Inside the Beef: A Deep Dive Into the Creation and Impact of Netflix's Gripping Miniseries

The Genesis of Beef

Netflix's Beef swiftly carved out its niche in the realm of streaming entertainment, emerging as a distinct and gripping miniseries that captivates its audience with a unique blend of drama and introspection, and creator Lee Sung Jin has revealed the inspiration behind the show. The Beef cast is led by Ali Wong and Steven Yeun and delves into the intricacies of human emotion and societal dynamics, framed within the context of a road rage incident that spirals into an intensely personal journey. Its compelling narrative and deep exploration of characters have earned it critical acclaim and a strong following, making it a standout addition to Netflix's catalog of original content.

Amy (Ali Wong) looks concerned in her car in Beef

Lee Sung Jin, the mastermind behind Beef, is a storyteller whose vision and creativity are evident in every aspect of the series. His ability to transform a commonplace incident into a layered, thought-provoking, and escalating drama showcases his talent and sensitivity as a creator. The show not only entertains but also invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions, a testament to Lee's skillful storytelling. Beef has not only marked Jin as a significant voice in contemporary television but has also had a cultural impact, resonating with audiences globally for its portrayal of human emotions and conflicts. Unsurprisingly, this honest portrayal is influenced by a real event.

Danny (Steven Yeun) looks worried in his car in Beef

The genesis of Beef traces back to a personal experience of Lee's (via IndieWire). He recounts a road rage incident that occurred before the COVID-19 pandemic, where he found himself at the receiving end of an aggressive outburst by a middle-aged white man. Lee's initial reaction of wanting to follow the other car — similar to the opening car chase in Beef's first episode and the catalyst for the series — transformed into a reflective journey as they continued in the same traffic for about an hour. This experience, where anger dissipated into a mundane commute with 'happy music,' was an eye-opener for Lee.

Danny (Steven Yeun) looks depressed in Beef

Lee saw this as a 'microcosm of so much going on in our society,' where minor incidents could trigger disproportionate reactions. This incident, highlighting how people navigate their 'literal bubbles,' projecting assumptions and emotions onto others, struck a chord with Lee. He shared his experience with Ravi Nandan, A24’s head of television, who saw potential in this story. The moment resonated so well with actor Steven Yeun that he was convinced just a few sentences into Lee's pitch. This collaboration marked the beginning of Beef.

Ali Wong as Amy Lau and Steven Yeun as Danny Cho after driving off a cliff in Beef

Originally, Beef was going to be a lot closer to Lee's real-life road rage experience, as the director was planning on casting an actor much closer to the middle-aged white man he experienced. In his words, Lee wanted to cast a 'Stanley Tucci-type' opposite Steven Yeun instead of Ali Wong. However, Lee soon realized that this casting choice would inevitably steer the storyline towards overt discussions on race, which he wanted to avoid. Lee found that adhering too closely to the reality of his own experience limited the broader themes he aimed to explore in the series. The creator commented, 'Even in the brief time we talked about that, the ideas were becoming a little too literal and on the nose, and you have to talk about race in such an overt way and it’s not something I wanted to do at the time.'

Danny (Steven Yeun) and Isaac (David Choe) in Beef

Behind the Scenes: The Making of Beef

Though Lee created the show, the only Beef episode he directed was the finale, and the filmmaker's directorial debut was nothing short of dramatic. Lee's first day on set coincided with a COVID diagnosis, leading to him directing a scene of the finale remotely from a hospital bed through an iPad. This unprecedented situation necessitated a unique approach to filming, and it led to more issues. Due to Lee's illness, there was a large gap between shooting the first scene and the rest of the episode, which gave the crew a worryingly short amount of time to complete the episode. Lee explained:

Amy (Ali Wong) hugging Danny (Steven Yeun) in a hospital bed in Beef

This challenging situation turned into a source of shared strength for the team. Lee, alongside others like cinematographer Larkin Seiple and director Jake Schreier, worked tirelessly, often extending their work hours to ensure the completion of the project. This collective effort, born out of necessity and passion, mirrored the emotional journey of the characters in Beef. The culmination of this exhausting yet fulfilling process was a moment of emotional and creative synergy for the entire team, resonating deeply with the show's narrative.

Amy (Ali Wong) and Danny (Steven Yeun) walking through the desert in Beef episode 10

The Future of Beef: Season 2 and Beyond

Beef season 2 has not been confirmed, and Netflix hasn't commented on the possibility of a renewal either. Regardless of how popular something is on the streamer, Netflix doesn't always renew it. In that respect, the success and positive reception of Beef doesn't guarantee a season 2. Unfortunately, Steven Yeun's comments on WTF with Marc Maron aren't optimistic either. The actor hinted that the Beef season 1 ending was definitive, telling Maron, 'We don’t even know if we’re going to do a second season, we really did want to close the loop on season one in a real way. That was us consciously. That wasn’t a Netflix thing.'

Lee's approach to storytelling, grounded in real human experiences and emotional authenticity, sets a promising foundation for the possibility of Beef season 2 The creator discussed potentially turning Beef into an anthology series, à la The White Lotus, with season 2 focusing on a different group of characters. However, that would also mean not revisiting Danny and Amy, who stole audiences' hearts in the emotional season finale. Lee seems conflicted about this, commenting:

Either way, regardless of what avenues Beef season 2 could go down and which characters it could focus on, another season being confirmed would be great news for fans. In the interview with IndieWire, Lee noted how the show has ultimately had a positive impact on people and their mental health. The creator commented, 'I’ve had so many people come up and say that they’ve struggled with their mental health or they’ve had suicidal ideation and just feel not as alone having seen the show... That’s very impactful to me and it makes me not feel that way. It’s very life-affirming.'