Superb. Absolutely engrossing drama from start to finish.
The trailer was misleading. It's not an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon. There are very few laughs. It's actually a tragedy. From the start, everything that happens is rooted in character and situation.
It's about anger - and the insecurity that springs from. Both characters lead perilous lives, hanging by a thread, only one mistake away from being engulfed by darkness.
For Danny, it's about poverty and just how important money is. He's responsible, to his brother, his parents - the one shot they invested everything in. It's a lot.
Amy is rich - married to a lovely, privileged, talentless but successful artist George. (His work looks like turds.) But a wonderful man, husband, father. Amy's secret self is what she hates, bottles up, sublimates into sado-masochistic fantasies. Like Danny, she's always self-promoting; always this close to making it - to being secure from the f/ck-up.
Neither has a personality disorder; or lacks insight into themselves or others. (Considering what they do, that's saying something.) That's what makes it a tragedy. They both see how destructive the feud is - and want to end it. But timing, or the malignant god, won't let them. It's never forced or false.
All the characters are 3-dimensional. I liked Mia (only minutes on screen), with whom George has "an emotional entanglement". It's totally truthful. A woman who likes him, sees him, respects his work - which Amy doesn't. I like George's mother too.
But it's Yeun and Wong that make it great. Fine actors, who I really only knew by voice. (The only thing "Beef" has in common with "Tuca and Bertie" is that both are excellent.)
So many ten-episode Netflix dramas have filler episodes that just tread water. (Even filler seasons). Not this. Every episode is essential and advances the plot.
I'm confident "Beef" will be the best TV series of 2023. (I hope they don't do a 2nd season. The story's complete.) I will definitely watch whatever each of them does next.
It's about anger - and the insecurity that springs from. Both characters lead perilous lives, hanging by a thread, only one mistake away from being engulfed by darkness.
For Danny, it's about poverty and just how important money is. He's responsible, to his brother, his parents - the one shot they invested everything in. It's a lot.
Amy is rich - married to a lovely, privileged, talentless but successful artist George. (His work looks like turds.) But a wonderful man, husband, father. Amy's secret self is what she hates, bottles up, sublimates into sado-masochistic fantasies. Like Danny, she's always self-promoting; always this close to making it - to being secure from the f/ck-up.
Neither has a personality disorder; or lacks insight into themselves or others. (Considering what they do, that's saying something.) That's what makes it a tragedy. They both see how destructive the feud is - and want to end it. But timing, or the malignant god, won't let them. It's never forced or false.
All the characters are 3-dimensional. I liked Mia (only minutes on screen), with whom George has "an emotional entanglement". It's totally truthful. A woman who likes him, sees him, respects his work - which Amy doesn't. I like George's mother too.
But it's Yeun and Wong that make it great. Fine actors, who I really only knew by voice. (The only thing "Beef" has in common with "Tuca and Bertie" is that both are excellent.)
So many ten-episode Netflix dramas have filler episodes that just tread water. (Even filler seasons). Not this. Every episode is essential and advances the plot.
I'm confident "Beef" will be the best TV series of 2023. (I hope they don't do a 2nd season. The story's complete.) I will definitely watch whatever each of them does next.
- hedgehog5
- Apr 6, 2023