Beef, the latest series on Netflix, created by Lee Sung Jin, is a dark comedy that tells the story of a feud between two characters, Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) and Amy Lau (Ali Wong). The two protagonists first meet while navigating the parking lot of a Lowe’s-like home improvement store, where they both react in the same explosive manner to a minor spat over exiting a parking spot, leading them on a chase across the suburban San Fernando Valley, then through 10 episodes of increasingly out-of-hand emotional warfare. The show is about much more than just a parking lot dispute that escalates into something much more dangerous. It explores the lives of its two central characters, their struggles with work, relationships, and family. It’s a deeply human show that raises big questions about life’s meaning and purpose.
The series begins with Danny Cho returning something at a big-box store. Frustrated with the process, he gets into his truck to leave when he nearly hits a white SUV, and the driver honks at him. This sets off a chain of events that leads to a full-blown feud between Danny and the driver, who turns out to be Amy Lau. Both characters are angry about many things, and this fight allows them to direct all their frustration towards each other. However, their feud becomes self-destructive, and they both end up causing more harm than good.
Beef is a stunning show that captures the messiness of human life. The series delves deep into the lives of its central characters and explores their struggles with work, relationships, and family. It’s a dark comedy that tackles big questions about the nature of life, and it does so with inventiveness and deep empathy. The show is not cynical, and it’s invested in Amy and Danny’s desire for connection and redemption as much as it is in their viciousness and emptiness.
As the series unfolds, it moves away from its initial emotional themes and ventures into more surreal territory. Initially, Choe’s contribution to the show’s title cards feels like a perfect fit for his typecast persona. In contrast, Yeun’s character becomes increasingly downtrodden. However, as the show’s action intensifies and becomes increasingly extreme, Choe is pushed out of his comfort zone, shedding the naturalism he is accustomed to. This transformation marks a departure from his previously larger-than-life persona seen in other projects such as “The Choe Show.”
The show’s production design, under Grace Yun, is thoughtful and inventive. Amy’s house remains gloomy, despite her recent renovations and upscale lifestyle, while the changes to her hair over the course of the show tell an entire story about fitting in, tapping out, and losing yourself. The performances of the lead actors are also exceptional.
Steven Yeun is well-known for his role in “The Walking Dead” and his Oscar-nominated performance in “Minari.” In “Beef,” he plays the character of Danny, an earnest striver who lacks the competence or resolve required to achieve the American dream. He is trapped in the shadow of his parents and cousin, and he takes his insecurity out on his younger brother Paul, a man-child obsessed with video games and cryptocurrency. He is excellent as Danny, bringing to life his can’t-win sad-sackery, as well as his profound frustration with the way his life has turned out.
For Ali Wong, leading a live-action prestige series is new, but her character’s biography bears a striking resemblance to the persona Wong presents in her stand-up. Wong channels some of her loud and raunchy comedy into her character, but “Beef” allows her to explore taboo topics like women’s ambition and primal instincts more quietly and in close-up. She brings her take-no-prisoners comic persona to her portrayal of Amy’s fury without turning her into a caricature of a Silicon Valley startup.
From the house of A24, “Beef” takes an interesting approach in naming episodes after quotes by Kafka, Carl Jung, and other intellectuals. The show’s wry humor helps to offset its self-seriousness, but cartoonish violence or bouts of the surreal tend to distract from the show’s core insights. Amy and Danny may differ in gender, class, and career path, but they share a self-destructive nihilism that each recognizes in the other, even if they cannot articulate it.
In conclusion, Beef is an exceptional show that captures the messiness of human life. It’s a dark comedy that tackles big questions about the nature of life with inventiveness and deep empathy. The chemistry between the two leads is excellent, and the show’s exploration of primal instincts and ambition is well-done. Though the show sometimes deviates from its core insights, it is still an enjoyable watch that is well worth your time.The show’s production design and performances are also excellent, making this a must-watch series on Netflix.