The ad doesn’t just reference the Hulu show — it was directed by Chris Storer, creator of “The Bear” (which will indeed be returning for a 3rd season). And because it was shot during the writers’ strike, when narrative TV production was on hold, Storer was able to utilize the show’s camera lenses and crew.
Like in “Fishes,” the ad family is beset by an overcrowded kitchen with timers going off in all directions, inane disagreements, and perhaps a bit too much honesty. (Fortunately, their game day is free of silverware fights and emotional meltdowns.) Different Coca-Cola brands are depicted throughout: the children (and one odd adult) drink Honest juice boxes, the goofy cousin-type cools his mouth down with Sprite after taking a bite of oven-fresh hot food, and various other relatives hold Smart Water, Coke, and Fanta bottles amidst the chaos.
By the end, a spilled Coke and some light teasing affirm that Zach has been accepted into the fold. Bringing it back to the central theme, the final tag declares Coca-Cola as the “proud sponsors of what matters most,” by which we assume they mean loved ones, not soft drinks. But maybe soft drinks, too.