The Bear prequel Gary released on Hulu

FX and Hulu surprised fans of the Emmy-winning series The Bear on Tuesday by releasing a standalone prequel episode titled Gary, now streaming on the platform. The hour-long installment, written by stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal and directed by series creator Christopher Storer, stars the duo as cousins Richie Jerimovich and Mikey Berzatto on a work trip from Chicago to Gary, Indiana.

Set a few years before the events of the main series, Gary follows Richie and Mikey as they transport a taped-up box for Uncle Jimmy to the Indiana city. Delayed while awaiting delivery, the pair spends time in the small town, where Richie presses Mikey about the package's contents without success. The episode also features the return of Gillian Jacobs as Richie's then-wife Tiffany, who appears heavily pregnant with their daughter. It delves into the friends' complicated relationship, revealing layers of Mikey's mental state and providing context for Richie's character as introduced in Season 1.

Moss-Bachrach announced the unpromoted drop on Instagram, writing, "COUSINS! PRIMOS! CUGINI!!! Get ready for GARY!!!! We are so excited to finally share this little adventure with Richie and...