Beef Season 1 Review

Beef (2023-)
Season 1 - 10 episodes

Watch Beef on Netflix
Created by: Lee Sung Jin
Starring: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, Ashley Park, Maria Bello
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer

Plot
Two people let a road rage incident slowly consume their every thought and action.

Verdict
One incident causes Danny and Amy to act recklessly as an escape from their insecurities and failures. They can't let it go, and they become poised to mess up their own lives in the pursuit of ruining their adversary's. While it's not enjoyable to see them cause harm to themselves and others, it is gripping. Plights like this only get worse, and that's exactly what happens here. This season does conclude the story satisfactorily.
Watch It.

Review
Danny (Steven Yeun) is already on edge after an encounter with a rude cashier, though it does seem Danny is abusing the return policy. Distracted by that, he almost backs into a passing car who seemed not to notice Danny. Of course it's a Mercedes SUV, and Danny flies into a rage after being honked at and flipped off. He follow the car before it finally gets away. Danny overreacts, but you get why. It doesn't justify his response, but like a lot of people frustrations boil over. Danny is a struggling contractor trying to make ends meet.

The driver of the other vehicle is Amy (Ali Wong), a rich married woman trying to sell her business. She's flustered with the difficulties in making the deal. Danny can't let it go, and escalates the situation while inadvertently revealing the name of his business.

Ali Wong, Steven Yeun play Amy, Danny

It quickly becomes clear that Danny and Amy are frustrated and struggling. This road rage incident becomes the one thing they think can be controlled and won. At no point do they consider stopping. They can't let the other best them, and what's so compelling about this show is how common these thoughts and actions are.

Both head down a self destructive path. Danny becomes desperate to keep his business afloat and makes risky alliances. They decide not just to get back at the other, but also involve family. Just when they reach a point where you think they've moved on, the situation comes back to bite them. Neither can let go. It's the guilt that gets them. 

Danny and Amy lash out at others due to their own struggles. When you feel that loss of control, you want it back, whether you're middle or upper class. We often think winning an argument will provide that sense of control and comfort, but it often makes the situation worse. If Danny and Amy could have discussed their feelings, they would see their similarities, but that only happens when forced. It usually doesn't happen naturally because they're both focused on winning, and beating the other person.

This show escalates way farther than I would have imagined. The thirty minute episode length keeps the pace quick, and makes thinking just one more episode all the easier. There is a lot of 90s music and covers, which I really liked. The story is relevant as road rage is prevalent. This gives us insight into both sides, seeing that the escalating argument is fruitless and harmful. Everyone is going through something, and those frustrations are usually taken out on someone that doesn't deserve it.