These storylines rely on . The argument isn’t about the funeral home; it’s about who dad loved more. The fight isn’t about the last piece of pie; it’s about who was responsible for mom’s cancer.

In many storylines, particularly in network television, the status quo must be maintained. The family fights at the top of the hour and hugs it out by the end credits. But in the era of prestige television ( The Sopranos , Mad Men , The Bear ), we have moved toward a darker realism: sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is walk away.

The Bear offers a masterclass in this with the character of Donna Berzatto (the "Momma Bear"). Her storyline in the "Fishes" episode (Season 2) is a horror movie. She is not a villain; she is a chaotic wound who ruins every holiday through a combination of martyrdom and rage. The complexity lies in the audience's reaction: we pity her, we fear her, and yet we understand why her children finally have to lock her out of the restaurant to survive.