What is Beef about? The Netflix series explained
NetflixBeef stole the show for Netflix at the 2024 Golden Globes — so, here’s what the series is about, who’s in the cast, and if it’s worth watching.
One of Netflix’s biggest hits of 2023 was Beef, a binge-worthy ride that tells the story of two strangers who let their resentments get the better of them amid a sense of deep-rooted familial pressure.
Beef ended up being Netflix’s crowning glory at the 2024 Golden Globes (winning Best Television Limited Series), a recognition that cemented its status as one of the best TV shows of last year.
If you missed it during the peak of its hype and want to know what the deal is, here’s everything you need to know about Beef.
What is Beef about?
Beef is a 10-episode comedy-drama that follows an evolving and turbulent connection between two people — Danny and Amy — who first encounter each other after a vicious road rage incident.
Check out the trailer below:
The official synopsis reads: “Beef follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers. Danny Cho, a failing contractor with a chip on his shoulder, goes head-to-head with Amy Lau, a self-made entrepreneur with a picturesque life. The increasing stakes of their feud unravel their lives and relationships in this darkly comedic and deeply moving series.”
Showrunner Lee Sung Jin has discussed how Beef was partly inspired by a real-life road rage situation he encountered, in which he was honked and yelled at by another driver. “In the moment I was like ‘I am going to follow this car,'” he said [via IndieWire].
“And then we were stuck in traffic going the same way for about an hour. I think in his mind, he thought I was a lunatic following him through all of Los Angeles, and in my mind, the anger had dissipated and I was just commuting home and listening to happy music.”
Beef cast: Who’s in it?
The Beef cast is led by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as Danny and Amy, the two hateful strangers who wind up crossing into each other’s lives.
Here’s the full Beef cast:
- Steven Yeun as Danny Cho
- Ali Wong as Amy Lau
- Joseph Lee as George Nakai
- Young Mazino as Paul Cho
- David Choe as Isaac Cho
- Patti Yasutake as Fumi Nakai
- Maria Bello as Jordan Forster
- Ashley Park as Naomi Forster
- Justin H. Min as Edwin
- Mia Serafino as Mia
- Remy Holt as June
- Andrew Santino as Michael
- Rek Lee as Bobby
NetflixYeun will be well-known to fans for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible, and his Oscar-nominated performance in 2020’s Minari. Ali Wong is a stand-up comedian and actress who’s appeared in Birds of Prey, Fresh Off the Boat, and Big Mouth.
You can read more about the cast of Netflix’s Beef here.
Is Beef worth watching?
Beef received critical acclaim and plenty of awards attention after it was released. Currently, the Netflix show has 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
If you like off-beat comedy, strong characters, and plenty of dramatic clashes, then you’ll probably love Beef. Safe to say, it’s one of the most well-received shows to come out of Netflix in the past few years. Review-wise, it’s pretty much all good news.
The New York Times wrote of the show: “What makes this one of the most invigorating, surprising and insightful debuts of the past year is how personally and culturally specific its study of anger is.”
Vulture meanwhile highlighted the “paradoxically pleasurable sensation of anxiety and satisfaction,” adding: “Yeun and Wong’s vibrating, hostile chemistry makes for engaging feel-bad TV that critiques the very notion of inner peace.”
Beef is available for streaming on Netflix now. You can find out if it’s based on a true story here, check out the most binge-worthy shows to watch now, and see what’s going on with the Netflix password sharing.
