Since late June, southern regions of the United States have faced record-breaking high temperatures that have challenged infrastructure and threatened lives.
Affected regions, spanning from Oklahoma and Texas to the East Coast, have seen significantly above-average heat indexes and will remain under heat advisories or warnings for another week, according to the National Weather Service.
Oklahoma State UniversityTulsa’s Helmerich Research Center (HRC) hosted a ribbon-cutting at the LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobility on Friday, where OSU and partners – Tulsa Innovation Labs and the Osage Nation – attended the celebration. The LaunchPad Center will support the research and entrepreneurship of advanced air mobility (AAM). The LaunchPad Center will help with development of aviation technologies including unmanned aerial systems and new air transportation.
“A key pillar of Oklahoma State University’s strategy is leading in aerospace and aviation
innovation, but we know our success is shared success,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “This is why we are so excited about our strategic partnerships with NASA, Tulsa Innovation Labs, and Osage LLC, an Osage Nation enterprise. Additionally, the U.S. Economic Development Administration recognizes that taking Oklahoma’s aerospace and aviation to the next level has national benefits, and we appreciate the agency’s critical support.”
The LaunchPad Center will include state-of-the-art research and development laboratory assets in the HRC, emphasizing the campus’ strategic location, educational connections and industry partnerships.
“Aviation is entering its third ‘golden age’ and the LaunchPad Center for Advanced Air Mobil-
ity is on the cusp of translating research into significant industry advancements,” said Jamey Jacob, executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), director of the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at OSU. “OAIRE and the creation of the LaunchPad Center under the OAIRE umbrella will bridge the gap between early stage research and applied technology, deploying developments to improve industry, the economy and to move the research tied to aviation and space forward.”
Jennifer Hankins, deputy managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, said the company was excited for the introduction of LaunchPad.
This is part of The O’Colly’s series on the four new members of the Big 12 Conference.
On July 1, four schools officially joined the Big 12 as the conference prepares for the exits of Texas and Oklahoma.
Among the four additions -- BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF -- Houston is bringing some more Texas flare, contributing to the conference in different ways than other schools in the Lone Star State.
As for where Houston’s athletics programs are at, there’s no talking about the Cougars without mentioning men’s basketball. Since taking the reins in 2014, coach Kelvin Sampson has positioned Houston as one of the top programs in the nation with his recruiting and hard-nosed, defense-first style of coaching.
In nine seasons with Sampson, the Cougars are 232-74 (.758), having reached the Sweet 16 four times and the Final Four in 2021. Sampson has continuously done well in March throughout his time at Houston.
Sampson himself is familiar with the conference, too. He coached Oklahoma from 19942006 and was named National Coach of the Year in 1995.
“You know, self-esteem and self-confidence are so important in athletics,” Sampson said. “And now that we’re in the Big 12, I think it gives our fans and our alumni and our boosters the chance to stick their chest out and look at the Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M (and) Texas fans in this state and say, ‘You know, we’re back. We’re back with you.’ So, it’s big for our university and obviously going to
be great for our city.”
With all that the Cougars have accomplished on the court in recent seasons, the Big 12 bolstered its basketball status with the addition of Houston.
What Houston will bring on the gridiron is where it becomes uncertain.
Aside from finishing with a 12-2 record and a No. 17 ranking in the AP Poll in 2021, the Cougars have struggled. Last season they finished 8-5 with a win against Louisiana in the Independence Bowl. Prior to that, they finished 3-5 in 2020 and 4-8 in 2019.
At the helm for Houston
football is Dana Holgorsen, who between several stints in the Big 12, was the offensive coordinator at Houston from 2008-09. Holgorsen spent 2000-07 as an assistant in multiple positions at Texas Tech, then joined OSU as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Mike Gundy’s staff in 2010 after the UH gig. Most recently, Holgorsen coached at West Virginia from 2011-18, when he also led the Mountaineers into the Big 12, just as he will do for Houston. He rejoined the Cougars in 2019.
During prolonged heat waves, increased demand for water and electricity across residential, commercial and agricultural sectors strains existing infrastructure
and raises costs for consumers— especially when these resources are already limited, as they are through much of the southern plains: The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, urged users to limit their energy consumption in the face of record-breaking demand on June 20; severe storms in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana caused wide-spread power outages, leaving residents to face sweltering temperatures without air conditioning for several days; meanwhile, 41% of the southern plains region is still under drought conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.
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All three return to the line and will be among the best in the conference.
No. 4: Oklahoma
Football season is creeping up, and the Big 12 welcomes four new teams.
The O’Colly will rank position groups in the conference each week. Previously, quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive lines and special teams were ranked. This time, it’s the defensive line.
No. 1: Cincinnati
The Bearcats’ line features two of the best in the Big 12. Linemen Dontay Corleone and Jowon Briggs return to the line after both receiving All-AAC first team in 2022. Corleone and Briggs combined for more than 100 tackles and six sacks for the Bearcats.
No. 2: Texas
The Longhorns return both interior defensive linemen to help lead the way. T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II were selected as honorable mentions for the conference’s All-Big 12 team last season. The line also includes backups from a season ago in Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke.
No. 3: UCF
The Knights boast two first-team All-AAC players on the line. Tre’Mon Morris-Bush and Ricky Barber were both all-conference selections last year, and Josh Celiscar was an honorable mention.
The Sooners returned an all-conference performer while adding an in-state rival. Lineman Ethan Downs was selected to last year’s second team with 4.5 sacks and 38 total tackles. Defensive lineman Trace Ford transfers in from OSU. Ford has seen a lot of success in his career but has spent the majority of the last two seasons dealing with injuries.
No. 5: Texas Tech Tyree Wilson went in the first round of the NFL Draft but left with the line still full. Lineman Tony Bradford Jr. had the most pressures by an interior lineman in the Big 12 a season ago with 35. Jaylon Hutchins was rated as the third-best interior lineman in the conference by Pro Football Focus in 2022.
No. 6: Kansas State
A guy like first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah is nearly irreplaceable, but the Wildcats will make-do in 2023. Khalid Duke is expected to make the switch from linebacker to defensive end this season following 40 tackles last year in a backup role. Interior lineman Brendan Mott will continue to be a force while Uso Seumalo and Desmond Purnell are expected to fill the remaining starting spots.
Courtesy of OSUseason.
No. 7: Houston
Half of the Cougars’ line needs replacing; the other half is fine. Chidozie Nwankwo and Nelson Ceaser started for Houston last season. Ceaser had 10 tackles for loss and four sacks last year. Zykeius Strong and Sedrick Williams are expected to fill the empty spots left on the line.
No. 8: BYU
BYU returns half of its line, but it will need big contributions from its replacements. Isaiah Bagnah and Atunaisa Mahe are expected to start for the Cougars. Bagnah transferred in from Boise State with 10 tackles last season, and Mahe played in eight games in 2022. Tyler Batty and John Nelson return to start and combined for 80 tackles last season.
No. 9: Baylor
The Bears have a tough task replacing veteran linemen Siaki Ika and Jaxon Player. Gabe Hall will be the only returning starter on the depleted defensive line. He received honorable mention for All-Big 12 honors last season. TJ Franklin and Hutchinson College transfer Jerell Boykins Jr. are expected to fill-in on the line as starters this year.
No. 10: TCU
The Horned Frogs lost a lot from last season and didn’t bring in transfers to replace the production on the front line. The lone remaining starter is Damonic Williams, who was picked as a freshman All-American last year. Caleb Fox and Paul Oyewale are expected to start after being backups last
No. 11: OSU
With last season starters leaving the program or the line, the Cowboys are hoping one of its biggest additions will make a big impact. Linemen Sione Asi, Brock Martin and Tyler Lacy left for the draft, and Collin Oliver is moving to linebacker. The line is depleted from last year and down to 2022 reserves. Lineman Justin Kirkland transferred in from Utah State following a 40 totaltackle freshman season and is expected to make big contributions.
No. 12: Kansas
The Jayhawks didn’t have a good defensive line last season, and that might not change in 2023. The only previous season-starter expected to start for the Jayhawks is Devin Phillips, a Colorado State transfer.
No. 13: West Virginia
The Mountaineers have one returning starter for 2023. Sean Martin returns to the line after starting eight games last season with 34 tackles. Mike Lockhart, Edward Vesterinen and Jared Bartlett are expected to start after replacement roles last season. The trio combined for 49 tackles in 2022.
No. 14: Iowa State
The Cyclones return one starter on the line after a 4-8 season. Isaiah Lee will be playing his fifth season in Ames, and last season was the only one he’s been a full-time starter. Linemen Tyler Onyedim, Joey Petersen and Auburn transfer Tobechi Okoli combined for 26 tackles as reserves last season. Each is expected to start for the Cyclones.
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One of the players on the roster was incoming Oklahoma State freshman Eric Dailey Jr., who in pool play played well for Team USA.
The red, white and blue left the FIBA U19 World Cup empty handed.
After winning its first five games by an average score of 38.2 points, Team USA left Hungary without a medal for only the fourth time in the history of the event (the first time since 2011 it failed to make the podium).
In the semifinal game with a spot in the finals on the line, the USA matched up against No. 3 FIBA World-ranked France. Dailey shot 2-for-7 from the field, totaling only seven points in 20 minutes of play, his first time scoring in single digits throughout the tournament. France eventually came out on top in a narrow 8986 victory.
Despite not
making the finals as the No. 1-ranked FIBA team in the world, the USA still had a chance to bring the bronze medal home and were matched up against Turkey, the No. 9-ranked FIBA team.
Once again, Dailey played 20 minutes, but this time he totaled even less than he did the game prior, finishing the game with six points on 3-for-6 shooting with two rebounds and one assist. Turkey outlasted the superior USA team, sending the red, white and blue home packing in an 84-70 victory.
In the
tournament, Dailey averaged 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, one block and one steal in 17.9 minutes per game.
Although a disappointing outcome for the four-star forward and OSU coach Mike Boynton, who was an assistant coach for the FIBA U19 squad, they can now focus on the upcoming collegiate season, as the Cowboys are looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2021 season with Cade Cunningham.
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Bounce House,” and alumni can travel to almost anywhere in Central Florida for vacation and watch a game at their alma mater in the Big 12 while there.
Gabriel Trevino
This is part of The O’Colly’s series on the four new members of the Big 12 Conference: BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF.
Every Big 12 school hosted more fans per game than UCF did in 2022, but that’s going to change.
As UCF enters the Big 12, the school sold out each of its home games at its 45,301-person stadium in Orlando.
FBC Mortgage Stadium is on UCF’s campus, it’s 13 minutes from downtown Orlando, 30 minutes from Disney World and 50 minutes from the beach. With one of the largest enrollments and alumni networks in the country; students will pack “The
UCF is a high-profile school and athletics department, and with excitement from hundreds of thousands of students and alumni for a chance to compete in a Power Five conference, it shows the potential to compete not just in the Big 12, but among the best in the country.
“Years from now, all those connected with our university will look back on this date, July 1, 2023, as a new beginning for UCF athletics,” said UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir.
UCF doesn’t just claim the 2017 national championship — it embodies it. After not receiving a spot in the College Football Playoffs, the Knights beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl and ended their season as the only undefeated team in the country. Fellow Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati would eventually break the stigma that nonPower Five teams couldn’t make the playoffs in 2020, but UCF’s exclusion was controversial at the time.
The Knights even received four
first-place votes in the final AP poll, Florida lawmakers proclaimed UCF the national champions and an official NCAA mathematical ranking system put them as the No. 1 team.
UCF has been a consistent top25 team since, winning nine or more games in four of the past five seasons.
With the team back on the rise and excitement at an all-time high, the support from fans and boosters has already increased, which could lead to more money being fed into its football program.
“Everybody loves to be a part of something special,” football coach Gus Malzahn said in an interview with WESH Orlando. “This is so unique, and we think we have a chance to win a championship. We’re dreaming, and everybody likes to dream... The fans and the boosters that have been here since Day 1, when you talk to them, you feel that excitement. It’s special. And when you’re a part of something special, you’re able to look back and say, ‘That’s when it happened.’ This is a really neat feeling.”
UCF’s recruiting is likely to skyrocket, too. It already attracts four-
and three-star recruits who aren’t going to UF, FSU or Miami but want to stay in Florida. Now that UCF is in a Power Five conference, it could get more from Florida, and some from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
In 2015, UCF was 0-12. Two years later it was somewhat national champions. Turnarounds are common in the Big 12. Last season saw TCU reach the national championship game, Kansas State win the conference and Kansas reach a bowl game for the first time in 15 years. UCF has been consistent for the past five years with three head coaches, and with the Big 12 logo on its uniforms, it will be on the rise.
“At this point, now that we’re in the Big 12, I think it’s more about being competitive in the collective,” Malzahn continued in the interview. “We’re really embracing Orlando and getting Orlando to come on board. Everybody loves a winner, and we have to win, but we’re setting up to do that.”
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12.
Continued from page 1
On a radio appearance with CBS in March, Holgorsen said the Big 12 “needs Houston” and discussed how his past experiences with the conference could help Houston transition to the conference.
“What it needs to look like, and what we need to do, and what the roster needs to look like, what the support staff needs to look like, what all the other stuff needs to look like (in the Big 12), I’ve got some experience when it comes to that,” Holgorsen said. “We’ve been navigating that for the better part of 15 months when it was announced (that Houston would join the conference) a year and a half ago.”
With the transition of conferences now official, the school announced plans and renderings for $140 million in upgrades of its football operations
center. The Houston Chronicle first reported that the weightroom and jumbotron will be renovated as part of the upgrades, and a party deck with premium seating for fans is also included.
In a recent interview with KHOU11, Houston athletic director Chris Pezman hinted at more upgrades and investments to facilities and other areas in the near future, stressing that he’s OK doing whatever it takes to succeed.
“We’re not going to just cash a check. We’re going to try and win games, and that’s our mindset, and I’ll be damned if we’re gonna find a way to do it,” Pezman said. “And that means we have to continue to invest in human resources, human capital and also our physical infrastructure.”
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rebounds per game in a reserve role last year.
Jackson, a 6-foot-3 forward, is a former four-star recruit who started her career at Miami. She was the 17th-ranked player in the 2019 class.
stacks up now.
Remaining players:
Hannah Gusters
Anna Gret Asi
Lior Garzon
Praise Egharevba
Landry Williams
Transferred in:
Just when it looked like the transfer carousel was settling down, OSU women’s basketball coach Jacie Hoyt brought it back to life.
Brianna Jackson committed to the Cowgirls’ basketball team on Wednesday, transferring from Old Dominion, where she averaged 6.4 points and 4.5
At Miami, Jackson played in all 30 games last year and had 16 starts. She played just 10 games in her sophomore season and decided to transfer to Old Dominion.
Jackson’s best season at Old Dominion was her first season in 2021-22 with 21 starts and an average of 1.44 blocks per game.
Jackson’s addition fills the Cowgirls’ roster to 15 players, the same number as last season.
Here’s how the Cowgirls’ roster
Quincy Noble
Rylee Langerman
Ioanna Chatzileonti
Kennedy Fauntleroy
Ale’Jah Douglas
Chandler Prater
Brianna Jackson
Incoming freshmen:
Stailee Heard
Mai Gailbraith
Brenna Butler sports.ed@ocolly.com
A study at Oklahoma State University has revealed a type of fungi that lives in environments without oxygen. Little is known about their distribution patterns, host range and diversity, but thanks to researchers at OSU, researchers have made remarkable insights into the diversity and evolution of anaerobic gut fungi in herbivorous animals.
The research project is led by Mostafa Elshahed and Noha Youssef, whom are professors in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Knowledge has significantly grown thanks to their efforts and need for understanding.
“We have always been fascinated by these interesting critters,” Elshahed said. “These anaerobic gut fungi play a crucial role in host nutrition by breaking down plant material into simpler products.”
OSU scientists and graduate students Casey Meili, Adrienne Jones and Carrie Pratt from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Dr. Andrew Foote, a professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science conducted the research—as well as scientists from 17 institutions in 12 countries.
The team’s goal was to examine the global diversity of these fungi and understand the factors that influence gut microbial communities, both ecologically and evolutionary. The National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology and Biodiversity Sciences.
Nature Communications recently published the study, titled “Patterns and determinants of the global herbivorous mycobiome”
“This study ended up revealing 56 previously undiscovered fungal genera,” Youssef said. “This doubles the known anaerobic fungal diversity uncovered over the past 50 years of research.”
Thirty four species of planteating animals collected hundreds of
fecal samples for the team to analyze DNA sequences using a variety of computational tools that highlighted the fungal diversity and community structure, without the need to grow the fungi in the lab. The team documented the occurrence of novel fungi and used the data set to understand patterns of fungal distribution in their hosts.
“We uncovered an interesting pattern where animals that are more genetically related to each other (for example goats and sheep or horses and mules) harbor a collection of fungi that are also more similar to each other than to the communities in less related hosts,” Elshahed said. “On the other hand, domestication, geography, and diet appear to play more minor roles in determining the gut fungal community.”
The researchers discovered an interesting evolutionary phenomenon by combining genomics and fossil dating with ecological insights. What they uncovered was that many fungal genera appear to have co-evolved with their preferred animal hosts.
For example, the evolution of the horse family Equidae occurred at roughly the same time (55 million years ago) as the emergence of their preferred fungal genus Khoyollomyces.
“It appears that fungi and animals that evolve together stay together,” Youssef said. “Such evolutionary-based associations appear to be retained today meaning that by looking at present ecological distribution patterns, we could begin to better understand the evolutionary relationships of the past.”
The identification of these novel genera and the understanding of their evolutionary history have a great effect on future studies on anaerobic fungi and the development of targeted interventions for animal health and nutrition.
Isolation efforts are currently underway, the researchers are hopeful they will be able to learn more about the functional role of these fungi. The novel enzymes and antibiotics produced by these organisms could be utilized in biotechnology, agriculture and health.
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When combined with struggling infrastructure, the record heat poses an even greater risk than in years past. Visits to emergency departments due to heat-related illnesses are 1.5 times higher this year than they were at the same time in 2022. These illnesses, including heat stroke, may lead to organ damage or death if not treated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early-season h\eat waves, like the current one affecting Oklahoma and Texas, are particularly dangerous as most individuals have not yet adapted to higher temperatures. Young children, the elderly, and individuals on certain medications are at further risk, according to the Mayo Clinic. Forecasts from the National Weather Service show much of Oklahoma and Texas will continue to see temperatures near or over 100 degrees for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, the CDC advises individuals in regions under heat advisories to stay well-hydrated, limit strenuous activity outdoors, and take advantage of cooling centers and air-conditioned facilities.
Continued from page 1
“Not only will the LaunchPad Center position Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma for global competitiveness in advanced air mobility, but equally important is the signal this moment sends to our local community,” Hankins said. “This investment in OSU-Tulsa is part of our commitment to supporting the ongoing revival of Tulsa’s Historic Greenwood District, where the center will be located. We are eager to see this project inspire Tulsa’s next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and young people interested in careers in the next wave of the aerospace and aviation industries.”
The LaunchPad Center is one of four projects under the new Tulsa Regional Advanced Mobility (TRAM) Cluster, a collaborative company focused on the advanced mobility ecosystem in Tulsa. Another one of these projects was the Skyway Range – a flight test facility with four nodes connecting OSU’s Unmanned Aircraft Flight Station, Skyway36 Droneport (owned by the Osage Nation), the Center for Forensic Explosives and the North Range.
the Osage Nation and their Skyway Range, located 5 miles north of the LaunchPad Center, we have the capacity to solve last-mile delivery problems. The long-term goal is to support the ecosystem for external researchers as well as entrepreneurs with startup concepts they would like to transition from early stage to field testing.”
The LaunchPad Center has worked diligently with the Osage Nation, which shows its unconditional excitement and support.
through strategic partnerships such as this, and we are excited for the LaunchPad Center to be a resource to continue this forward momentum.”
Along with the LaunchPad Center ribbon-cutting, OSU signed the Space Act Agreement – meaning OSU and NASA will collaborate to enhance research, technology and educational opportunities.
“We’re excited to ensure that OSU is the cornerstone of what NASA has to offer,” Cherry said. “NASA has a university collaborations initiative that focuses on making sure that key universities have a focus in helping us achieve our mission, not only today, but in the future. And we’re proud to be here today to say that OSU is going to be a part of that.”
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“We believe this facility will be the first of its kind in the United States,” Jacob said. “With the Skyway Range test flight facility, we have the capacity to test capabilities in the real world, eventually in both urban and suburban settings. With our partnership with
“Exposing our youth to emerging aviation technologies is critical for the next generation to be competitive in advanced air mobility,” said Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear. “Osage Nation Education and STEAM departments have laid a strong foundation for these opportunities
The goal of this partnership is to create diverse talent for future STEM careers at NASA and encourage entrepreneurship opportunities for Oklahoma startup companies that provide support for NASA operations.
Gamaliel Cherry, NASA director of STEM engagement, said the new Space Act Agreement will strengthen the partnership between OSU and NASA.
OAIRE faculty will have the opportunity to work with NASA through research and educational collaborations. The LaunchPad Center will benefit from this arrangement by collaborating with NASA on their advanced air mobility efforts.
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contain absolutely nothing of substance. There are two separate city action sequences in two different cities, they are completely the same visually and hardly advance the plot. This repetitive monotony permeates the film.
Does a film ever leave you speechless? Not necessarily in a stunned, amazed kind of way, more so in a “what on earth did I just watch?” kind of way. When I walked out of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” that surreal confusion was the only thing I could muster well after the credits rolled. By no means is “Dial of Destiny” a terrible film, but it sure is a baffling one.
If there’s one issue with this movie, it’s the runtime. Most Indiana Jones movies hardly scrape past 2 hours, yet “Dial of Destiny” decides to go for an outrageous 2 and a half hours. While 30 minutes may not feel like much, these 30 extra minutes
We go around and visit bland, yet somewhat fun locations for a massive portion of the film with no meaningful progress. While the story would have felt crisp and well-paced at 2 hours, the extra runtime ensures that each idea is properly beaten into the ground. Despite this, there are still droplets of condensed fun still lingering in the depths of this film. Halfway through a scene, Harrison Ford might do something fun, there might be something visually engaging, something that gives you the breath of adventure that the “Indiana Jones” franchise had in spades. For the most part. It’s a redundant, but watchable
film.
I can already see some people assuming Phoebe Waller-Bridges and her character, Indie’s goddaughter, ruined the film. However, Phoebe was an excellent addition to the cast once they stopped trying to make her motives mysterious. She could easily carry her own action-adventure film and the outcome would have been much better. However, Phoebe’s chemistry was great with Harrison Ford. Speaking of which, Harrison Ford seems incredibly tired throughout most of the film, but shines in a few great scenes. I felt nervous seeing him on screen because it genuinely seems like one fall could take him out. This is where things get weird. With minimal spoilers, the final act of this film is absolutely off-the-walls insane. Does it work for an Indiana
Jones movie? Not in a million years, but the shock of seeing where the climax goes was one of the funniest experiences I’ve had with a movie in a long time. It’s silly and entertaining enough to elevate the movie in some strange way, after being deprived of any stimulation for roughly 2 hours.
All in all, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is a fine movie about fine characters doing fine things. It’s a whole, apathetic shrug of a film until it goes absolutely off the rails, giving Indiana Jones a bizarrely fitting last hurrah. Unfortunately, no ending could possibly have beaten Dr. Jones riding off into the sunset in “The Last Crusade.”
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Amidst the sizzle of stovetops and the clattering of cutlery, the second season of “The Bear” masterfully serves a plate of passion, ambition, struggle and vulnerability.
The second season of “The Bear” serves up a hearty portion of emotional depth, character growth and tantalizing drama, proving once more that this show is more than just a food show. The dramedy, a mixture of comedy and drama, was masterfully crafted by Christopher Storer. This season not only expands upon its protagonist, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, but also dives into the lives of its ensemble cast such as Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) and more.
The narrative of the second season was set in motion in the culminating finale of season 1 of “The Bear” in which the familyowned restaurant, Original Beef of Chicagoland, was being revamped and transformed into a fine-dining establishment called The Bear, a task that Carmy soon comes to realize is overwhelming and fraught stress.
Amid the ticking clock and the oven-hot atmosphere of the kitchens, the characters are pushed out of their comfort zones, propelling them through stages of self-growth as well as selfdiscovery. Sydney, for instance, finds unexpected comfort in the famous basketball coach, Coach K, as she struggles with her fear of missing out on her dreams of culinary success. Meanwhile, the protagonist, Carmy, goes on a journey in which he struggles with his deep-rooted fear of failure while leading his team under immense pressure. However, I did not even begin to scratch the surface of how much character development this season held.
“Every second counts” is a message that is instilled into the show at its core and can be applied in various instances whether it be in the kitchen, school and so on. This season even has an episode directly tied to that message starring Richie.
The second season is also notable for its narrative structure and use of cinematography. The season explores the theme of time both literally and thematically. For instance, the show featured various close-up shots of clock faces, timers as well as a countdownstyle screen that underscores the urgency of the restaurant’s six-month timeline to reopen as The Bear. This
symbolic use and representation of time through the narrative serves as an amplifier to the stakes the characters go through, thus adding a feeling of tension that keeps the viewer hooked and wanting more by the end of each episode.
“The Bear” marinates its narrative in a broth of existential dread and familial bonds, thus resulting in an unprecedented flavor. The existential dread is mainly embodied through Carmy through self-deprecating monologues and moments of panic associated with his previously mentioned deeply rooted fear of failure. Carmy is a deeply challenged character, but we come to understand why over the course of the show.
The gritty reality of the culinary world is also reflected through the raw and unfiltered dialogue, where profanity serves not as a shock factor but rather a seasoning upon the dialogue. This use of profanity strengthens the authenticity between characters whenever they interact in every scene. The season’s narrative was excellently crafted and visualized emotional growth throughout all its cast. However, the highlight of the season to me was Ebon MossBachrach’s portrayal of Richie. The
character of Richie was once a stubborn obstacle, but goes on a journey of selfgrowth thus resulting in an excellent character arc to watch.
Season 2 episode 6 is one of the best episodes of television I have ever seen. This episode breaks through the traditional episode format of “The Bear” in which the run time is doubled and the narrative shifts in that episode vastly. The episode takes place in the past and provides insight into the Berzatto family and why they are the way they are. The dense, emotional and stressful episode is a reminder of the mantra instilled into the second season: every second counts. It is a painful and emotional depiction of mental health and the issues that come with navigating a dysfunctional family.
Building on the foundation of the inaugural season of “The Bear,” the second season delivers a compelling and complex narrative that excellently intertwines the world of culinary arts and character-driven drama. It offers a satisfying feast for the eyes, mind, heart and soul leaving viewers eagerly anticipating their next serving. “The Bear” seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Hulu.
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2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood
floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.
Today’s Birthday (07/07/23). Social connection propels you this year. Widen your exploration with consistent, steady steps, one after another. Savor domestic joys this autumn, before resolving a winter social challenge. Manage household repairs and upgrades next spring, supporting a career blastoff. Share your heart with good friends.
To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 6 — Emotion could beat reason. Nurture sensitivities with peaceful privacy. Adapt plans around an evolving situation. Look for hidden opportunities and find them. Solve a puzzle.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate with friends to get farther. Community efforts propelled by love can take off. Share what you’re learning. Actions now have long-term benefits.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Consider new professional opportunities that utilize your creativity, talents and passion. Let go of preconceptions or assumptions. There’s freedom in commitment. Choose.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — It’s adventure time. Avenues toward a long-held dream beckon. Share them with someone special. Study the options and determine your path. Communication reveals possibilities.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Quick action can get lucrative results. Disciplined efforts win a prize. Manage shared accounts and initiatives. Pull together to harvest and conserve a windfall.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Express your heart with your partner. Support each other to snag unexpected opportunities. Discuss options, potential and possibilities. Grab a lucky break. Collaboration flowers.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Power into a busy schedule with good food and rest. Practice makes perfect. Prioritize your work and health. Connect with nature and animals to recharge.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Make time for fun. Focus on basics, like love, family and sunshine. Connect around common passion. Creativity flowers. Express it in words, images and symbolism.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Invest love into your home and garden for delightful blossoming. Listen and support someone who could use it. Align on solutions. Have fun with your family.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Get carried away by a fascinating thread. Follow your muses where they lead. Share your wildest ideas and dreams. Participate in a larger conversation.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — A lucrative opportunity knocks.
Strengthen foundations before adding elaborations. Take advantage of a lucky break. Develop profitable potential in conversation. Maintain positive cash flow.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — You’re growing stronger. Dress for success. You see creative possibilities everywhere. With freedom comes responsibility. Participate and vote. Encourage someone who could use it.
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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit
