Beef

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 6, 2023
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 60 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 88
  3. Negative: 9 out of 88
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. LISOCHIKOTOSA
    May 3, 2023
    10
    Everything is just so good. The characters are extremely well developed. The episodes are the perfect length. The plot is also very unique and interesting. Everything about it is great
  2. ig11
    Apr 15, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've been reading a lot of the user reviews, a lot seem to lose interest after the 4th episode. Without the slow character exploration we don't get the rewarding final two episodes, not talking about the shootout necessarily, more about the earned pathos. We needed to be sold on the idea that two humans that have always wronged others could find some sense of peace in this world by liberating themselves with something as simple, yet seemingly impossible, as the truth, as painful as that may be. The acting complaints i imagine are directed towards david choe, young mazino, santino and rekstizzy, i would agree that they aren't the best, but they do bring some laughs. And steven youn/ali wong are so f'n amazing, you forgive the smaller things. Never thought a show with a premise as simple as this would move me this deeply on a spiritual sense.… Expand
  3. antelope123
    Apr 9, 2023
    10
    Great acting, great directing, a truly original piece of work. Many laugh out loud moments - yes over the top, but bring it on! More like this!
  4. blufnx
    Apr 10, 2023
    9
    Excellent characters, excellent plot. Good pacing through all ten episodes. Hope it wins some awards!
  5. jzathajenius
    Apr 7, 2023
    9
    Binged the first 4 eps last night, and unless they really drop the ball this might be my fave show of the years so far.

    Ali Wong is in BEAST MODE god damn.
  6. panther49
    Apr 9, 2023
    7
    There's a lot to love with Beef, but it has its weak points.

    I wasn't completely sold by the ending and found it weak, some of the acting felt a little off, and a few characters lacked chemistry. That being said, Wong and Yeun are incredible as usual and really give life to the series. I was taken back by the emotional range of Wong in some scenes. It was great to see Lee onscreen    There's a lot to love with Beef, but it has its weak points.

    I wasn't completely sold by the ending and found it weak, some of the acting felt a little off, and a few characters lacked chemistry.

    That being said, Wong and Yeun are incredible as usual and really give life to the series. I was taken back by the emotional range of Wong in some scenes. It was great to see Lee onscreen again; his last notable work for me was Searching (2018). The presence of Yeun cannot be understated - his acting is just always on point and really gives many of the scenes weight.

    I found the story interesting, especially the church arc. Sometimes it was a bit difficult to follow, going for some non-linear approach, which didn't work well for me. It did seem to drag out a simple idea over a 10 episode series.

    The soundtrack is just phenomenal. All there is to say about that.

    It's tough to give this a 7 because I love both the main characters so much, but right now it's tougher to rate it any higher. Perhaps a rewatch in the future will shift my rating + or - 1.    … Expand
  7. bstrdbwn
    Jul 28, 2023
    9
    Amazingly human series. Starting with rage ended with love. Worth watching.
  8. SimboTheKing
    Aug 2, 2023
    7
    Beef feels like a show with a lot of promise and there are absolutely some scenes that stick out as being really fantastic to me. With that said, my gut feeling is that it doesn't quite reach the heights to be a super amazing show, it just feels like it lacks a certain edge. I can't lie I had quite large expectations going in and, whilst on occasion it did reach them, it just never quiteBeef feels like a show with a lot of promise and there are absolutely some scenes that stick out as being really fantastic to me. With that said, my gut feeling is that it doesn't quite reach the heights to be a super amazing show, it just feels like it lacks a certain edge. I can't lie I had quite large expectations going in and, whilst on occasion it did reach them, it just never quite came together for me. I will also honestly admit here that I don't particularly like the ending and, again with full disclosure, I am the type of person that things can really feel like a dud if I dislike the ending. I understand that it's the journey not the destination but hey I watch TV to emotionally connect and that's just how I feel. Beef has a weak ending long story short.

    However, I must give massive props to Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as the show would not be what it is without their amazing performances. They really go through a whole spectrum in this show and not once did I find either of their acting jarring or strange. So yeah credit where credit is due they're good.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best TV Season of 2023
22
#22 Most Discussed TV Season of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. The Observer (UK)
    Reviewed by: Barbara Ellen
    Sep 10, 2024
    80
    A sophisticated, tightly looping black comedy or just two immature fools apocalyptically trolling each other. It is both things at once and so much more.
    Read full review
  2. IGN
    Reviewed by: Tara Bennett
    Jun 1, 2023
    90
    With Beef, creator Lee Sung Jin and his stellar cast have crafted an almost operatic tale about the cost of unaddressed rage, narcissism, and trauma. It’s funny, it’s harrowing, and it’s exceptionally original in portraying two damaged people who find their mirror selves in a random parking lot dust-up.
    Read full review
  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Shirley Li
    Apr 14, 2023
    88
    Amy’s attempts to find catharsis lead her to make decisions that range from farcical to frightening, if not outright criminal. In her, Lee conveys the thrill and desperation of that never-ending search for release—a journey that pushes Beef forward, step by fascinating step. Wong sells each of them. She’s never been funnier, or more heartbreaking.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »