Netflix’s Emmy Winning show “Beef,” by director Lee Sung Jin, showcases a wide variety of genres like comedy, drama, thriller, and even psychological drama. Starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny Cho and Amy Lau, the show entails two miserable strangers who get into a road rage incident. The show spirals from there, as we follow both the lives of Cho, Lau and the hardships they encounter day-to-day. Only when Danny decides to spark revenge does the plot take a wild turn. Both Danny and Amy end up finding out who the other is, and make it their life’s mission to royally screw up the other person’s through a series of elaborate pranks and invasions.
The ten-episode series was released on Netflix April 6, 2023 and has since earned the lead actors both Emmys, and won the “Limited or Anthology Series” Emmy this year. Steven Yeun (Danny Cho) is famous for his roles such as Glen in “The Walking Dead,” while Ali Wong (Amy Lau) is known for her comedy, with titles like “Ali Wong: Don Wong”.
The show takes place in busy Southern California, with two characters who despise one another despite their glaring similarities. Throughout the show, the scripting is comical yet witty, depicting relatable characters and their exhaustion with the lives they’re living. Each character has a very different personality, living contrasting lives and making clashing actions against the other.
The acting is nothing short of brilliant from each individual who performed, which made for an extremely realistic story. It just makes sense that Yeun and Wong received Emmys for their portrayals, as both actors embodied their characters so very well. They nailed the leads’ quirks and personalities in an extraordinary way. Besides the two main characters, each supporting character added their own deal of depth to the show. Every character weaved in an element that another could not provide.
This show has easily made its way into my top 10 favorite shows of all-time, as it’s funny, yet extremely intense. I was left on the edge of my seat after every episode; there wasn’t a second of this show that was boring. The true kicker is the ending. No one expects it. Without spoiling it, I will say that the two’s hatred for each other goes further and further throughout the series, with both going to extreme lengths to ruin the other’s life. So much so, that the series ends in a bloody mess . . .
“I hate pretending that I don’t hate things,” is a quote from character Amy Lau that stuck with me after watching the show in only two days. It serves to remind myself and others that you don’t always have to be positive. Your feelings are valid, especially in moments of severe stress and exhaustion. Overall, the show’s message is similar to just that; you don’t always need to be happy, but empathy goes a long way when two people are angry, tired, and miserable.