User Reviews

This is episode is *probably* why the show got so famous.

Let me break it down for you.

By this seventh episode, we know our characters, we know their backgrounds, their motivations, their frustrations. We also know their relationships and dynamics in the restaurant really well by now.

By this episode, we see the kitchen coming into its own, everyone has a place and knows their role, and it seems Finally, there is calm coming to The Beef. It almost feels like there should be a lull to the rest of the series now, but no. Absolutely not. This is by far, the BEST episode of the series.

Infact, this episode explodes. Like literally explodes onto your screens. When the episode started, I noticed it was only 20 minutes long and also realised for whatever reason, the show creators decided this was the episode to include an opening credits segments in. Didnt feel very wise. Feels we were being robbed of precious screentime. But after 20 minutes, you realise why they did this.

It is because the show HITS in this episode.

Apart from the opening sequence, the episode is shot in one single take. Which I am ashamed to say I didnt even realise until it was pointed out to me by some one else, because I was that engrossed in the drama unfolding on the screen.

When the episode concludes, and you see the title card for the first time at the end, it is nothing short of incredible.

Showrunners, you did well. Sorry that I doubted you. 5/5.

This episode really blew me away! The credits started rolling and it felt very sudden, as if only a few minutes had passed since the episode started. But then I realized it was because there were no cuts or breaks in the entire episode! You are taken through and extremely busy and unforgiving day in the shop and seeing it through the perspective of the characters.

I cannot praise this episode enough. Very well written and shot. Much like real life, you realize what feels like a moment in time was actually 30 hectic minutes flying by. Bravo!

One of the best episodes of anything I've ever seen. 30 minutes felt like 5 minutes. Everything was impeccable from the acting to the cinematography. Never have I seen something so intense and real on television.

I knew when the episode started with Sufjan Stevens's "Chicago" it was going to be a special episode. The placid nature of the song while also being about getting out and trying new, scary things fits perfectly as a lead-in to the chaos afterwards. What a 180° shift occurs. Such a well-made episode in every regard.

At some point 3/4's of the way through you suddenly realize the camera hasn't cut in a while and from what I could tell there weren't any tricks done to get away with it so Im assuming most of the episode was shot in one very long take. This episode took this series to a new level. Some of the first episodes were really confusing and so short I really could not figure out what was going on at all. But now the show has found its stride and the first season ends very strongly.

Usually film and TV show people working in a restaurant it's shown very unrealistic. I just quit my restaurant job and then I started watching this show and it was relatable. This episode though, was scarily accurate to why I quit. There was a point where I had to pause it and cry for a while. Great Episode.

I literally aged 10 years watching this episode ....working in the food service industry and watching this episode/show gave me the most insane rush of fear and anxiety. What a damn masterpiece.

If you've worked in a kitchen, this is a brutal reenactment of the insanity, abuse, toxicity, danger, and impossible stress in a particularly overwhelming work day. Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Man, Sydney is annoying as hell for no reason The character is an over-exaggerated nutcase like most of the other characters Oh and the African guy who is supposed to be Somali isn't Somali at all. Not sure why they keep casting the wrong Africans for the roles it's like they think everyone watching this show is stupid and doesn't realize that not all Africans are the same, By the way every episode before this one is extremely boring I don't know where these positive reviews are coming from.

The episode started - and then in the blink of an eye, but was really 30 minutes at the edge of my seat - it was over. Excellent acting, story telling and cinematography.

Its hard to put this into words other than if you have worked in the restaurant will understand what this kind of day looks & feels like. As near perfection as an episode gets, especially cause by the end of the episode I was legit shocked it was over. It felt like the episode had just started but it is such a rocket fast ascent into the stratosphere of incredibly excellent heightened drama. 12 out of 10.

This is the single most unflinchingly realistic take on what an actual kitchen is like. My heart raced, my fists and jaw clenched until they ached and I felt the heat, the claustrophobia, the simmering anger that could turn to violence at any second as well as every one of the hundreds of burns and cuts on my hands as if they just happened.

This show, this episode in particular is to chefs what films like Blackhawk Down and Saving Private Ryan are to vets.

Forget Gordon Ramsay shouting at morons and mugging for the cameras THIS is how the industry really works as dysfunctionally beautiful as it is and really shouldn't be.

I don't think I took a breath the entire episode, and then once it was over I was in shock that it had been a whole episode. It felt like 5 minutes! So intense, edge of your seat, masterfully shot and acted. I feel like going and writing a ten page essay on how good this episode was. I can't stop thinking about it. I will be watching it a few more times for sure. How often does that happen? Never! The layers!!!! The way the characters all have slowly flipped and traded energies into the climactic art piece that is this episode. Omg. If you are a fan you know what I'm saying. Not a moment or facial expression wasted, every single second is needed and adds to the story and characters. Absolute perfection. Give this show an Emmy for this episode!!!!

To start, I am a bottle episode junkie. There's something so perfect about an episode that contains nothing but regulars in a claustrophobic space, seeing actors have to rely on nothing but their talent to progress the story. I'm also a HUGE fan of Jeremy Allen White, and love watching the way he seems to know the exact energy a scene needs. The episode is shot in a single shot from the 2:30 mark, and the frantic, frenetic pace that Jeremy gives, surrounded by a cast of talented actors like Ayo Edebiri (another powerhouse performance this episode) makes the next 40ish minutes feel like 15. I'm not even sure I took a breath the whole time. Forget West Wing, forget Community, when film majors learn about bottle episodes, this is the one to watch.

Imagine someone forgets his line.

It's just crazy thinking about how much effort they put on this episode to be in one single take, and the acting, the damn acting, especially Jeremy of course, he deserve so much. 10/10.

But the whole cast is amazing too of course, the fact that they did so well on this episode while it is on one take, that is talent right there, I will be disappointed if this show did not win bunch of things.

Can't wait for season 2, I don't know why but I think it is going to top this season.

(Come on 600 characters is too much, sorry I'm just going to type anything to finish the damn thing)

Best episode of television I've seen in years, expertly shot, perfect acting. I can't believe how amazing this show is, I hope we get a second season.

I seen someone else mention that this was one of the best episodes of any tv shows they have seen and I couldn't agree more. The last time I remember being that gobsmacked by an episode of a tv show was after the "Hardhome" episode of GOT.

You could feel the tension building up through this episode and I loved how it was all done in one shot. The emotions and reactions of the actors felt very raw and real and is exactly like something you would see in Hell's Kitchen. I was so sucked into this episode that by the time it ended I couldn't believe it was over and how much time had passed. I cannot remember the last time where I was so emotionally invested in a show.

Without a doubt, the best episode of this show so far.

This really is one of the most stressful and visceral episodes of television ever broadcast. In 20 short minutes (17 of which are done in one take!) It tells a three act story, with character development, stakes, and repercussions. This episode is the boiling point of the season, Everything the series has built up shatters in this episode, the remnants of this episode are severe and I hope it will be tackled with in the next season. Masterpiece, and definitely one of the greatest bottle episodes of all time.

This episode would also quickly fall apart if it were not for this electrifying cast.

This episode is absolutely incredible from beginning to end. Serious props to the cast, the writer(s), the director, the camera operator, and everyone else behind it who helped to make it truly special. Incredibly tense despite there being a good deal of comedy mixed in.

One of the best episodes of Television I've seen in my life. This was so engaging from the start till the credits rolls in, it's very rare for a show/movie to invoke so many emotions like this episode did. And the build up for this was set throughout from start of the series and everything lead to this. Also the whole episode seems like it was filmed in a single take(i didn't fact check it) but not for the sake of cinematography alone, it really had a story to tell, things to accomplish! And the claustrophobic kitchen was the perfect stage for that.. I would be very surprised and disappointed if this episode does not win or get nominated for an Emmy! Also the way it ended with the music and all, it almost felt like I heard a bang. 11/10.