The 5 Personality Classes and The Bear
An exercise in identifying the Personality Classes
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The 5 Personality Classes and The Bear
Whilst writing up examples of the Archer class in the previous installment of the gazette, a glaring example I wanted to use was Carmy from The Bear. However it occurred to me that not only does this show offer great examples of the different personality Classes in action, but it also shows how they can transition from at-their-worst to at-their-best.
So today, I thought I would talk through some of the main characters, and how their actions and reactions throughout the show illustrate which of the personality Classes they map most strongly against.
⚠️ This article contains spoilers for both the first and second seasons of the show.
Carmy Berzatto
🏹Archer ❤️🩹Healer
We’ll start with Carmy, the main character, and your first thought might be - wait, isn’t he a Leader? There’s an easy misconception that anyone who gets themself into a management or leadership position, has a strong Leader personality class and this absolutely does not have to be the case. All of the classes lend themselves to someone in that sort of position, and often it is the driving needs of their class which has pushed them to be in a leadership position. In Carmy’s case its his desire to deliver incredible dining experiences to people - the running of a restaurant is a just means to helping him achieve that.
Which leads us on his real main class, of which he is a perfect example - the Archer. He has a clear goal and his desire to reach it, causes him to sacrifice his health, his wellbeing, his happiness and the happiness of those around him. This often clashes with his desire to see others taken care of and be treated right which comes from the Healer class. He is often simultaneously the person wanting to protect others from emotional upset, whilst being the same person causing them that upset.
Richie Jerimovich
🎩 Leader 🪕Bard
One of the great things about this show is the character arcs, the journeys which individual characters come on. Richie is interesting in that he goes on two character arcs. He begins the first season as essentially being the person in charge, who knows everything that is going on - he is willing to shout at and berate people to keep them in line. Classic Leader behaviour, and in this case of a negative, aspect. By the end of the series he has begun to realise that he is not in fact as important as he’d believed, and is begins to accept that. His second character arc across the second series begins with him lashing out and being angry, now that he understands the position he previously held is no longer available to him. Without a clear way to be respected and valued, he lashes out at everyone around him, almost reaching the point that the negative aspects of this unsatisfied Leader need threat to completely alienate him from the rest of the team.
In the excellent Forks episode though, he comes to realise where that place can be for him - by leaning into his other personality class, that of the Bard. His ability to serve and delight others is shown early on in the first series in the way he interacts with customers, but he overlooks in his desire to fight change. Once he embraces this strength however, he is able to start bringing value to the team again, and then also able to step up with his Leader skills when required.
Sydney Adamu
🎩Leader 🏹Archer
Sydney I would argue has the least of a character arc, as she regularly swings between the high-functioning and low-functioning aspects of her classes. As a Leader she is great at directing others, knowing what needs to be done and executing it, but whenever she is left out of decisions and feels she isn’t being respected, she becomes sullen and childish. She also a clear vision of how she wants to succeed and again, becomes defensive when she feels others are threatening this or slowly her down.
Given a clear purpose and support though, she becomes hugely effective and drives those around her to get better as well.
Marcus Brooks
🏹Archer ❤️🩹Healer
Like Carmy, Marcus’s obsession with crafting the perfect donut becomes all consuming, blinding him to other responsibilities - a strong Archer trait. Given the support he desires though and he truly achieves great things. He is also there for his coworkers and his family, doing all that he can to serve their needs.
Tina Marrero
🧙 Wizard 🎩 Leader
Similar to Richie, Tina is a classic Leader who reacts badly when they feel their position and way of doing things becomes threatened. It is excarbated in her case as she is also a Wizard and naturally sees the world in extremes. This results in her outright sabotaging those she sees as a threat. Once she presented with facts though, which Wizards love, she is able to process the situation, accept her new reality and then excel within it, once again being able to stretch her abilities as a Leader.
Sugar Berzatto
🪕Bard ❤️🩹 Healer
Sugar is a strong mixture of the Bard and Healer, in that she cares deeply about others, even when she knows there will be a price to pay but folds in on herself when you finds her own emotional needs are being considered by others. Once she is given that emotional support though, and shown that she is essential to the team’s success, then she becomes a true multiplier to those around her.
Bonus bits
📖 I’ve been reading
Set in Cromwellian London, the story follows Damian Seeker, essentially the secret police who’s job it is to track down and silence Royalists. A series of coincidences and a murder case which seems too straight forward though lead him into a spiralling conspiracy.
👨🎤 I love a good cover
Self Control - Originally by Laura Branigan - Covered by Computer Magic
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