My coworker Gail said start The Bear at season 2, and by the third plate of beef I got why
She caught me at the printer in April and told me to skip to season 2 because season 1 is just yelling. I told her that made no sense. Two nights in I saw what she meant. The kitchen scenes are calmer and the family stuff hits harder without all the backstory. I still went back and watched season 1 after. I think she was about half right. Does skipping a season ever actually work for you, or do you always go back and fill in the gap?