If you find "The Bear" stressful, you're not quite ready for the pressure levels of "Boiling Point" This BBC miniseries also focuses on the hectic nature of working in a professional kitchen, and the tension level is very high

"Boiling Point," which debuted in its native UK last October, was one of the best new shows I've seen in 2023 All four episodes will be available on this date (it's a British show, so naturally it's a short season) If you're a fan of The Bear, or just good television in general, this show will be essential viewing

The drama series follows the 2021 film of the same name (currently available on Prime Video) and centers on an upscale restaurant called Point North in vibrant Manchester, England The restaurant's head chef is a determined cook named Carly (Vinette Robinson) who works overtime to keep the staff employed and the lights on

Despite Carly's best efforts and the hard work of Point North's conscientious service employees, the realities of running a restaurant in a tough economy take a toll, and tough shifts lead to heated exchanges and costly mistakes

The name "Boiling Point" is very apt Because in one or more of the four hour-long episodes, tension builds to the point where an explosion feels inevitable, and in the second episode of the show, something truly traumatic happens

But you'll want to stick with "Boiling Point" as long as your stress levels can handle it Because underneath the snarky dialogue and aggressive shouting matches, there is some brilliant character work While the lead character, Vinette Robinson, brings a firm resolve to Carly, she grows weary as the restaurant takes a toll on her relationships and mental well-being

The show also features an occasional appearance by Stephen Graham, who played the lead in the original "Boiling Point" film Graham was notable for his role as Andy, Carly's former boss and a veteran chef dealing with his own demons and failures

Other standouts include Ray Pantaki as the fiery sous-chef Freeman, and Sean Fagan as the insulting, foul-mouthed cook with a Liverpool accent so strong that American viewers may need subtitles to understand him But my favorite cast member is Hannah Walters, who plays Emily, the restaurant's head pastry chef and mother figure to understudy Jamie (Stephen McMillan) Her arc is devastating

Throw these well-rounded characters into the pot, along with the show's excellent script, and you have one of the best dramatic sequences seen on any TV show this year Add to that some brilliant direction (the first episode begins with an 11-minute single-take sequence that pays homage to the one-shot original film), and you have a rich recipe for success The Boiling Point is a rare film that should be savored"

If you're still not convinced to watch "Boiling Point," which will be available on Netflix in a few weeks, Rotten Tomatoes' 100% perfect score will blow your mind Audience ratings are similarly high, with an impressive 90% on the review aggregation site

Joel Golby of The Observer called it "a masterpiece of British TV" and "one of the best things on television" Boyd Hilton of Empire magazine added, "If the series sometimes feels too stressful to enjoy, that says a lot about how realistic it is "

'Boiling Point' is always a compelling drama, and its realistic depiction of labor in a high-stress environment can make for uncomfortable viewing, but its fleshed-out characters, brought to life by all-out great acting, keep you hooked throughout! The arrival of this masterpiece on Netflix in the US will bring it to a wider audience, and renewal for Season 2 is expected