Beef Early Review

There is perhaps no other series that makes the most out of its premise than Beef. Not a series about meat, this one is a dark dramedy that brings a pair of unlikely characters together for better or worse. Over the course of the season, it evolves, or devolves, into something much more than its simple premise and it is in that chaos where it truly thrives. As compelling as it is hilarious, the series is an acting showcase featuring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as adversaries. Despite coming from different walks of life, there were a lot of similarities there as they were both cheated by the world in different ways. In the midst of all that chaos, it was that exploration of how these characters that will keep viewers hooked throughout unexpected twists and turns. Beyond Yeun and Wong, representation is also a highlight here as its primarily Asian cast make for a universal story about a clashing of circumstances that is sure to resonate with all viewers. Above all else, the vision, strong writing and performances from Yeun, Wong, and others, lead the way by adding complexity and grounding the ridiculousness in humanity that shines above all else.

Beef is about the other kind of beef, that being the issue that two people have with one another. The two people in this case are Danny Cho (Yeun), a struggling contractor, and Amy Lau (Wong), a self-made entrepreneur with a seemingly perfect life. The series follows the aftermath of a destructive road rage incident as a result of some pent-up frustration. However, as far as they were concerned, their road rage was only the beginning. Evolving into a full-on feud, the consequences of their actions permeated into their everyday lives and relationships. Meanwhile, their incident did not go unnoticed by their communities, This darkly comedic character study saw Danny and Amy try to get back at one another in a series of ridiculous situations as their lives were dominated by their petty need for revenge instead of simply moving on. While their rivalry was entertaining in and of itself, diving deeper into the characters was just as compelling as the series proved to much more than the rivalry between Danny and Amy. At the end of the day, the two were flawed people who were merely trying to get through their complicated lives and it was through these lives that the story helped humanized them.

Trying to make ends meet to support himself and his younger brother Paul (Young Mazino), Danny ran their struggling family contractor business following losing the motel their family ran. Simply trying to do what he thought the world wanted from him, the world kept finding a way to knock him down. All that pressure to be a big brother and provider and the insecurity about being enough really got to him as he was forced to turn to some nefarious means to get by. A first-born son of Korean immigrant parents, that pressure came from them by instilling in him the idea of the kind of life he should live. However, this wasn’t necessarily the case in reality in a different country where the priority was survival. That being said, not accomplishing what he believed he should have accomplished at this point while being surrounded by those better off than him would only exacerbate that pressure. As far as his relationship with his parents was concerned, it was all about living by the example they set for him and to pay it forward for what they’ve done for him and his brother. Essentially from different generations, Paul was the more submissive of the two both emotionally and mentally despite being more physically imposing, often followed his brother’s lead instead of having his attempt to branch out thwarted. The arc of that relationship was also compelling to watch.

Amy hit a rut in her life both professionally and personally. As mentioned, seemingly living a perfect life with her artist husband George (Joseph Lee) and their daughter June (Remy Holt), it became increasingly clear that there were so many more feelings percolating below the surface. Even with all of her success, Amy was disrespected by her mother-in-law Fumi (Patti Yasutake) and above all else, felt an overwhelming sense of emptiness on the inside while trying to hold it all together on the outside for her family’s sake. As her potential future hinged on a deal with the cultural appropriating CEO of a successful retail store chain, Jordan Forster (Maria Bello), to sell her plant store so she can focus on spending more time with her daughter. Unfortunately, just like David, she and her life began to unravel in a way that trickled down to everyone and everything around her. The result was a slow burning powder keg that was ready to explode at any point, it was just a matter of when. Also, just like David, she was trying to move forward but just couldn’t let things go. Ultimately, their collective journeys, and their ups and downs, as they grew as characters delivered. Being flawed, of course they made plenty of mistakes along the way but in the end, however it was going to end, it would end with David and Amy.

The roller coaster season is most felt near the end as it takes a turn tonally as the powder kegs that were David and Amy inevitably collide. As the stakes grew, the last two episodes bring a surprising amount of tension to the table as the circumstances of their decisions led them and those close to them in danger. And it was that danger that brought David and Amy together for better or worse as they finally had a chance to air their grievances. Though they came from different walks of life, they were more alike than they realized. Already an acting and writing showcase, those last two episodes take it to another level with Yeun and Wong and their excellent chemistry leading the way as the season goes deep as it makes a landing and it hits it easily while leaving the door open for David and Amy. Now where they’ll go from here remains to be seen.

Overall, Beef is an exceptional dark comedy that delivers a surprisingly emotional ride that is equal parts hilarious and thrilling. Strong writing and performances from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong create a watch that will be hard to forget.

still courtesy of Netflix

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.