Every now and then, a fictional character can have a profound real-world impact. In 2023, a very different character is revealing different truths, and the effect is, if anything, even richer and more meaningful. The character is Richie Jerimovich, brilliantly portrayed by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and the show in which he appears is FX’s “The Bear,” the second season of which was released last month. Episode by episode, Richie opens a window into the souls of so very many of our friends and neighbors. He forces us to answer an uncomfortable question: How do we respond to people in pain?

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Persons: Jason Sudeikis’s Ted Lasso, Richie Jerimovich, Ebon Moss, Bachrach, Richie, haven’t, Carmy Berzatto, Jeremy Allen White, Carmy doesn’t Organizations: New York Locations: New York City, Chicago