Every time A24 comes with a film or, now, a TV series, there is something exciting to look forward to. In the past, the studio has given a platform to some of the best directors and talents out there. From the success of Ari Aster to Florence Pugh and Robert Eggers, A24 surely knows how to pick out some of the most fascinating minds. In 2023, the company introduced a phenomenal TV series to Netflix.Beefwas created by the South Korean director Lee Sung Jin and features Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho.The premise of this miniseries might seem simple, but with each episode, what we see is a huge entanglement between two strangers.
The series, which was released at the beginning of April 2023, acquired a large fan base from the get-go. With many applauding the performances of Wong and Yeun,Beefhas become one of those shows that your friend might force you to watch. This article is no different. The series has certainly resurged in popularity following its impressive week of wins at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and Primetime Emmys. If you are yet to watchBeefand are still considering watching, here are a few reasons why you should instantlystream the show on Netflix.
Update July 12, 2025: Still haven’t watchedBeefbut curious to see why it won so many awards? This article has been updated with more information following the minisery’s resurgence following a week of awards.
Makes You Think About Yourself
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Let’s start with the most not-so-obvious reason why this series is perfect for anyone of the right age.Beeffocuses on two protagonists from completely different backgrounds. At least, that is what you are made to believe at first. Aside from their Asian heritage, Danny and Amy come from different social classes. The former is a struggling contractor who is sharing an apartment with his younger brother.
So, yes, his luck is very, very bad. On the other hand, Amy has a picture-perfect life as a successful small-business owner with a loving family. However, as the series evolves, we are able to find out that the two are not exactly very different from each other. Both are very unhappy with their lives, hence the road rage that leads them to cross each other’s paths. Both seem very lost as well.
Danny and Amymake you think about your own self. Whether you are in a happy relationship, a star college student, or even a successful business person, the two characters might make you question your true happiness. In fact, Danny and Amy seemingly hint that their road rage that keeps on extending is the only beam of happiness in their lives as they get to torture each other.
As weird as it sounds, this might be applicable to our own personas, where we tend to look for problems or drama to entertain ourselves. Now, the question is, what doesBeefend up doing to you at the end? As the viewer, you might end up getting frustrated at the two protagonists' constant bickering and revenge plots, in turn, allowing you to realize how your own bickering and frustrations might be similar to those of Danny and Amy. So, yes, the series allows a sense of self-reflection.
Social Commentary
The wayBeefapproaches social commentary is so hilarious that you might end up dying from laughter or cringe. The creators are not afraid to take a jab at all the big celebrities who are obsessed with other cultures. Maria Bello’s Jordan is the typical rich persona obsessed with other cultures.
In fact, Jordan has “headpieces” from different cultures that should be at museums of the countries they belong to. It might remind you of the argument about theBritish Museum and how they have stolen artifactsfrom around the globe. What’s more, is that Jordan’s marriage to Naomi (Ashley Park), as well as her seeming obsession with Amy, only fuels her extremely strange fascination with Asian cultures.
Related:10 Real Issues That Netflix’s Beef Addresses
The series also focuses heavily on class. A good example isGeorge Nakai (Joseph Lee), Amy’s stay-at-home husband, who seems to be naive compared to the smart Amy. The reason is revealed to be that George comes from a wealthy family. In fact, George is more White than Asian due to his class status.
Comedy with Darkness
Beefis dark… very dark. It constantly makes you question why we cannot be truly happy and what happiness is. The unsatisfactory nature of life captured through Amy and Danny might make you question a lot of things. It also acts as a reminder of how our goals might be a mere facade and true happiness does not lie in our achievement of them.
For example, Amy has achieved everything she needed. She has started from a harsh place and has successfully built a glorious life. However, she refuses to give up. Her constant need to torture and get back at Danny makes you question whether we are all Amy’s, and thus, villains in a way.
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That being said, the seriesmakes up for all this darkness with its comedyand beautiful finale. Of course, it has a lot to do with Ali Wong and Steven Yeun’s comedic nature, but the way in whichBeefconverts something trivial as road rage into this full-blown fight between two adults in itself is quite humorous.
The final episode will be an adrenaline rush that makes you realize life is as beautiful as it is, and it is within us to not be too harsh on ourselves and be happy for the connections and achievements we have. In a nutshell,Beefwill take you on a self-reflective journey while bringing you much laughter. It will also remind you to be better.
The Show’s Success
At this point, it is needless to say thatBeefcertainly made its rounds, easily catching the audience’s attention by delivering a story that is more relatable than some would probably like to admit. That is exactly why it works so well and why it also received overwhelming recognition during this award season.
January 2024 kicked off a week of awards. January 7 was the Golden Globes, with the Critic’s Choice Awards on January 14, and then the Primetime Emmys (which had been delayed from September 2023 due to the SAG-AFTA Strike) being held on August 20, 2025. This was a busy week for the stars and creatives of these series, as well as putting high expectations for the series.Beefwas critically acclaimed, but seeing as it had almost been a year since the series aired, many wondered if voters might have forgotten about it.
Regarding the Golden Globes,Beefwas nominated in three different categories, and it will come as no surprise that it won each of them. Steven Yeun was awarded Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film, marking the incredible skills with which he made his character’s story approachable. Ali Wong, who also delivered a touching performance and made it easy to connect with her character from the very first moment on, won Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film. Finally, the series walked away with Best Miniseries or Television film.
Arguably, one look at the content ofBeefis enough to know that Yeun, Wong, and Bello deserve these awards as a recognition of their talent and dedication. Even though the Golden Globes Awards already mark a rather fruitful night forBeef, the success doesn’t end there. Shortly after this highly anticipated event, the 29th Critics Choice Awards followed, and surely enough,Beefwon big there as well with Yeun and Wong winning again but also Maria Bello winning for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries.
Then when it came time the Emmys, the series was nominated for seven awards at the Primetime Emmys and four at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmys.At the Primetime Emmys, it won Best Miniseries, Outstanding Actor and Actress in a Limited Series for both Steven Yeun and Ali Wong and Lee Sung Jin won Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series and Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series. At the Creative Arts Emmys, it won Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Ali Wong’s win actually marks an important point in history. She is the first Asian woman who took home an Emmy for an acting nomination for a lead character, which certainly sets the right as well as necessary path toward a future of diversity and equality. It is a beautiful win that marks an impressive road for the series. The awards certainly are not going to stop coming as the Satellite Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, Independent Spirt Awards, and Producers Guild Awards are all coming up, andBeef is nominated at all of them and, at this rate, will win them.
Beefhas become one of the most important series in Netflix history. It has received near universal acclaim, won over critics and audiences, and even a year after it has aired, is still leaving an impression. Netflix series often give the impression of sometimes fading from cultural memory quickly, butBeefhas endured in a way that is rare for a show in the streaming era. If by chance you still haven’t gotten around toBeef, or keeping thinking to yourself “its on Netflix I will get to it eventually”, now is the time to check it out.
