TV Review: ‘Beef’ is a Well-Done Dark Comedy

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Beef is a searing commentary on how we let anger rule our lives in more ways than one. The new series took Netflix by storm when it was released earlier this month, proving itself to be a comedy that isn’t afraid to stir the pot. 

★★★★★

It’s a typical story of boy meets girl—only, the feelings expressed are ones of resentment. When two people get involved in a road rage incident, it alters the course of their lives forever and ultimately drives them into a downward spiral full of questionable decisions. Beef is an analysis of rage and how it brings people together, and, more regularly, tears them apart. 

Electric Chemistry

It stars Steven Yeun, from The Walking Dead, and Ali Wong, known best for her stand-up comedy specials. The two are brilliant in their own right but truly electric when put together. Yeun plays Danny Cho, a contractor who’s down on his luck and looking for a way out. Wong’s Amy Lau-Nakai is also struggling as she tries to sell her small business to relieve the pressure she’s felt for years. They are each other’s last straw and the actions they take against each other become more and more personal. 

Appearing in supporting roles are Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, and Patti Yasutake. Young Mazino is Danny’s younger brother, a man who has no intention of listening to the advice his sibling constantly attempts to give him. Choe plays Isaac Cho, Danny’s cousin who is involved in many sketchy dealings. Amy’s exasperated husband is portrayed by Lee, who embodies the perfect partner trying to understand his wife’s plight and desire for something more. 

The supporting cast is just as much an asset to this thrill ride as our two main characters. Each has a small, or in some cases large, battle of their own. Every character is agitated but in different ways and creator Lee Sung Jin does a wonderful job of pinning these down and unravelling them in a way that doesn’t take away from the main plot. 

Humanising Rage

Beef takes the cake when it comes to humanising rage. It deliciously showcases the effects of vexation as much closer to home than viewers may have thought. The central characters alienate others in the name of revenge, which unexpectedly pushes the pair closer together. 

The complexities of wrath are at the forefront of Beef—a vital part of the storytelling. What Beef does best is illustrate how rage inspires loneliness. At its very core are two people who see something in each other that they want: Amy despises Danny’s lack of responsibility, while Danny feels jealous of Amy’s wealth. 

However, it’s not all about the meat and potatoes of the plot. This ten-part series strips its characters raw and lets the big questions simmer without coming across as too self-indulgent. Cutting to the bone of what it means to let this kind of fury take over your life, Sung Jin has a good understanding of life after the pandemic. Though the show itself doesn’t make mention to Covid-19, it considers the state of emotion we are all in following its effects. This is part of what makes the characters so relatable. 

© Netflix

A Reflection of Real Life

One of its most relatable lines comes from Danny: “I’m so sick of smiling”. It’s a representation of how many feel following Covid-19 and in the current state of our economy. But Amy notes that displeasure is “just a transitory state of consciousness”. Later, she goes on to say “everything fades, nothing lasts”, just like any emotion. Here, she is talking about her supposedly perfect life, with a family and comfortable lifestyle she achieved through hard work. However, it could be an account of class. In this way, Beef delves deeper into double meanings and its examination of life. 

There are moments when the characters begin to think about existentialism. They ask whether they should really care for the world and people around them when everything is but a fleeting moment in the wholeness of the universe. Suddenly, Beef feels like an evaluation of how trivial our problems can be. 

Amy and Danny both work on overcoming their resentments. Danny turns to the church, which leads to an emotional release neither he nor viewers would have expected. The scene itself is one of the most beautiful the series has to offer in seeing a person break down all their barriers and let their true feelings show. However, even this salvation has a way of pushing his buttons. It suggests that no matter how many times we tell ourselves we’ll change, we’ll often go back to our same old ways. It’s an enjoyable addition to the story, proving humans are, by our very nature, flawed. 

Unique Portrayal

Looking back on the first episode, it sets the tone perfectly for the wild ride audiences are in for. A chase through Los Angeles starts harmlessly enough in a parking lot but as the pursuit continues, the drivers become more reckless. This reflects the appetising story the show follows. Beef’s message is only further developed by the events that transpire, never hindering what it’s trying to say. It shows how reckless humans can be when driven to the edge. 

© Netflix

If soon-to-be viewers are looking for a more legitimate reason to watch, the series was made by Netflix and produced by studio A24—one of the best companies for independent filmmakers. And it definitely shows, with its unique cultural portrayal of a common struggle. 

Once you get to the meat of the show, it’s hard not to spiral into its philosophical questioning. Beef’s fresh plot and characters are cooked to perfection, and viewers won’t want to miss this well done dark comedy. 

Beef is out now on Netflix. 

Words by Gemma Nettle 


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