You did sort of spoil season 2 of The Bear for me a little, but I don't care that much because I don't intend to watch it until after the Emmys when it has already more than justifiably taken its share of emmy nominations and wins. By that point, most of it will have faded. Jeremy Allan White will certainly win this year, Ayo Edibiri has a chance (it'll come someday, I know it and they will nominate Ebon Moss-Bachrach, last year's secret weapon. I'm glad to know things are looking up for some of these characters and I really hope Carmy will move past his rage someday. I really love these characters and I love what Storer has created. I also agree with your thesis statement and think that it's part of an inspiring trend I've noticed from so many great comedies over the last few years. For so much of the last ten years, even the best comedies were about laughing at the bad behavior of irredeemable people. With shows like The Bear, Hacks, Only murders in the Building, Abbott Elementary and Somebody Somewhere, we are seeing an inspiring trend in comedy where building bridges and community is more important than being laughed at for being a monster and refusing to grow. Richie is the prime example of this on The Bear. It's a good trend for TV and I hope it continues.