‘The Bear’ Season 3’s “Ice Chips” Is A Soul-Stirring Stunner That Lets Abby Elliott And Jamie Lee Curtis Shine

Three seasons in, it’s no secret that FX’s critically-acclaimed series The Bear has mastered the art of taking bold creative swings that shake up traditional show structure.

We experienced the magic of thoughtfully-executed, character-driven episodes with Season 2’s “Honeydew” and “Forks,” and again in Season 3’s “Napkins,” a moving directorial debut from Ayo Edebiri that puts the brilliant Liza Colón-Zayas in the spotlight. Still, nothing prepared me for the quiet, soul-stirring success of “Ice Chips.”  

Spoilers for The Bear Season 3 ahead.

After an adventure to buy c-folds ends with Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto (Abby Elliott) going into labor, the eighth episode of The Bear’s third season finds Carmy’s sister stranded on the side of the road in gridlock traffic unable to reach any of her go-to contacts. Pained, panicked, and profusely sweating, she desperately spits out two cursed words for Siri in a last-ditch search for support: Call mom.

Thus begins an emotional roller coaster of a reunion between Sugar and Berzatto matriarch Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis) in the form of a masterful 40-minute triumph written by co-showrunner Joanna Calo and directed by Storer.

The tense two-minute cold open reminds viewers that stress — and The Bear’s ability to palpably portray it — isn’t confined to the kitchen. After serving up a modicum of mayhem, the episode cuts to a peaceful hospital parking lot to establish the calm before the storm — in this case, Hurricane DeeDee. We’ve praised Curtis’ Emmy-worthy acting in The Bear before, and as Donna loudly barrels towards Sugar instructing her to breathe deeply while repeating a “hee” sound, it’s immediately clear that Curtis’ commitment to the complex character hasn’t wavered.

While Sugar settles into her hospital bed, Donna bends a nurse’s ear about her first pregnancy, admitting, “I wanted a baby so bad. I wanted someone to love me the way I had seen in all those smug mothers down at The Jewel, blocking the aisle with their strollers.” When Sugar explains she’d like to avoid an enema or “excessive shaving of pubic hair,” Donna lets loose, cackling and waving her hands, then loudly interjecting at her daughter’s decision to proceed without an epidural. Based on their first “four fucking hours” together, it seems Donna and Sugar’s relationship is doomed to stay as strained as it was in “Fishes.” If that were the case, I have no doubt The Bear would have delivered another agonizing, awe-inspiring spectacle that made viewers squirm. In a refreshing twist, however, “Ice Chips” melts into something different. It’s a remarkable show of vulnerability between two people who love each other deeply, understand the weight of their baggage, and are trying to make long-overdue progress in their fractured relationship.

Set to the metronome of a beeping hospital monitor that quickens and slows in response to Sugar’s contractions, the beautifully directed episode features powerful tight-shots that demand focus and enhance intimacy. Awkward formalities, whisper fights in front of medical professionals, and the fact that Sugar’s fed-up groans and fiery swears are laced with years of bottled-up rage and disappointment make it clear that the troubles won’t be resolved with a single extended conversation. But Episode 8’s tenderly-written back-and-forth also sees the mother-daughter duo cycle through waves of gratitude, empathy, humor, heartbreak, and hope. 

Elliott convincingly captures the physical exhaustion and agony of labor while accessing the emotional depth required for such a taxing reunion. Sugar makes an active effort to speak gently, but honestly, pouring her deepest fears and insecurities out to her mother while remaining acutely aware of her emotions and adjusting her delivery accordingly. She tells DeeDee she makes herself sick to make her happy, admits that everyone was scared of her growing up, and reveals she didn’t tell her she was pregnant because she didn’t want to deal with her chaos. In promising twists, DeeDee digests her daughters words rather than getting defensive, then delivers genuinely remorseful, measured responses.

Curtis’ performance remains perfectly poignant, but unlike “Fishes,” Season 3 shows her tapping into Donna’s maternal side and stepping up to comfort, reassure, and care for Sugar. From facial expressions so harrowing they’ll move you to tears to telling shifts in tone and invigorating glimpses into her character’s lighthearted personality, Curtis captivates every second she’s on screen. Whether she’s describing a wacky dream, recalling her own delivery sagas, or processing her daughter’s trauma, Donna’s desire to be loved, her love for Sugar, and her appreciation for the time together are so apparent. A small but mighty sign that she’s growing comes when Sugar drops Season 2’s three dreaded words, “Are you OK?” and Donna sweetly says, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m okay.” Though so much history between the two remains unspoken, “Ice Chips” delivers the clearest communication between characters this season. And thank heavens for that.

As the dialogue seamlessly flowed and I watched the mother-daughter duo delight in the healing power of ice chips, exchange heartfelt words, and savor the sweet sounds of “Baby, I Love You” by The Ronettes for the first time, I sobbed straight through to the end of the episode.

I cried over its beauty and execution, over the characters’ strength and inner struggles, and over their acknowledgement and deep desire to escape generational trauma. I cried when I laughed. I cried when Pete finally arrived. I cried over DeeDee’s breathing technique morphing from annoyance to comfort, and over the immeasurable love I have for my own mom. Then, when the end credits rolled on “Ice Chips” and the tears finally stopped, I was astounded to learn a whopping 40 minutes had passed when it felt like no time at all — a direct testament to phenomenal performances and The Bear‘s talented creative team.

The Bear evokes emotion on the regular, but looking back Season 3, nothing tugged on my heartstrings harder than sneakily superb “Ice Chips.”

The Bear Season 3 is now streaming on Hulu.