By Keith Walsh
If you’ve seen the first episode of Netflix’ BEEF in the past weeks since its release, chances are you’re hooked. The dark comedy, produced by A24, starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, features clever writing, smart acting, and brilliant direction by Lee Sung Jin and Hikari (Japanese director Mitsuyo Miyazaki). Wong and Yeun are executive producers on the project.
BEEF is a sometimes realistic psychological dramedy with a twisted sense of humor, and occasional surreal elements coming in later on. It’s a welcome departure from standard streaming fare, with characters that have believable motivations, a story that’s timely and relevant, focusing on a rivalry between Wong’s Amy Lau and Yeun’s Danny Cho as they get entangled into each other’s lives.
The supporting cast is also excellent, with killer performances by Joseph Lee, David Choe, Young Mazino, Patti Yasutake, and Maria Bello. Choe’s turn as a hardened criminal is both humorous and frightening, and Mazino’s likeability increases as details about his character, Danny’s brother Paul, are revealed. Relatable characters are just one reason that BEEF is a hit for Netflix – the smart script is another.
Among the themes are the disparity between rich and poor, the tedium of work, the pretentions of the art industry, the trauma of generational anxiety, and a surprisingly favorable take on the benefits of Christian fellowship. The main conflict involves a road rage incident between Amy and Danny, which accelerates and spins out of control, eventually bringing the other players into its vortex.
If you’ve viewed the first episode of BEEF you may have watched others. If you watched the tenth and final episode, you’re invested in the characters and want to know what happens next. So, will there be a season 2 of BEEF? Good news: director Lee Sung Jin told Rolling Stone magazine on April 10 that “There are a lot of ideas on my end to keep this story going. I think should we be blessed with a Season Two, there’s a lot of ways for Danny and Amy to continue. I have one really big general idea that I can’t really say yet, but I have three seasons mapped out in my head currently.”
Interview With Ali Wong and Lee Sung Jin At Rolling Stone dot com
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