Beef Season 2 Review: Netflix's Acclaimed Drama Returns with Stellar Cast
Netflix's debut season of Beef, crafted by Korean-American screenwriter Lee Sung Jin, burst onto screens back in 2023 like an unexpected early morning collision. Fierce, jaw-dropping, and a sharp inhale of fresh air amid today's oversaturated media landscape, the intense 10-episode feud between Steven Yeun and Ali Wong felt like the pinnacle of what small screen entertainment had been working towards.
After a frustrating three-year wait, Beef remains essential viewing, though its lengthy absence and an ambitious yet slightly overreaching expansion of its original premise means the glowing reviews may not flow quite so freely this time around.
Season Two's Gripping Yet Overstuffed Narrative
Season two's gripping yet overstuffed eight-part drama centres on two romantic couples — Gen Z country club workers Austin (played by Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny), alongside their general manager Josh (Oscar Isaac) and his interior designer wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan).
Friction emerges when Austin and Ashley stumble upon a ferocious row between the older pair that threatens to turn physical, and the financially struggling younger couple spot what appears to be a golden opportunity to get ahead. However, their blackmail plot quickly ensnares them in a broader conspiracy involving the club's billionaire owner, Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung) and her husband, a distinguished South Korean doctor portrayed by Parasite's Song Kang-ho.
Exceptional Character Development Across Class Lines
Beef season two's greatest assets rest in Lee's exceptional character development, now displayed across three tiers of an increasingly pronounced class structure the screenwriter positions as the series' primary antagonist.
- Austin and Ashley's struggling workers
- Upper-middle-class Josh and Lindsay, who are compelled to embezzle to attain the affluence they believe they deserve
- Ultra-wealthy Park, who commands an army of underlings to manipulate circumstances on her behalf
Anti-capitalist themes are admittedly beginning to feel overused, though Lee's writing is astute enough to highlight the contradiction inherent in broadcasting an 'eat the rich' satire on the globe's most dominant streaming service.
Standout Performances and Character Dynamics
Swaggering yet spineless Josh, portrayed masterfully by Isaac with his charisma deliberately subdued, insincerely empathises with his financially struggling employees at every opportunity, while Ashley's immediate reaction to season two's most gut-wrenching incident concerns how much her medical expenses will amount to.
Rather than revelling in the picturesque surroundings and extravagance available to the club's affluent clientele, Beef has more substance beyond the hollow aesthetics of similar White Lotus imitators. We frequently shift from Josh and Lindsay, arguably the standout thanks to Mulligan's spoilt yet somehow still charming presence, adorned in designer labels and upmarket, muted-toned décor to Austin and Ashley's cramped and sterile quarters.
The Challenge of Character Connection
As a viewer rapidly approaching 30 myself, it's with the struggling Gen Zs that I ought to feel the strongest connection, though one of Beef season two's greatest obstacles is how difficult it is to determine who to support. This is a critique I attempt to avoid, as there are numerous films, dramas and novels I've adored that are packed with utterly despicable characters, though with this cast it's less that I despise them and more that they're inconsistent.
Just when Ashley, for instance, is becoming a favourite, she'll do or say something so frustratingly foolish that I begin backing Josh. And then the pattern repeats when Josh and Lindsay embark on another heated row and Austin becomes the most tolerable, though this nearly always backfires as the puppy dog-eyed personal trainer is perhaps the least intelligent of the lot.
International Elements and Future Potential
Meanwhile, Youn is almost Bond villain-esque as Chairwoman Park, proving why she was the first Korean actress to win an Academy Award every second she's on screen, even if both herself and fellow Korean superstar Song's roles in the tangled narrative are a little undercooked.
As South Korea's grip on the American economy becomes increasingly central in season two, it's almost a disappointment that Beef chose an anthology format, given how much remains unexplored and how exhausting the American quintet can be at times — though it's difficult to imagine these storylines won't resurface in what seems like an inevitable third season.
Final Verdict on Netflix's Ambitious Drama
Ultimately, Beef is once again outstanding viewing that distinguishes itself from much of Netflix's background-noise content, even if it falls marginally short of the first season. Lee's exceptional drama demands your full attention and isn't suited to half-hearted watching — the frequent subtitled Korean dialogue alone confirms that — but there's genuinely no justification for it taking a staggering three years to produce.
As frustration mounts over shows like Stranger Things taking painfully lengthy hiatuses between series, Netflix may need to apply some pressure to ensure a third instalment of Beef doesn't arrive having gone completely cold.
Beef season 2 is available to stream on Netflix.
