If you haven’t heard about Beef, Netflix’s latest buzzy TV show, you will very, very soon. In the six days since the show’s April 6 release date, it has already whipped up thousands of fans among both audiences and critics.
The 10-episode comedy-disaster-revenge show has been causing a stir for many reasons, one of which is its amazing score, composed by The Haxan Cloak (aka Bobby Krlic, who also made the music for Ari Aster‘s horror film Midsommar) as well as its incredible, increasingly byzantine plot, which is action-based but is also wickedly funny and deeply moving.
Here’s everything to know about the show, just before it absolutely blows up.
What is Beef about?
Beef tells the story of Los Angeles residents Danny, a contractor, and Amy, a small business owner, who get into a road rage fight. It could end there, but Danny and Amy are not normal people. They decide to get revenge on each other for their parts in the incident, and slowly the event, and their subsequent actions, start to consume them both.
Who is in it?
Korean-American actor Steven Yeun and American comedian Ali Wong star as Danny and Amy, Beef’s central protagonists. Steven Yeun is probably best known for playing Glenn Rhee in The Walking Dead, but the actor went on to earn an Oscar nomination for playing immigrant father Jacob Yi in Lee Isaac Chung’s award-winning Korean film Minari. He’s also had roles in Okja (2017), The Humans (2021) and Nope (2022).
Ali Wong, who was included in Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020, has had three Netflix comedy specials – Baby Cobra (2016), Hard Knock Wife (2018), and Don Wong (2022), which were all very well received across the board. Most recently she’s had acting roles in Prime show Paper Girls, Netflix’s adult animated show Human Resources and in Hulu’s Love, Victor.
Beef’s cast also includes illustrator and actor David Choe, Patti Yasutake (Star Trek: First Contact), painter and actor Joseph Lee, Young Mazino (Fish Bones), Ashley Park (Emily in Paris), Maria Bello (Coyote Ugly), Justin H. Min (The Umbrella Academy ) and Andrew Santino (House Party).
Who is behind it?
The show has been created by Lee Sung Jin, who was a writer on FX comedy series Dave, and on the comedy series 2 Broke Girls. Jake Schreier, who has directed music videos for major artists including Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco is the show’s producing director (he directed six of the show’s ten episodes), Sung Jin directed one episode, and the remaining three were directed by Hikari (aka Mitsuyo Miyazaki).
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about Amy and Danny, Sung Jin said, “They have seen the true versions of themselves, and there’s something very freeing about that, when someone sees you as you actually are and there is no judgment there.
“We have to stare at ourselves and at reality and all the non-light parts of it. And if someone can see that in you and not be repulsed and be like, ‘Actually, that’s me, too,’ that is true connection and the only thing that can help us move forward and grow.”
A24, the super studio behind Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Whale and TV show Euphoria are the production company behind Beef, which, given the studio’s track record, partly explains why Beef is being heralded as such a hit.
Is there a trailer?
What are the critics saying?
The critics loved it, with The Telegraph saying, “This wickedly funny, expertly written show begins as a road-rage revenge story – then becomes a blistering, Parasite-style social satire,” and with The Guardian calling it, “a rare delicacy”, saying, “Like much of A24’s output, Beef makes strides in onscreen representation, with another show about people we don’t get to see enough of on television. By which I don’t mean Asian American people – although that, too – I mean extremely angry people.”
“The most gratifying reveals in the ten-part Netflix series aren’t the wild escalations of the central pair but their rich psychological shadings,” said The New Yorker. “Beef is the best Netflix show since Squid Game,” said GQ.
There were a few criticisms in the mix, with Vulture saying, “Watching Beef’s ten episodes, which premiere all at once on April 6, is like picking at a scab or pushing on the edge of a bruise — a paradoxically pleasurable sensation of anxiety and satisfaction,” adding, “At times, the series coasts on repetitive themes as the pair dig themselves into ever deeper pits of resentment.” But, on the whole, comments about the show have been overwhelmingly positive.
Why Beef is fast becoming one of the buzziest TV shows of the year
In just under a week Beef has not only raked in these glowing reviews, but has picked up a load of fans, many of whom have turned online to rave about the show.
“Me trying to stay sane after watching the most riveting show in a while. They ate down with the casting, performances, and writing. Soundtracks were insane…” tweeted one fan, while another said, “Stayed up all night obsessively watching #BEEFNetflix. I don’t think I’ve been this tense/ mouth agape since GoT.”
The number of great reviews has been so surprising, in fact, that it provoked several news articles. “‘Beef’ hailed as best TV show of the year,” said NME, while The Independent reported that, “Netflix’s ‘wild’ dark comedy series Beef earns near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.”
It means that in a number of days it’s likely that you won’t be able to move without hearing someone talk about Beef. Watch this space.
Me trying to stay sane after watching the most riveting show in a while. They ate down with the casting, performances, and writing. Soundtracks were insane… A multilayered that touches on so many underlying issues(mental health, trauma, and familial duties). #BEEFNetflix pic.twitter.com/nQhf4DlQqv
— heebejeebes era (@bruh16110500) April 9, 2023
Stayed up all night obsessively watching #BEEFNetflix. I don’t think I’ve been this tense/ mouth agape since GoT.
— kourt 💐 (@SoloLust) April 8, 2023
This shit was beautiful and the soundtrack was 👨🏽🍳💋 pic.twitter.com/Eu0Xqe63lW
No because I had to binge all of #BEEFNetflix in one night. My favorite thing I’ve watched since Severance. Actors slayed. Music slayed. Getting to see a diverse and majority Asian cast, a rare, beautiful slay. Layers yall. I’m gonna be thinking about this one for a whileee. pic.twitter.com/RGT66nAP5t
— Pen Chan (@QuinnPenChan) April 7, 2023
I watched Beef on a whim and Good Lord that show is an achievement. Pitch-black comedy blended with searing drama and an intense examination of how and why people are "broken". One of the most unique shows I've seen in a while. And Steven Yeun and Ali Wong? SUPERB.#BeefNetflix pic.twitter.com/bRgvxNFVBG
— Jared Kozal 💛❤️💙🤍 (@jkozal) April 9, 2023
