Liza Colón-Zayas Reveals Her Favorite Scene of 'The Bear' Season 3

While there have been mixed reviews for The Bear Season 3, almost everyone who watches the restaurant dramedy can agree that Episode 6, "Napkins," is a stand-out chapter for the most recent season. The episode focuses on line cook Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) and follows her journey from a 15-year office job to being laid off and her unexpected landing at The Beef. In July 2024, Colón-Zayas earned her first Emmy nomination (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series), perhaps partly due to the spotlight she received in "Napkins."

The episode, directed by Colón-Zayas' co-star Ayo Edibiri (Sydney), shows how Tina scrounged the city of Chicago desperately hunting for a new job before eventually winding up at The Beef. Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) offers Tina a free sandwich and the small act of kindness drives her to tears, which prompts Mikey (Jon Bernthal) to sit down and talk with her. The heart-to-heart conversation leads to Tina securing a job as a line cook, and the rest is history.

"I started crying and I was emotional," Colón-Zayas told Parade about getting a Tina-centric episode. "Then I learned that Ayo was directing it, so it was extra emotional. I was so happy, and I am so proud."

In addition to the actress having a close friend and colleague behind the camera, The Bear creative team hired her real-life husband, Dexter actor David Zayas, to play Tina's supportive hubby. Colón-Zayas was excited to dig into Tina's backstory and was relieved to see David's role mirrored his personality in real life.

"Her husband is so gentle," she said, "but that’s my husband. They got him perfectly. I was just happy that he wasn’t some abusive creep."

Related: How Much Would It Cost to Eat at 'The Bear'?

There were also some discoveries about her character.

"I had no idea she had over 15 years in admin as a bookkeeper. She’s dealing with gentrification and rent increases and the daily stresses that blue-collar working people are constantly faced with, but she comes from a stable, loving situation."

Colón-Zayas told Parade a highlight of filming this season was the juicy scene with Jon Bernthal, who returned just for Episode 6 as Michael, the older brother of Chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White). Throughout the series, you only see Bernthal in flashbacks, and in this episode, we see his overlap with Tina's timeline.

"It was a dream. I was already a fan for a long time. I already knew he was a sweetheart, but I just didn’t want to let anybody down," she told Parade. "I really wanted that scene to be as nuanced and powerful as it was on the page. I knew he was a brilliant actor, and I just wanted to be like Tina. I wanted to rise to the occasion. He’s just so generous and I’m glad I did all the work and preparation to get that scene into my bones."

Carmy does not make the working experience easy in Season 3. Determined to get the restaurant a Michelin Star, he pressures everyone in the kitchen, including exploding at Tina often.

Colón-Zayas says that Tina isn't afraid of a little temper, and she's not going to back down.

"I want Tina to reach her full potential in the kitchen. I want her to realize that dream without it costing her," the actress detailed. "I want her to be a Puerto Rican Chef Terry," she added, referring to Olivia Colman's beloved character in the show.

Related: 'The Bear' Season 3 Ending Explained: What Does the Restaurant's Future Hold?

Colón-Zayas says while Tina isn't going to let Carmy get to her, she does have advice for the temperamental character heading into Season 4: "Go to therapy, one-on-one, twice a week," she said, adding he should do it in tandem with his current group therapy sessions. "Carmy is now, more than ever, coming toe to toe with his demons. The success doesn’t erase what he grew up with."

In the meantime, Colón-Zayas is soaking up the praise for "Napkins" and is happy to have shared a bit more of Tina with the world.

"There are so many Tinas around us who deserve to be listened to, who deserve to be seen, who deserve to have the world look at their potential and see what they bring to the table," she said. "I’m so grateful that so many people resonate with that struggle and that power. I know a lot of Tinas. I relate. We do what we have to do to survive."

The Bear Season 3 is now streaming on Hulu.

Next, Will 'The Bear' end with Season 4? Here's everything we know about what's next for the show.