You can tell a show is working when your body responds physically to the unfolding events on screen. Whether that is holding your head in your hands when a character makes a questionable decision, or wincing uncomfortably at an argument or revelation. Netflix’s Beef held that power over audiences when it premiered in 2023. However, with its latest season reframing the show as an anthology series, it’s fair to wonder whether that success can be replicated without losing its novelty. Yet, Beef Season 2 only further proves that creator Lee Sung Jin possesses an undeniable magic touch.
The multi-award-winning Netflix original series took the world by storm for several reasons. Perhaps most interesting was the core themes of simmering rage and revenge, emotions so prominent in the current state of our world. What Beef did so competently was use those unchecked and all-consuming feelings to forge unforgettable drama. Though the second season leaves behind the original characters, setting, and circumstances, it retains everything that made the show such a compulsive watch in the first place.
Trouble at Monte Vista Point
Monte Vista Point Country Club’s general manager, Josh (Oscar Issac), and wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) enjoy a local level of fame garnered from the club’s elite members. But, of course, no couple is as put together as they may seem on the surface. Following the formula, the events of this season transpire from an inciting incident that knocks two couples off their mundane paths. Two of the club’s employees, Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Charles Melton) — a food and beverage cart driver and a part-time personal trainer, respectively — are newly engaged and now feeling the strain of trying to build a new life together in this economy.
Courtesy of Netflix
Tasked with returning Josh’s wallet to his house one night, Ashley and Austin stumble upon the couple in the midst of a heated altercation. They film the incident, not intending any harm, at least at first. However, as their own circumstances grow increasingly arduous, the footage becomes the perfect leverage to climb the ranks within the country club. A brutal game of cat and mouse spirals far outside the realm of just the two couples.
Lee Sung Jin Avoids the Sophomore Slump
The relationship dynamics are far more complex in Beef Season 2, with the story hinging on both the fragility and resilience that come with having a partner. What’s the difference between having a romantic partner who is your most vocal cheerleader vs. if they are your worst enemy? While the two couples initially seem like polar opposites, they begin to mirror one another as time wears on. Their shifting alliances, both instinctive and strategic, constantly evolve, sustaining a relentless momentum that pulses through every episode.
Courtesy of Netflix
When it comes to the writing, creator/showrunner Lee Sung Jin is just as deliberate as he was last season. Few shows can juggle so many ideas about relationships, culture, and human flaws so eloquently. Each of these themes has room to breathe, and they are woven throughout Beef Season 2 in such a cohesive way that avoids feeling overwhelming or undercooked. Jin, or Sonny Lee as he’s known to his collaborators, strikes a careful balance between gripping tension, bursts of dark comedy, and the occasional adrenaline-fuelled set piece. At its best, Beef Season 2 is wildly entertaining and excitingly unpredictable.
A Stacked Ensemble at the Top of their Game
This season’s ensemble brings together a mix of established household names and some of Hollywood’s most exciting rising talent. The great Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) deftly capture the fine line between fierce disdain and waves of adoration in Josh and Lindsay’s relationship. Arguably, they shine brightest in their individual scenes, showcasing moments that peel back the layers of their characters without having each other as a crutch.
Courtesy of Netflix
Those who have been following the budding careers of Cailee Spaeny, best known for Alien: Romulus, Civil War, and Priscilla, and Charles Melton, who came up to prominence in Riverdale and became more well-known in May December and Warfare, will find their excellence here no surprise. Spaeny crafts a compelling portrait of a young woman with a rigid vision of her future, one that gradually fractures under the weight of expectation, intrusive thoughts, and hidden secrets. Melton adopts a slightly more restrained approach but delivers on every front with some of the best line reads of the entire show. He quietly turns each moment into a home run.
Beef Season 2 is a Must-See on Netflix
The show’s four main leads carry the bulk of the narrative weight, but not without support. Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung (Minari) appears as the country club’s elusive chairwoman, while Parasite star Song Kang-ho plays her plastic surgeon husband, Dr. Kim. Though their screen time is fairly limited, their presence looms large, with their arc building toward a tense final face-off that brings all of the characters together on the streets of Seoul, South Korea.
Once again, Beef collides heightened emotion with extraordinary circumstances to deliver a wild ride. Not just wild in story and performance, but as a complete experience. In an age where viewers are inundated with things to watch, Beef stands out as a true all-rounder, with artistry felt in every corner. From its gorgeous cinematography to its energy-boosting needle drops, it’s a rare example of a show that genuinely delivers on all of the expectations it has set.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Beef Season 2 premieres on Netflix on April 16!
Created by Lee Sung Jin.
Showrunner: Lee Sung Jin.
Series Directors: Lee Sung Jin, Jake Schreier, & Kitao Sakurai.
Executive Producers: Lee Sung Jin, Jake Schreier, Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Anna Moench, Kitao Sakurai, & Ethan Kuperberg.
Main Cast: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton, Cailee Spaeny, Youn Yuh-jung, Seoyeon Jang, William Fichtner, Mikaela Hoover, Matthew Kim, & Song Kang-ho.
Composer: Finneas O’Connell.
Production Companies: A24, Bugsy Bell Productions, Universal Remote, Buji Productions, & Domo Arigato Productions.
Network: Netflix.
Episode Count: 8 (Season Two).
