Beef is a dark comedy that pushes things way too far in an effort to inspire viewers to simply let it go when things don’t go their way.
I love a show that instantly hooks me, and that is exactly what the new Netflix series Beef does. Every time an episode ended, I felt compelled to hit play on the next one. I only stopped to sleep and eat, binging all ten episodes in less than 24 hours. If you are like me, and love a dark comedy that just gets crazier and crazier, then Beef should be your next watch.
This series stars Ali Wong as a Amy, a women who is in the process of selling her business for a lot of money. She has a husband that she loves and an adorable daughter, but she is missing something in her life. Danny, who is played by Steven Yeun, is down on his luck. He is going through a lot and his mental health is suffering for it. The two end up in a road rage incident which quickly consumes both of their lives.
Both Amy and Danny are dealing with a lot in their personal lives. It becomes quite clear early on that this obsession with one another is a means of escape. Which is very dangerous when it is fueled by so much displaced anger.
This is where a lot of the fun of the series comes from, however. This is marketed as a dark comedy and trust me when I say, it goes dark. Things get straight up sadistic at times. Audiences will be staring in shock as they learn just how far each one is willing to go to destroy the other.
The supporting cast does a wonderful job of keeping things interesting. It is because of them that we get to learn so much more about Amy and Danny. If it wasn’t for George, June, Fumi, Ben, Naomi, Jordan, Paul, and Isaac, Beef would not be nearly as interesting and entertaining as it is. There are a lot of webs being woven, and they sure are fun to sit by and watch. The people that are in Amy and Danny’s lives end up unknowingly involved in this feud.
If you think this rivalry between Amy and Danny won’t go to the point of pure ruthlessness, you are wrong my friend. Every time you think this has to be the breaking point for at least one of them, it isn’t. By the time the final two episodes roll around, there is a massive shift in the tone and theme. Amy and Danny have pushed things way too far, threatening to ruin their lives, and the lives of those around them. These episodes wrap up the series perfectly. You might even have to wipe away a tear or two in the final few moments.
Beef, as a whole, will have those watching thinking about their lives and the times they have held onto anger when they could have just let it go. While it certainly seems like this quite the stretch, and no one could be that stubborn, there are probably people out there that would take things too far. Still, the only real issue with the show is that it feels completely unrealistic at times, even though it makes for entertaining moments.
Overall Thoughts
Beef is a dark and twisted series, with a sprinkle of comedy thrown in for good measure. You never know what to expect, which is what makes it so good. You’ve seen nothing like it before, which is what makes beef so unexpectedly enjoyable. It’s full of satire that somehow feels insightful. Viewers will be calling to apologize to anyone they have held a grudge against, for fear of things going much to far.
Ali Wong and Steven Yeun will have you believing that they really hate each other as their chemistry on screen is unrivaled. There are times where Beef feels like a straight up thriller, but overall it is a dark comedy that will have you wishing it was longer. Easily the best series of the year so far, I cannot recommend this one enough for those that want to have their mind blown.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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About Beef
BEEF follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series.
