The Bear just changed the music montage as we know it

The Bear is purposefully loud. There’s hardly a moment to breathe as characters yell and yap over each other, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) and Richie’s (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) fights drown out the noise of utensils in a very busy kitchen. Words like “hands,” “yes, Chef” and “behind” are delivered at a high volume. And chances are you’re still reeling from the effective commotion of season two’s “Fishes.” Pandemonium has always been a dominant tool for The Bear to elevate anxiety, so it’s startling to see it relatively absent in season three’s premiere episode.

Don’t worry, “Tomorrow” is still plenty disorienting as it jumps through Carmy’s intricate memories. He’s physically present at the restaurant, rearranging flowers, cleaning up, apologizing to Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) for the refrigerator fiasco, and making a list of “Non-Negotiables.” But his mind swivels across time on hurdles and events that have shaped his life. Good or bad, he’s unable to let these moments go. To spur this disquieting notion, the show doesn’t use catchy needle drops or piercing conversations for a change. Instead, it scores it with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ expanded “Together,” playing consistently, shifting in tempo as we’re pushed further into Carmy’s state of mind. With it, The Bear continues to successfully reinvent itself. Who would’ve thought a mostly dialogue-less episode of this FX series would speak volumes?

The track by Reznor and Ross, whose propulsive Challengers score is making waves right now, transports us straight into Carmy’s mental torment. The Nine Inch Nail members prove yet again that their music, when used correctly, can deepen our understanding of a character and story. Obviously, their work has accomplished this before on everything from David Fincher’s films to HBO’s Watchmen. “Tomorrow” offers precise glimpses into Carmy’s happier times in Copenhagen or when he’s focused on cooking, bolstered with soft rhythms.