Beef Season 2 is available to stream with a Netflix subscription, and if you haven't watched it yet, do so immediately. The season is dense with so much to talk about, from the important messages to the more nuanced things. Unfortunately, I'm hung up on something really stupid, and I'm having trouble moving past something specifically involving Oscar Isaac's Josh.
Why is Josh, the general manager of an exclusive country club that welcomes some of the biggest celebrities, rocking a mullet? I keep asking myself this, and with the hairstyle appearing in every scene, I can't get it out of my head. I have so many questions, but perhaps the biggest among them is: why?
Josh's Mullet Needs Explanation Given The Story
At first, Josh's haircut and the dated look of the country club had me convinced this series took place in the 1990s. Then, I was reminded that everyone is using smartphones, and having Benny Blanco, Michael Phelps, and Phinneas guest-star as themselves further proves this is a modern story. So then, why does a lead character part of a series on the 2026 TV schedule look like he's doing his best to recreate the hairstyle of the late Alan Thicke on Growing Pains?
I kept waiting for it to be referenced, or maybe even one of the younger characters of Beef to point it out. It never happened, so now, despite that awesome fight scene in the finale, I'm just left feeling empty. I know it's not important to the story, but it was so jarring to see this hairstyle in 2026; I feel like it needed to be explained.
Does Josh's Hair Tell Us About His Personality?
While Beef offers no official explanation for the hairstyle, I think there are a few things about Josh that could explain why he has a mullet. He certainly seems to hold onto the past, as evidenced by his collectible sports memorabilia. He also loves Hot Chip, who, as talented as they may be, peaked in pop cultural relevance a couple of decades ago.
More On Beef
I think it's possible, likely even, that Josh's haircut has to do with his refusal to let go of the past. For all the aforementioned reasons, plus the fact that he still seems to blame Lindsay for not giving his mother her seizure meds, which might've played a factor in her death.
It all makes sense, and makes me wonder if the haircut was a result of a storyline or some other plot element that ended up being cut from the story. Then again, that doesn't seem to be the case based on the description of the season back when Beef Season 2 was announced. As such, I'm at a loss for what the haircut is about, and it'll forever drive me mad.
Beef Season 2 is available to stream on Netflix right now. Rewatch it for the crazy mullet, and maybe have a completely different perspective after watching it once again.
