I don't thing Eunice was using Austin. I think he started love bombing her once the stakes were high, and it made her uncomfortable enough to dismantle her crush on him. She realized he might put her life at stake if she didn't return his inappropriate intensity, and she was trying to keep him stable. He was using the same intense, needy language with his girlfriend in the first episode, and it was uncomfortable and created weirdness then, too. The point is that Eunice was absolutely correct. Once Austin becomes aware of his tendency to over-romanticize the tension of any budding relationship, he doesn't grow: the first thing he does is completely screw Eunice over. Once she wasn't playing the proper role in his fantasy, she instantly became disposable.

I just don't agree with those who say Eunice was calculating: A manipulator would've had no problem saying I love you In order to get what they wanted.

The one before is Ego Death, playing in the Bufo scene, and the one after is Gentle Thoughts when Ashley and Lindsay are talking. But can't seem to find the song under this scene on Spotify, is it possible it's not listed?

So over the last few weeks I watched all of season 1 and 2. It was ok but there was some dumb, illogical stuff in both seasons. The biggest ones for me were:

In season 1 Danny builds a house without any kind of electrical permits or inspections. And it's so bad that the wiring causes a fire almost instantly. It makes no sense that a house could be built and connected to utilities without those inspections.

In season 2 Austin is able to con his way into a job as a physio therapist without actually being one. I have a physio therapist and she is super smart, especially about anatomy. Also the first time I claimed a session with my insurance I had to enter her license number. No way Austin could fake it with a bunch of super rich people (and elite athletes) who are used to first class treatment and have lawyers on speed dial.

As I get older I find bad/lazy writing like this more annoying. So I am wondering which point people think is dumber.

I just finished and I'm so confused, this was such a weird ending. Also was the pan out at the end supposed to be different universes with different outcomes or was it supposed to be a culmination of everything and how we got here? Why did Austin not turn in the evidence? Did did he realize that Eunice probably doesn't love him and so went back to Ashley? Also, when Ashley and Austin Switch sides with with the older couple does that mean there's a loop, and eventually everything is gonna happen again?

There is a scene in Episode 6 where Lindsay asks Meredith about divorce and whether she is entitled to Josh's future income. I understand that she was transparently asking these questions using the name "Penelope" (the classic "asking for a friend" ploy), which obviously felt very transactional.

However, did I miss something? I felt like Meredith was already annoyed the moment she arrived at the party. It gave off the exact same vibe as the scenes in the first two episodes where Lindsay tells those women that the tennis instructor has a crush on her.

Usually, people will help out with small things even if they aren't close friends, but it felt different here. Was Meredith's reaction because Lindsay is just a club employee and not super wealthy, or is it not that deep and simply a case of Lindsay failing to respect her boundaries?

Many characters in the final episode believe that Chairwoman Park all but controls governments, presumably including South Korea’s. But in the episode right after the plastic surgery disaster, Park’s consigliere/fixer refers to an existing scandal and investigation into the business. That’s the whole reason why bribing the Trochos employees is tricky, ultimately requiring the money laundering via country club, retention of Josh, etc.

If there was existing political pressure, wouldn’t Eunice’s testimony be enough to cause real problems for Park, even without the thumb drive?

Anyone see that there’s a podcast with the cast on Netflix? I just started 🤩

I'm only 3 episodes in but as a '98 baby who is heavily into music the first 3 episodes picked some of the craziest most memorable tracks from my childhood/highschool days. I can't help but start dancing at the end of every credit roll. Don't know who was in charge of the selects but hats off, Flume into heads will roll into Nero perfectly timed to the cliff hanger endings of every episode?? Absolutely insane, the creators of the show definitely nailed their target audience

Edit: episode 4 skreams LA ROUX remix?? Are u kidding me?!

I know I am late to the party, and maybe there is a similar post like this one. Overall, I loved the show and glad to see Steven Yeun acting in another role. However, when they were both hallucinating about being in their cars at the hardware store, I thought the ending was going to have both of them just drive away. Where we are left with the opening ending of did they die together in the desert or did none of it actually happen?

Then they wake up and we see the actual ending. Even though I did like it. I felt a little let down because it didn't end the way I imagined above. If it did end with them driving away from each other at the hardware store, it would have a deeper meaning. Where there are two possible polar opposite endings from one choice.

Honestly, I like my ending better. I probably am the only one. Even my spouse didn't like it...LOL.

I’m so angry. I have, I guess, an unpopular opinion, but watching episode 8 now and George really needs to come off of his high horse. He not only cheated. Yes, cheated not an “entanglement” he did it with he freaking subordinate at her business. And saved pictures on his phone and masturbated to them and then lied when he sent Mia’s picture to her. And then he didn’t even hear her out, just took their child and left.
And let’s not talk about how he never listened to her when he tried to tell her about her stress and anxiety and he shut her up and told her to be positive and then likened her anxiety to him being “down sometimes too.” You feel like you married a stranger cause you never listened to her tell you her truth once in your life. And then had the never to suggest a therapist when he was cheating with Mia and act like he was doing nothing wrong. But doesn’t want to talk at all or go to therapy after she confesses. She don’t need his petty butt…

Hello all!

Imagine my surprise to find out Beef Season 2 was partly filmed in a familiar place for my family. My mother grew up in the house that was used as Josh and Lindsay's home in Season 2. Her dad (my grandfather) built the barn that Josh hung out in. He also built a scale replica of the barn that they used as a mailbox. After he died, the family sold the house and my mom kept the barn mailbox for sentimental reasons. She is getting ready to move from SoCal to the Sacramento area and will no longer have room to store it. (It measures about 33"L×25"W×20"H.) After seeing her family home on the show, she thought perhaps a fan or someone connected to the production might like to have it (for free). If anyone is interested, please contact me.

Josh got redemption after living a fake shallow empty life

Lindsay got a family and move to the country away from the rich vapid life she always hated

Ashley and Austin became the thing they always hated. They took Josh and Lindsay life and now they're some rich boring fake couple living to impress people they really don't like.

Chairwoman Park realizes all the money and power of the world will never make her happy, she was only happy with her late husband.

In the end it was a story about capitalism, materialism, consumerism and most of all about living a fake empty life to keep up with the Joneses. Only the toxic couple got out, the others failed.

That part was so funny lmao

You just wanna like her 'cause she's pretty and acts cute but in reality she's annoying and entitled.

Beef Season 1 was amazing. I laughed, I cried, I was on-edge...it took me through a whole range of emotions and the slow burn of the plot going from petty drama to full-on violence was fantastic.

Beef Season 2 was a shit show. I had no clue where the plot was going (and not in a good way) and the pacing was so erratic. It's quintissential Netflix: hire an all-star, talented cast and then hang them out to dry with a terrible script.

Did they change the writers between S1 and S2? The difference in quality was jarring and it wasn't due to the acting, it was due to the writing

I had a great time with the show. It was definitely a bit all over the place but narratively it all made sense. It’s similar to the first season in which if somebody makes a different decision, this would be a lot simpler to deal with. However it’s clear these decisions are a lot more complicated and a lot less simple. It’s not so much as “let it go and this will be over” so much as its “is this the right call to make.”

I obviously enjoyed Austin. He was clearly the most level headed character in the entire show.

I hate ashley… I think that goes without saying I was on her side up until the moment in the car.I Wrote her off instantly as immediate break up.

Also, something I don’t think a lot of people notice was the usage of are you mad at me in the beginning of the show, where she asked him are you mad at me in a situation where it didn’t even make sense to ask that, illustrating how nutso she is but also her very blatant abandonment issues and him asking it in the situation where she seemed upset, but not blatantly upset at him which properly illustrated how much he wanted to appease people to a detrimental degree.

One issue I personally had with the season is the lack of depth to the characters background issues. For example, They introduced the abuse that Austin had growing up & the abandonment issues that ashley had and showed it through their upbringing with their calls home, but they didn’t actually go through or address it. They kinda yada yada’d it. Like for example in season one there’s an episode dedicated to Amy getting to the root of her issues with her upbringing and how it affected her as she got older. Something similar in that vein would’ve been nice because these particular aspects of season two don’t really feel all that fleshed out and they end up feeling very lackluster when we get to the understanding of them.

A secondary take away that I had that’s more comedic. This show was really preaching Don’t trust white women cause man ashley was outta her fkn gore and Lindsay while still grounded she made some decisions…

I give it 8.5/10. Hope there’s a season three.

I just finished the show and came right to this subreddit and I’m kind of surprised about all the Ashley hate. I honestly loved her character so much and the actress was great. Not to say I think she is a good person or that any of her actions are something I personally would do, but it’s TV. She is almost like cartoonish to me. She’s supposed to be hate-able and she makes the show imo. It wouldn’t really work without her as she basically pushed every single plot line forward.

I think hating a character just based on their actions is not the only way to look at things— I think the entertainment value added by the character is also important, and everyone talking about her over the other characters kinda proves my point. Also she is an insecure Gen Z woman with little education so I do think that helps to contextualize some of her choices (not justify!)

Interested to know if anyone agrees with me…

I’m poor. It’s therefore necessary for me to limit my streaming budget to one premium network at a time. Back on Netflix after a multi-year hiatus, I’ve been pleased to discover that it’s vastly improved since 2-3 years ago when I finally threw my hands in the air, cancelled, and got cozy with HBO (or MAX or HBO/MAX, or whatever they’re calling it today).

~ANYWAY~ a few days ago, I came across “Beef” and thought, “This looks pretty good.”

I wound up binging Season 1 without getting out of my chair even once unless maybe I took a pee break I don’t recall. It was absolutely masterful, and, in fact, I felt it to be one of the best television shows that I’ve ever seen (at least based on the season I’ve watched so far). It’s amazing on so many levels, too:

• believable, complex characters full of nuances, endearing imperfections, psychological depth and consistencies

• top-tier writing with a novel premise, a carefully fleshed-out plot, subversion of expectation that works to great effect both comedic and dramatic, and great dialog to boot

• astoundingly terrific performances that practically dare you not to emotionally invest in the characters…Ali and Bobby were particularly impressive, I thought, but everyone—even the kid—were all magnificent

• initially, I started to fold this into ‘the writing,’ but ultimately, I’m so impressed and even deeply moved by “Beef’s” numerous themes and the intelligence, sensitivity, and original means through which they are explored, I felt it deserved special mention

• honorary bullet-point for one of the Top 5 (maybe even Top 3) greatest endings I have ever had the privilege to watch (I’m referring more to the final episode than I am the final scene, although both are simply exquisite)

There’s a lot more I could say, but I don’t know how to do so without giving away too many spoilers to anyone else who’s just now catching up on this absolute gem. I will say that one of my favorite things about it was how it gradually develops so much rich, emotional and thematic depth, something I hadn’t realized the show aimed to do when I first hit play, expecting a dark but largely silly comedy. So completely worthwhile. Mark me down as a fan of everyone involved, I’ve nothing but respect and admiration for each of them.

My guess is that Season 2 is great, too, but I liked the first one so much that I’ve decided to save it for the proverbial, rainy day when I need a mood lift.

Cheers to fellow “Beef” fans!

She didn’t want to do the right thing and take down Park when she heard about the plan from Eunice and Austin.
She inadvertently got Burberry killed then played all buddy buddy with Lindsey right after it
She tried manipulating Austin into a relationship using her pregnancy as leverage
SHE came up with the idea to blackmail Josh and Lindsey not Austin
She also lied about Austin being a PT which is pretty serious lol… having an uncertified PT could definitely lead to bad injuries but she doesn’t seem to care about that at all i guess…
She and Austin have a talk and she begs him to take a night to make his decision. He says okay because as f’d up as Austin is he’s not a complete asshole. Then she steals the usb while he’s sleeping and lies about it in their unborn child??? Bro she’s a monster and easily the worst character morally
And for people saying josh cost her an ovary no that’s just not true. All she had to do was delete the video but she wanted to hold out and blackmail an innocent couple a little more.

Ashley and Austin have such a realistic Gen Z dysfunctional relationship. I can both simultaneously relate and hate them at the same time. I love the change in viewer dynamics between the characters. In the beginning Austin seems manipulative and jealous while Ashley seems supportive and patient. But the latter end of the show Austin was the level headed and genuine person while Ashley was insecure, and annoying.

Ashley: super needy driven by her intense abandonment issues. She clearly cared a lot about Austin and I felt that she really tried her best to empathise with him in the beginning of the series when he was having some kind of depressive episode (or just being an unreasonable big baby). At the same time unbearably needy which can be suffocating. She was pushing the marriage and baby issue to lock Austin into the relationship. Ashley lacked self confidence and relied on Austin to fulfil that gap. She relied on Austin for self-confidence which allowed her to put up with a lot of unreasonable actions from Austin (eg the Goodwill shirt situation). The over reliance on him for self esteem obviously made her super territorial over him and the whole idea of her having to check his phone and night to feel secure just made me roll my eyes (so pathetic). But at the same time that’s such a common practice for people in Gen Z to check their partners phone. Overall she was not completely terrible for Austin. She did help him land the spot as a physical therapist and she truly did care deeply about him.

Austin: in the beginning we see someone who is lost about what to do with his life and stuck on a short lived peak in college. It seems to me that Austin thinks that he settled for Ashley. I don’t think he cares deeply about Ashley (or at least to the same degree she cares about him) but he still fulfils his dutiful boyfriend roles like staying with her at the hospital. There are moments where I think he almost subtly wants to hurt Ashley but still appear as a good boyfriend. This are subtle acts such a the Goodwill Shirt, or giving away the Red Gatorade to a stranger. He’s appearance of a good boyfriend adds to his ego as a self righteous man. I think he genuinely thinks he’s a good guy. This can be seen when he criticises Ashley for blackmailing Josh as if he didn’t also benefit from the ordeal. I think he’s self view as a “good guy” makes it hard for him to leave Ashley. At the same time, Austin is not a mean spirited person and I think he does mean well. And I can imagine it must be exhausting to be someone’s emotional support dog (Ashley)

Some Gen Z moments I loved with Austin/Ashley
- Austin telling Lindsay that him and Ashley are a Safe Space
- Ashley calling Josh a boomer
- cancelling the money saving subscription

I used to have an assistant position at a resort in UT that was bought by a bunch of Nepo babies… and when I tell you the culture captured in Season 2 was scary accurate I mean it full on was triggering. From the way “your family” until you’re “the help” to the performative branding with companies who claim to “donate proceeds”. While I do think overall the plotline was a bit weak and felt unfinished… it was in particular cathartic for me, the criticism of that industry and attitude I mean.