Recent hype has got everyone talking about the new Netflix original Beef, a series in which two complete strangers engage in a series of petty acts of revenge over a road rage incident. Starring Ali Wong as Amy and Steven Yeun as Daniel, we look into the lives of our two main characters and all the complexities and hardships that fuel the unfortunate and escalating feud between them. The show has received critical praise and has done exceptionally well in ratings and viewings, which leads us to wonder if the series will continue for season 2.
Creator of Beef, Lee Sung Jin, is prepared to do more should the show be given the green light by Netflix, and according to recent news, two more seasons have already been mapped out. However, Lee Sung Jin has confirmed that a new season will bring us a whole new cast of characters and a brand-new story with a different flavor of beef. With that being the case, we can’t really speculate about what might come next, but given what we know from the first season, we might be able to contemplate themes and issues the second season might address.
Anger and Dissatisfaction: The Perfect Beef Recipe
The two things that lead to any beef (as demonstrated in the show and in real life) are anger and dissatisfaction from both parties. At any point, had either Amy or Daniel decided to be the bigger person, let things go, and move on from their feud, it wouldn’t have escalated to the point that it did. But that was entirely the premise of the show. Neither of them could let it go because they were filled with deep-rooted anger, ready to explode, and highly dissatisfied with their lives.
Oddly enough, their similarities manifest and prolong the dispute between them. We see this time and time again in real life, which is why many viewers find themselves relating to Amy and Danny on some level. Because most people have found themselves dissatisfied with their lives and unhappy with who they are, and to cope, we see our anger seeping out over the smallest of things.
For a second season, we can certainly expect that our new characters will have a similar dissatisfaction with their lives and a drive to have the final say. But, no matter what new circumstances these characters find themselves in, they won’t be able to let go of whatever slight they perceived the other of doing. And we can certainly expect the story to escalate, just like in season 1.
What began as a simple road rage issue and petty acts of revenge led to an accidental kidnapping, a home robbery gone wrong, and the deaths of people around them. It would make sense for the second season to follow a similar chain reaction of events, with the details being altered to suit the stories of our new characters.
Finding Meaning in the Madness
A major focus in Beef is the way in which our modern lives have distanced us from what is real and genuine. Through Amy and Danny, we are forced to face how social media and societal pressures have led us to present a version of ourselves that is fake and disingenuous.
For Amy, it is presenting herself as a perfect wife, mother, and businesswoman, when in reality, she suppresses her feelings, opinions, and who she really is in order to maintain this facade. On the other hand, Danny drags those around him down to his level, mainly his younger brother Paul. Instead of supporting and encouraging Paul’s decision to go to college, Danny throws away his brother’s college applications. He pulls Paul into his business and schemes and denies Paul his own independence.
Most likely, if we are to see a second season of Beef, we can expect that our new main characters, like Amy and Danny, will have some version of themselves hidden away and their true selves brought out in this beef. While Amy and Danny’s lives were ruined, in the end, they were able to come together when their survival was on the line after getting themselves stranded in the desert. The destruction of their superficial lives and this near-death experience is ultimately what led them to find meaning in their lives.
Together, Amy and Danny discovered what was real and what was important and found out that they had a lot more in common than not. Ultimately, their dispute with each other brought them clarity and a new sense of purpose going forward. For the next season, we can only hope for a resolution that leads our main characters to evolve in such a manner to accept who they are as flawed individuals and hopefully find some meaning in the chaos of their own lives.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
