Joel McHale's The Bear Role, Explained

Season 3 of "The Bear" was chock-full of cameos. John Cena featured in a lame, drawn-out joke as one of the Faks who liked to "haunt" others. Josh Hartnett was on a comeback tour that year, playing Tiff's new fiancé and also starring in M. Night Shyamalan's messy thriller "Trap," and Joel McHale returned as Chef David Fields after appearing briefly in the first two seasons. Carmy recalls the chef spewing venomous insults at him while serving dishes with broken sauces, and imagines seeing him dining at the new-and-improved The Bear, there to rip apart all of Carmy's hard work.

In season 3, Carmy finally calls out Chef David for all the mental and physical damage he caused: ulcers, panic attacks, and nightmares. Carmy wants to say "F*** you," but he's too wounded. Joel McHale has a perfectly punchable face as he sneers at his former pupil, waiting to be told, "You're welcome," for whipping him into shape as the excellent chef he is today. Chef David smugly declares that he gave Carmy "confidence, leadership, and ability," insisting that the ruthless, high-pressure atmosphere he cultivated — along with forcing Carmy to have zero life outside the kitchen — was the only way to achieve it.

Chef David's draconian methods are the complete opposite of the values Carmy has learned inside The Bear's humble kitchen, a working environment ostensibly built on warmth and mutual respect. But if Carmy's not careful, he'll find himself turning into his own Chef David. After confessing to Fields, Carmy experiences a cathartic rush of tears and laughter, suggesting he may have finally broken free from the chokehold Fields has on his subconscious. Since we only get glimpses of Carmy's hostile relationship with Fields, we're left wondering who exactly this influential yet toxic figure truly is. 

David Fields is the head chef of the Michelin-starred Empire restaurant in New York City, where Carmy used to stage. Chef David runs a tight ship and demands absolute perfection from his kitchen staff. His appearance reflects his obsession with control and precision, with his slicked back hair, stark black frames, and an evenly trimmed beard. His gaze is laser-focused, and mouth grooved into a frown as he glides through the kitchen with purpose. His eyes and ears are trained to catch even the smallest blemish.

Chef David just keeps asking a worker, "Why?" in his deadpan voice as she tries to explain her mistake. He waltzes up to Carmy and chews him out for hiring "f***ing idiots" and having a short man's complex. He calls him "terrible" and "talentless," then pushes him to "go faster, motherf***er." Chef David even snarls at Carmy, "You should be dead." This cruelty psychologically destroys Carmy. When he returns to Chicago, he describes Chef Fields as "the f***ing worst and one of the best chefs in the world." 

During the ending of season 3, Fields is invited to the closing of the culinary hotspot Ever, along with other acclaimed chefs, including Carmy. After their heated exchange, Fields walks off to the bathroom showing no sign of remorse or change, firmly believing his authoritarian methods are what create stars. It's unclear if we'll see David in season 4 (which premieres June 25 on Hulu) or any future seasons of "The Bear," but from Carmy's reaction to finally facing him, it seems Carmy has achieved some peace — even if he didn't get the response he wanted. The damage may still be there, but Carmy is going to have to fully heal from it on his own.

Joel McHale gave GQ some insight into David Fields' psychology and inspirations. He says that the role was based on the real-life chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Humm. Both are known for their demanding kitchen environments defined by long hours, high expectations, and competition. Keller even does a similar technique of whispering at his employees to intimidate them (according to McHale on "Late Night with Seth Meyers"). FX reps deny that Chef David was based on those specific chefs, but McHale was clearly influenced by them.

McHale believes that David, like many famous tyrannical chefs, views the kitchen as his own kingdom: 

"I think a lot of them get drunk on the power. I think there's a small portion of them that are sadists and are enjoying the cruelty. I don't know if Daniel Humm and Thomas Keller go that far, but my character certainly does. I think that my character enjoys it."

David represents the belief that fear tactics and mental exhaustion are necessary in order to achieve greatness, but McHale doesn't agree with these methods: 

"I think some people believe that is a way to weed out people who can't handle the job, as opposed to nurturing people and letting them decide whether this is something for them ... I always responded to coaches that were loving and helped to craft you, as opposed to the screamers."

As for Chef David's future, Joel McHale believes that his bullying will catch up to him, and "he will probably break down and at some point and wind up running down the street without any pants." Carmy would love to witness this, and to believe that there's more to being an esteemed chef than belittling your protégés.