In 2023, Netflix debuted the first season of Beef, which turned out to be one of the best shows that the streamer has ever released.
Series creator Lee Sung Jin‘s black comedy/drama quickly became a hit on its way to winning an Emmy for Best Limited Series.
On April 16, Beef is returning for a second season, and we wouldn’t bet against its chances of repeating at the Emmys.
It’s also Watch With Us‘ pick for the one Netflix show in April 2026 that you need to watch now.
‘Beef’ Wins Best Limited or Anthology Series at Emmy Awards
‘Beef’ Season 1 Features Great Performances
Steven Yeun and Ali Wong both won Emmy Awards for their respective performances as Danny Cho and Amy Lau. They carried Beef on their backs as a pair of strangers whose road rage incident became something more disturbing. They could have simply gone their separate ways, but instead, Danny and Amy keep escalating the situation and inserting themselves into each other’s lives to inflict more pain and carnage on each other.
The show doesn’t really take sides or present either Danny or Amy as being in the right. Instead, it lets the audience watch as they make the choices that may ultimately destroy themselves. Yenn and Wong’s performances created two vividly drawn characters who are just incredibly entertaining to watch as they face off against each other. They’re both far from perfect, but perversely, Amy and Danny deserve each other. And that’s what they’re going to get.
The Series Is Darkly Funny and Poignant
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Beef season 1 is that it doesn’t just play everything for laughs. There are moments when Amy and Danny let down their guard and reveal some of the reasons why they’re acting this way. Both of those characters are carrying the burdens that they and others have placed upon themselves. Once the audience gets a glimpse at their inner demons, it’s a lot easier to buy into some of their more over-the-top actions.
‘Beef’ Season 2 Eyeing Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Charles Melton
In the scene above, Wong is particularly gripping as Amy shares a look at her relationship with her husband, George Nakai (Joseph Lee), which isn’t exactly love. But she’s acutely aware of what their bond is really like and of her own shortcomings. These are the kind of moments that separate Beef from the rest of Netflix’s lineup.
Season 2 Has a Brand-New Cast and Story
We’re not going to spoil the ending of Beef season 1 except to say that it felt like the right conclusion for Amy and Danny. Since Beef is an anthology series, we can’t say for certain whether they’ll make any kind of a return in season 2. What we do know is that the new season will feature an all-new story with fresh cast members Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny in the leading roles.
Isaac and Mulligan will play Josh Martin and his wife, Lindsay Crane-Martin, a pair of social climbers at a country club who find themselves feuding with Austin Davis (Melton) and his fiancée, Ashley Miller (Spaeny), a couple that’s even lower in the pecking order than they are. And it’s only a matter of time before their minor feud escalates.
Beef season 1 is streaming on Netflix. Season 2 will premiere on April 16.
