(Editor’s Note: The following contains spoiler for BearSeason 2, Episode 7, “Fox.”)
have some great needle drops FX’s entire second season Bear — “I’ve Loved You Too Long” by Otis Redding, “Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs, “The Day the World Gone” by Nine Inch Nails “, Liz Phair’s “Supernova.” But perhaps the most memorable is also the most unexpected, as Taylor Swift’s “Love Story (Taylor Version)” ends up being the song that lingers in your head after watching the show’s brilliant seventh episode, “Fox.”
The surprise isn’t Taylor Swift’s use, but the context: “Forks” reveals that Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the toughest guy in the kitchen, at least knows her music because his young daughter is her of fans want concert tickets.It’s fitting because, as executive producer and music director Josh Senior says resulta real-life Taylor Swift concert inspired plot choices.
“We came up with the idea of bringing Taylor Swift into the world of the show as a way of connecting Rich with Tiffany (Ricky’s ex-wife, played by Gillian Jacobs) and his daughter,” Senior said via email. “As we were writing and preparing the show, some of us got tickets to Taylor Swift and got to know all the different types of people who watch her show. It feels like it’s what binds these three characters together Perfect way.”
The idea that Rich’s daughter is a Taylor Swift fan came up early in the season, but became more prominent on “Fox” as Rich was sent on stage at one of the best restaurants in the world. At first, he sees the gig as punishment for Kami (Jeremy Allen White), but he soon accepts the restaurant’s philosophy of service and hospitality above all else. By the end of the episode, Richie is a different person—even singing along to “Love Story (Taylor Version)” while driving himself.
When making a request like “Love Story,” Senior said, “When we know songs might be hard to find, we usually try to include personal outreach, and for Taylor Swift, the process couldn’t be more lovely. But, and straight to the point. From our first outreach, the team has been incredibly supportive and collaborative.”
This was certainly a relief, as Senior said they didn’t have any artist ideas as a backup option: “That’s the plan.”
Of course, one question remains unanswered: Did Moss-Backrach already know the lyrics to “Love Story (Taylor Version)”? “That’s a good question you’d have to ask Ebong,” Senior said, but unfortunately the actor was unavailable for comment. Senior did say, though, “I know his process involved a lot of research, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw a lot of Taylor’s music on his end-of-the-year Spotify list.”
Funny enough, the “Love Story” that Rich sings isn’t even the most memorable part of “Forks” (your mileage may vary, but bring Olivia Colman with a paring knife Surprise is hard to beat). What makes “Fork” so powerful, though, is its message that in the quest for excellence, every detail counts. Nothing is insignificant, whether it’s a perfectly polished fork at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or a well-chosen song.
Bear The second season is now on Hulu.