‘Beef’ Season 1 is Bonkers (Complimentary)
Ali Wong and Steven Yeun in Beef | Credit: Netflix
A simple act of road rage leads strangers Danny (Steven Yeun) and Amy (Ali Wong) into a strange spiral, leading their lives to become intertwined.
I had been meaning to watch Beef season one for years. I had heard such good things about this show, but just never made time to watch it. But before the second season came out, I had to know what this show was all about—and I’m so glad that I did.
This season of TV is a wild ride. Each action by Danny and Amy was so unexpected that I needed to know what would happen next. My curiosity wouldn’t allow me to stop watching. The writing in this show is, of course, fantastic, but so are the performances, particularly from the two leads.
Ali Wong is incredible as Amy. She maintains this composed facade that she’s supposed to wear, while this unbelievable rage simmers beneath the surface. She is someone who has suppressed her emotions for so long and needs to let them out in some way. But she also exists within a culture that requires her to keep it all together, and an upcoming business deal necessitates her ability to maintain the life that she has created for herself. You feel all of this tension and conflict in Wong’s performance.
Steven Yeun is equally great in the role of Danny, who is down on his luck and desperately needs to catch a break. He’s a hard worker, but as a result of a series of mistakes, he finds himself struggling to make ends meet. Though he can be an absolutely infuriating character, there’s something endearing about him. You want to see him succeed, even though things keep going wrong in his world. And Yeun perfectly brings that complexity to life.
Amy seems to have the perfect life, but she isn’t fulfilled. Danny is struggling to get by and doesn’t know how he’s going to make it. Both of these characters feel trapped with no way out, and this road rage incident allows them to express parts of their personalities that they’ve kept hidden for too long.
Ali Wong and Steven Yeun in Beef | Credit: Netflix
I wasn’t sure how the premise of Beef would lend itself to an entire season of television, but it absolutely works! Each episode is jam-packed with wild things that these two characters do, impacting their families and their businesses. And just when you think it can’t get wilder, it somehow does.
Each episode is paced perfectly, giving each character’s story enough room to breathe, while never neglecting a necessary explosive moment. It’s also incredibly funny to watch the characters navigate these impossible situations, somehow constantly making things worse for themselves. And even when they seem to be winning, you know that something will go wrong eventually.
The dialogue is witty, the characters are memorable, and the performances are absolutely fantastic! Not to mention, it’s a beautifully shot TV show. All throughout this wild ride, there are moments of beauty to enjoy.
Beef season one is complex, funny, and a great watch. And it’s one that I look forward to returning to in the future.
Check out our review of Beef season 2 wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube!