You know those “Am I The Asshole” threads on Reddit? The ones where (mostly) anonymous posters narrate what they’ve done, and ask Redditors if they’ve been an asshole? What if someone took all those situations and dramatised them in a way that showed scathing insights into the nature of humanity?
That’s what Beef is. It might be a show about a massive feud between two individuals, but it’s also about these individual actions which, when taken in context and individuality, aren’t all that bad – but add up to show just how much of an asshole each character is.
And I love it. I love seeing my own human flaws magnified and reflected. I love seeing the hypocrisy called out. I love seeing just how messed up we are as people. It’s the truth, the truth hurts, but the truth is also liberating.
Synopsis
Beef is a comedy drama series. It revolves around two strangers who get into a drawn-out conflict with each other. They find each other drawn into the lives and orbit of those around them, even as their beef with each other reaches ever escalating levels of toxicity and pettiness.
Creator: Lee Sung Jin
Directors: Jake Schreier, Hikari, and Lee Sung Jin
Writers: Lee Sung Jin, Jean Kyoung Frazier, Marie Hanhnhon Nguyen, Kevin Rosen, Joanna Calo, Niko Gutierrez-Kovner, Alice Ju, Carrie Kemper, and Alex Russell
Cast:
- Steven Yeun (Danny Cho)
- Ali Wong (Amy Lau)
- Joseph Lee (George Nakai)
- Young Mazino (Paul Cho)
- David Choe (Isaac Cho)
- Patti Yasutake (Fumi Nakai)
- Maria Bello (Jordan Forster)
- Ashley Park (Naomi)
- Mia Serafino (Mia)
- Remy Holt (June)
- Justin H. Min (Edwin)
Running time: 30 – 39 minutes
Episodes: 10
Everybody is so incredibly fucked up
Every character seems normal when we first meet them – until one or two episodes later, when we learn just how messed up and selfish they are. It says something when you have a cast full of horribly flawed characters – each with a disgusting secret (or more) that they’re keeping from everyone else – that you can’t help but keep watching. But why? Why can’t you peel your eyes from their awfulness?
Because it’s true. Because it’s real life. Because that’s the way actual human beings are. It’s just that we never get to be omniscient, we never get to see every person for the messed up individual that they are. It makes for great entertainment – and the relief of catharsis.
Seeing our flaws on screen brings insight and catharsis
Beef brings us such catharsis because it lets us examine our own flaws under the blindingly obvious lens of television. Nobody would willingly admit to being a control freak like Amy (Ali Wong) or a manipulative bastard like Danny (Steven Yeun). Nobody would readily admit to being an eunuched artist like George (Joseph Lee) or a man-child like Paul (Young Mazino). Yet many of us are these characters (or in some cases, more than one character).
To see that behaviour depicted in others, on screen, allows us to reflect on and critique our own behaviours – because when the behaviour is externalised, it’s so much easier to see it for what it is. It allows us to finally breathe again, knowing that we’re not alone in our behaviour – while helping us to understand and see what it is that we do. And for that, for these pearls of wisdom about the human condition – Beef is a masterpiece in human psychology.
Steven Yuen and Ali Wong’s performances
It’s said that when we hate other people, it’s because we see the character traits that we’ve disowned in them. And that’s exactly the case in Danny and Amy’s feud. As different as they are, they’re both very similar, very fucked up individuals who need to exert absolute control over their circumstances, and are willing to stoop to any level to do it. Steven Yuen delivers a poignant performance as the longsuffering son who sabotages others to keep them at his level, while Ali Wong leverages on her comic timing to portray an anal bitch who secretly just wants to be loved. While you loathe them, you also love them. And that’s the depth of their characterisation, that you can have so many conflicting feelings for the main characters.
Tight storytelling
It’s amazing how much plot has been packed into just ten episodes. Virtually every named character in the show has his or her own arc – what seems like a throwaway character in one episode ends up having an entire character journey by the end of the series, showing us the repercussions of each character’s journey. The tug of war between Danny and Amy is like seeing table tennis veterans at work – such an elegant dance of power between the pair that laves you wondering where the scales will tip next. The best part is how the storylines of the characters all mirror each other’s situation, allowing for thematic juxtaposition and affording us greater comprehension into the flaws of humanity.
A thinking man’s show
So dense and packed is the writing, that you truly cannot miss a word that’s being said. Many plots unfold offscreen, with only context and comments to fill you in on what happened. As a result… I had to look up several Reddits to find out what happened, only to find that many people had missed out on the same key points I did. It’s not just a show to be passively consumed, but a drama that requires constant inferences and engagement to truly understand what’s happening.
What’s up with Burger King?
It is clear, however, that Burger King must have been a huge sponsor of the show. Otherwise, the amusing number of product placements can only be an ironic nod to incidentals. While it’s hilarious to find that the two protagonists love the same fast food, it’s also really, really weird to see Burger King’s logo front and centre in those episodes. Maybe Burger King wasn’t that big a sponsor, but it was noticeable enough for me to write about it (and to give Burger King even more coverage).
Conclusion
Beef showcases the cruelty of humans, while also undercutting with small touches of humanity. It is fiction, after all, so it’s not like you’ll lose faith in humanity (or perhaps you will, when you delight too much in the misfortunes others). Whether or not you enjoy the schadenfreude on display, one thing is clear. Beef tells it like it is when it comes to human beings, and that makes for compelling, bingeworthy drama.
Score: 8.6/10
Beef is available on Netflix now.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
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