THE BEAR — “Episode 1”— Season 4 Episode 1 (Airs Thursday, June 26th) Pictured: Abby Elliott as … More
The Bear is known for its exciting guest stars every season, including Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cena, John Mulaney, Will Poulter and more. However, it can be tough to keep track of the Berzattos’ extended family and close friends, such as the Faks, who are deeply intertwined in their lives and The Bear.
The Bear returned for its fourth season on June 25, marking a new chapter for FX’s acclaimed culinary drama. The restaurant is not only recovering after the disappointing Chicago Tribune review but is also literally racing against the clock to earn a Michelin star. Uncle Jimmy and Computer are ready to close the restaurant and pull all funds if they fail.
The next chapter includes the return of fan-favorite character and Carmy’s sister Natalie “Sugar” Berzatto. She played a pivotal role in getting The Bear restaurant up and running in the previous two seasons, even while pregnant (she gave birth in Season 3, Episode 8 “Ice Chips”). Now, she’s on maternity leave and is still managing the finances and logistics of The Bear from afar.
In Season 4, Sugar has a visibly emotional reaction when the name “Francie” is brought up, first by her husband. If you’re unsure who Francie is, don’t worry. Before Season 4, all we knew was that something had happened between them, but not exactly what.
Two seasons later, viewers are finally getting more insight into their mysterious feud. Francie even appears in person to hash things out with Natalie in Episode 7. Keep reading to find out who Francie is and why Natalie despises her so much.
Who Is Francie Fak?
Francie is a member of the Fak family and the sister of Neil, Ted and Sammy. The Faks are close friends with the Berzattos. Before Season 4, Francie was only referenced by name, and the way Natalie speaks about her makes it apparent that something pretty bad happened between them, causing their fallout.
Fans may recall that in Season 2’s iconic Christmas episode, “Fishes,” Cousin Michelle asks the family why Francie isn’t at the party. The brothers then explain that Francie isn’t allowed to be there because Natalie refuses to be in the same room with her.
“She’s mad as hell. She’s angry,” Neil says of Natalie’s resentment toward his sister. “‘Cause of the thing…”
“Still, huh?” Michelle replies.
There was no mention of Francie in Season 3, leaving viewers wondering if they’d get answers about what happened with Natalie and which actor might portray Francie in the future.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for The Bear Season 4.
What Does Natalie Say About Francie In Season 4?
Abby Elliott as Natalie in The Bear
In Season 4, Episode 2, Natalie’s husband Pete mentions to her that he ran into Francie at the gym, making her very upset. “She can go f*ck,” Nat says, before asking if she looked hot. When Pete hesitantly tries to answer, she warns him to “be very careful” before saying, “Don’t answer that,” and mocking Francie’s message of trying to say hi to her.
Later, she contemplates sending a text to Francie, and it’s clear from their past messages that they consider each other “dead” to one another. She begins typing the sentence “Please go f*ck,” but doesn’t send the text. Instead, she’s interrupted by an unexpected call from Carmy, who apologizes for not having met her baby Sophie yet.
In Episode 6, while at the resturant, Neil Fak asks Natalie if she ever thinks about Francie. “No, she can go f*ck,” she answers. He then reveals to her that he asked Tiff to invite Francie to the wedding. Natalie accuses Neil of betraying her and says she can’t even look at him. “You have devastated me!” she yells. Later, she tells The Bear crew that Francie “knows what she did.”
Who Plays Francie Fak In The Bear?
Brie Larson at the Giorgio Armani RTW Spring 2025 fashion show held at the Park Avenue Armory on … More
Francie Fak is finally introduced in the fourth season of The Bear, and she’s played by Academy Award winner Brie Larson. The Fak sister makes her debut in Season 4, Episode 7, at Tiffany and Frank’s wedding.
As soon as Francie walks in, the two waste no time going at it. Throughout the hour-long episode, Natalie and Francie trade verbal jabs – but amidst their bickering, viewers (kinda?) learn what may have caused the major rift between them.
So, What Really Happened Between Francie And Natalie?
Natalie tells Francie that she can “apologize whenever, you know that?” before they start throwing profanities at each other.
Natalie eventually rambles on about what appears to be the origin of their feud – a house party. “First of all, it wasn’t even your house, okay?” she says, before complaining that there was “whipped cream was everywhere,” and that Francie was really drunk, and “I didn’t know how to start the car…”
In her defense, Francie says that “It was raining, the bus was going to leave,” and then adds that “there were no cell phones then!”
As they continue shouting at each other, Pete steps in and tries to separate Sugar and Francie. That’s when Ted interjects, “Pete’s in denial about these two hooking up.” Pete looks at them and says, “You two did not hook up,”
Natalie and Francie slowly stare at eachother awkwardly, hinting that they might have, in fact, hooked up. “Well….” Natalie says, while Ted is laughing.
Do Francie And Natalie Finally Settle Their Beef?
Yes, Francie and Natalie are able to sit down and express how they truly feel. “I think about you a lot,” Francie says to her at dinner. “I do miss you, and I really hope that you’re happy, and that you have someone who loves you.”
“I think about you too,” Natalie responds, reciprocating her feelings. “I think about how smart you are. How hard you work. How funny you are. And I just think, ‘Holy sh*t, she’s probably doing something great.’”
“Francie, you wanna maybe try and be friends?” Natalie eventually asks her. When Francie responds “Yeah,” Natalie makes sure she’s not lying and asks one more question, “And you won’t f-ck me over?” Francie assures her old friend that won’t be the case. “No, I will not f*ck you over Natalie,” and they hug each other.
The Bear Season 4 is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Watch the official trailer below.
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