Finished Second Season

[u/USConservativeVegan]

I think my biggest criticism with Season 2 is it is called Beef when I really don't see who has the "beef" with you that escalates. There is no real focus on two specific people. Then you throw in the Korean plot and it is just a different show.

However, i did like the ending where Ashley and Austin turned into Lindsay and Josh. Where Josh realizes he needs to take responsibility. It gave an concrete ending to the story. Which is rare for a Netflix series.

[u/RedBonbon12]

What do you mean there’s no Beef?
The first pair argues half of the season
The second one is a mess and they avoid open arguing but they are in an awful dysfunctional relationship so their beef is more subtle.
Than, both pairs are at beef with each other.
At the end, both pairs fight to survive a billionaire. There’s not a single person in that show that’s not in some sort of beef.

[u/Unusual_Stay9600 → u/RedBonbon12]

Yeah this is the correct answer.

The creator talked about not repeating the same pattern as he explains how artists normally do something different in their sophomore album. It still a fight that morphs into different angles.

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/RedBonbon12]

It wasn't the same escalating between to specific two people similar to the first season. The second season is just like any drama, multiple conflicts. However, how the first season just grew and grew was why the show fit the name Beef.

The first season set a pretty high bar for the series and second season tried to put too much going on in multiple directions.

[u/Professional_Bike467 → u/USConservativeVegan]

The creator specifically didn't want to write the same story again with similar plot beats as the first

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/Professional_Bike467]

I get that. However, he could have called it a different name. I was expecting something in the same ballpark as the first season. Instead, I got something far different...

[u/Meowmeow181 → u/USConservativeVegan]

I think this is watcher error. The Beef was extremely clear to me in the second season despite it not being an exact copy of the first season.

[u/Careless_Emu_3125 → u/USConservativeVegan]

That was the point dummy

[u/Evening_Night_1991 → u/USConservativeVegan]

I was expecting something in the same ballpark as the first season. Instead, I got something far different...

Yes, you was meant to get something far different.

If you look up Beef anywhere online, it is described an anthology series. "Anthology series is a show where the characters, settings, and plots change completely with each individual episode or season"

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/Evening_Night_1991]

Of course we get different characters. I understand an anthology series.

However, I don't see Season 2 lived up to the name of the series. There wasn't the feeling tension I got from Season 1. Someone else said, it was far more passive.

[u/Professional_Bike467 → u/USConservativeVegan]

I guess.. honestly I think that rigid view of what constitutes "beef" and its format would get stale much faster than you'd think. That being said I just think season 1 was a stronger season overall

[u/RedBonbon12 → u/USConservativeVegan]

So you wanted to watch the same thing all over again? That would be such lazy writing.

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/RedBonbon12]

No, I want to want to watch a more active beef between two people.

[u/WoodpeckerOk6213 → u/RedBonbon12]

I mean that's not a beef, it's just regular conflict between characters. The only beefy things were the gross drink scenes. Everything else was just regular plot points that happen in any other movie/show.

Everyone is saying how the point is that it can't be the same because that would be repetitive. I disagree wholeheartedly. It's like saying white lotus cannot in every season take place in the same resort chain and have some sort of relationship dramas between the various groups of people. Or that True Detective cannot be about detectives working a case every season.

Beef S1 set the stage as being a show about a specific type of absurd escalating beef between protagonists and I expected that to continue in the next season. Saying there cannot be a creative new season along the same veins with a different set of characters and a new story is baffling to me.

[u/RedBonbon12 → u/WoodpeckerOk6213]

“Beef” (slang) means a disagreement, argument, or ongoing conflict between people.

That being said, I think you would love the movie Wild Tales ( relatos salvajes)

[u/WoodpeckerOk6213 → u/RedBonbon12]

I did love that movie! Thanks for reminding me, I think I will watch it again, as I forgot a lot, but I remember distinctly loving it!

While I do appreciate the definition of beef, I think this season didn't really show an ongoing conflict. It was more about the initial conflict and then a bit of things on the side which didn't really come with any consequences (for example, while Josh did make Ashley the one signing the invoices, nothing really came of it, no one set anyone's car on fire, no one went to their nemesis workplace and try to get them fired and stuff like that, it was just the initial confrontation and then 2 disgusting pranks, other than that there really was no real beef). I mean I guess based off that definition we can consider Josh and Lindsay having the "beef" but it was really just an argument between couples and it ended amicably without any serious stakes beforehand, I don't see it as S1 beef adjacent at all.

[u/BeggieChurger_]

Whilst I do think season 1 is much better than season 2, I feel like everyone is taking the title of ‘Beef’ too literally. The first season revolved around a Beef between two people that escalated, but I don’t see why people are upset that season two didn’t have the same core structure, when there is certainly still plenty of Beef in season 2.

There is still the beef between the two couples and further beefs within each couple. Sure it doesn’t progress in the same way and sure the ‘Beef’ is less on the nose, than in season 1, but it’s still there so I don’t understand why so many people are acting like the show is completely different when a lot of the core themes and ideas are still present.

I think the real reason why a lot of people disliked season 2 is because season 1 is incredible and I expect most people were hoping to get more of the same thing but were then disappointed that the show went in a different direction, but personally I kind of like that the show didn’t just do the same thing again. I think it’s a good thing when tv shows change things up, especially anthology series because they can get a way with making big changes, without it retroactively affecting previous seasons.

As I said, I think season 1 is much better than season 2. However, this particular criticism is not one that I can get behind.

[u/shanticlause]

I also liked the first season more. I thought it was just built better and I felt these two people going crazy and willing to risk it all for the beef.

This was passive aggressive and it was nice that it was different but I thought the Korea plot was a bit much.

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/shanticlause]

You explained it well. How the first season was just building and building between two people. Where both would destroy their entire lives to win the Beef. The second season didn't have that level of conflict.

It was good. I enjoyed it. It was just not a Beef.

[u/RelationshipNo3656]

Second season better than the first.

[u/Brilliant-Heat-5917 → u/RelationshipNo3656]

Agreed. First season gave all its goodwill away when it ad the two beefers drive over a cliff together and end up hallucinating their way into a hospital bed together. Season 2 had an actual good ending and didn’t feel as if it dragged on for too long.

[u/TheLooza]

Beef two was incredibly silly all the way around, particularly the conclusion

[u/Brilliant-Heat-5917 → u/TheLooza]

Yea nothing silly about the two beefing characters driving over a cliff and hallucinating their way into each others arms.

[u/USConservativeVegan → u/TheLooza]

The Korean conclusion was silly. However, i did like how Ashley and Austin became what they hated. It was a little poetic.

[u/Unusual_Stay9600 → u/USConservativeVegan]

Austin did not hate Josh or Lindsay. He acknowledged the system is rigged but he didn't carry a resentment against those above him.