inclusion is incredibly layered and serves as a callback to Richie’s personal journey, as well as a sweet display of Frank’s interest in Eva’s favorite artist. Although Swift has said that she wrote the song as a love letter to his fans and his team, the lyrics could easily be applied to Richie’s feelings for Tiff and Eva, his memories of the good times, and his regret that his family couldn’t stay together for long. The fact that the song plays while he tells Josh that he’s okay with the engagement could also mean a crucial step in saying goodbye and accepting that, although the time he and Tiff shared was beautiful, it’s over.
Don’t worry, Richie! “It was the end of a decade, but the beginning of an era.”
BearThe decision to play the song softly to match Richie’s emotions, such as “Love Story (Taylor’s version) exploded when his spirits were high in Season 2,” may have been thoughtful. But can we talk about the fact that Bear is now so big that the show can afford not one, but two, Taylor Swift drops the needle and plays the second so low it becomes background noise!?
Congratulations to Taylor Swift for landing another musical highlight on the summer lineup.. Congratulations to Chris Storer for landing another Taylor Swift song. Kudos to Ebon Moss-Bachrach for bringing warmth and depth to another Richie Swift scene. And congratulations to Josh Hartnett for voicing his dream role in Bear just as Travis Kelce expressed the girlfriend of his dreams.
Bear Season 3 ends with the promise of more episodes to come, so the “Long Live” Taylor Swift needle drops on season 4.
BEAR – SEASON 3: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
I can not get enoughBearSeason 3? For more scoop, analysis, GIFs, and close-ups of Carmy’s arms, check out some highlights from Jugo Mobile’s coverage:
- Bear Season 3 Review: Carmy Secures Role as President of the Tortured Chefs Department
- Bear Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: “Tomorrow”
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