Beef

After watching it crush it at the Emmys and Golden Globes, my curiosity was piqued to where I was going to bust so I just watched the first episode of Beef, the 2023 limited series that won eight Emmys and three Golden Globes. I'm writing all of this to give myself a minute to process exactly what I just watched because I was intrigued, fascinated, confused, and mesmerized by what I just watched. OK, this is the story of two people: Steven Yeun, Oscar nominee for Minari plays Danny Cho, a hard-working contractor who is struggling to keep his business together, thanks to his brother and partner, Paul (Young Mazino), who seems to be using company funds to earn money with Bitcoin Writer and standup comic Ali Wong, who was a staff writer for ABC's Fresh off the Boat and had a supporting role on another ABC sitcom American Housewife, plays Amy Lau, the wealthy owner of an online business who is married with a daughter and is trying to broker a deal to sell her business. Danny and Amy encounter each other in a parking lot when Danny almost hits Amy's SUV while pulling out of his spot. Amy then flips him off, initiating one of the most horrifying incidents of road rage, which I won't even attempt to describe. It's brilliantly staged and filmed...imagine the Steven Spielberg film Duel and the famous chase scene in Bullitt...on crack. We are immediately hooked because during this road incident Danny and Amy never lay eyes on each other, but it remains a part of their lives because both of these people are on the edge. Danny likes to eat Burger King until it makes him puke and Amy likes to use a gun as a sex aid. It's implied that both are contemplating suicide and the do finally meet at the end of ep 1, but I'm certainly not going to spoil what happens, but this series about two very broken up people who allow an incident to seep into their very damaged souls definitely has me curious and I definitely understand the award love because I have absolutely never seen anything like this. Something tells me that fans of the series Twin Peaks will have a head start here.

Ep 2. The tracking shot following Amy around in the opening scene is extraordinary. Loved hubby walking in on her with the gun pointed at her phone. "Sometime rock bottom is your trampoline." Amy plays dirty. Danny's brother is a jerk. Can't believe Amy hasn't told her husband about the incident yet. "Now that is the back of an Asian head if I've ever seen one." Danny's just of jail buddy is probably going to be all kinds of trouble and I'm pretty sure Danny borrowing $20,000 from him is going to be a big mistake. Young Azimo, who plays Paul, is a freaking beast, he's like an Asian Dwayne Johnson. I don't know which one Danny should trust less, Paul or his buddy he borrowed the money from. Of course, somebody filmed the incident, but surprised that it never occurred to Amy. Love the way social media is such a major storytelling tool here. Amy's husband is following Danny on Facebook? Loving Maria Bello as Vanessa...haven't seen her in a minute...and she looks FABULOUS! Loved that outfit Ali Wong was wearing at the gallery? Is Amy aware that Paul is Danny's brother? Amy and George's marriage is severely broken. Was Amy really at the bar or was that Danny's imagination? Loved that voicemail she left him. Loved what Amy painted on his truck. This is so fascinating so far because despite the fact that they are from completely different universes, both Amy and Danny's lives were on the verge of imploding before the road rage incident and this has exacerbated their personal hells to the point where the gloves came off immediately. Absolutely LOVING this.

Ep 3. I can't believe Amy is trying to hide behind couples counseling. What was Danny planning to do with that hammer when he approached Amy's front door. It's insane that Paul doesn't seem to give a damn about what his brother is going through. Charcoal lighter fluid? Seriously? After everything he's done up to this point, it was kind of a relief seeing Danny end up in church...Yeun crushed that scene. Vanessa is just the tiniest bit creepy. An unfaithful husband is the last thing Amy needs right now. I wonder how long it'll take for Danny to connect Paul ti Amy? How weird that Paul is the only person Amy can talk to right now? Isaac carries money around like Tony Soprano. Amy's starting to anger me...she's expecting George to understand without her being honest. Am not pleased where Danny is planning to go with the church and I have a feeling Isaac has a lot to do with that. I may have to rethink Paul and George. Neither seem to be what they initially appeared to be.

Literally just finished this series earlier this evening.


Won't say anything as don't want to spoil, other than to recommend this for anyone who hasn't catched up with this yet.

Not much of a TV series person, but I watched the first couple episodes and thought it was fine. Just not good enough to make me finish it haha

I've only watched three eps and it is baffling to me that you have no curiosity as to where this is going to go.

Ep 4. There is some serious chemistry between Paul and Amy. That painting at the beginning of the episode was bizarre and oddly riveting. Interesting that Danny wants to apologize now, though I guess it's not going to happen thanks to Isaac. OK, a little disappointed that Danny's epiphany isn't what I thought it was. OMG, Paul is going to Vegas? Why was Paul only pretending to drink in that scene? Vanessa is so weird, but Maria Bello is killing it. George and his mother...what's going on there? "Your vomit was pretty because you loved skittles." The bonding between Paul and Amy was seriously unsettling yet oddly riveting. Skittles and coke? Liked Paul explaining Danny's Burger King fetish. There's no denying that the chemistry between Ali Wong and Young Azimo is off the charts. m "They play the games on the edge of the casino." Can't believe Amy gave Paul money and he took it. Why did Paul run? "I'm not going to be affected by your brokenness anymore." well, it took four eps to confirm, but Isaac is certifiable and dangerous. Danny is not playing and I'm beginning to think Amy is as certifiable as Isaac. Wong makes a string blonde. Final moment was just nasty.

Ep 5. Wow, those paintings over the title of each episode just get stranger and stranger. Loved Isaac's prep for Sarah Lee Pound Cake. Isaac is freaking me out. Junie remembers Danny pouring the gasoline on the SUV. I don't know which is more unsettling: Amy bonding with Paul or Danny bonding with George. George is really sweet and I'm afraid he's going to be hurt the most when this is all over. Right after finishing writing this, my image of George has just been completely blown. Love the reveal about George's mother. Best sex scene I've seen in years. Who is Paul to be judging anyone? It looks like Amy's side of this is about to blow up. George's mother is a creepy bad ass.

Ep 6. Can't believe Danny's buddies injured Fumi so seriously. I think she's getting ready to blow Amy out of the water. It's like she knows more than we think she knows. I can't believe Fumi said that about George and Amy separating right in front of Junie. Really starting to hate Isaac, really don't like the way he has inserted himself into the Church...they don't deserve whatever fresh hell he is going to be bringing. George is clearly oblivious to the fact that his wife and his mother can't stand each other. The story seems to be making George dumber in order to protect Amy. Whoa!!! Big George reveal I didn't see coming. The nerf basketball game with Danny and Paul seemed kind of pointless. Love Naomi thinking she's figured everything out. "I doubt if she'll want to acquire a business with so much liability." I hate the way Isaac seems to be making Danny an eventual accessory after the fact. The parking lot scene was brilliant. Naomi is dumb as a box of rocks. Good news about Isaac.

Ep 7. Eight month time jump...really? Finding Danny leading the band at the church now makes me think the meat of this story has disappeared. The painting under the title was REALLY creepy this time. Fooled me. Don't like the way they skipped over Amy's deal going through. Loved that Amy automatically assumed that George's confession was about an affair with another man. Sex is OK as long as the words "I love you" don't enter the picture? "I really thought i was doing the world a favor by not reproducing." So Danny and George are girlfriends now? I don't believe Paul.

Ep 8. Have no idea who was with Amy in that opening scene. who does Amy hate her dad so much and what does it have to do with her life now? Can't figure out what it has to do with the primary story. m I feel bad for George. Yes, he is a little naive, but he's still the victim in all of this. Amy seemed to be really offended by the word "obsession" when George said it. Can't believe it took George this long to wake up. Unless I missed something, I don't think Amy burned down Danny's house. Oh wow, I just figured out something that had gotten by e regarding Danny and the church. I knew Amy didn't burn down the house. Really like that scene where Danny talked Paul down. Can't believe Danny sabotaged Paul like that. Final scene...Oh...my...God.

Ep 9. The painting for this episode was really creepy. Don't really understand Isaac's anger. Did Danny use Isaac's money to finance his business? Brilliant work by Ali Wong on that phone call. Why did Paul do that right inside the car? This nightmare does actually seems to be bringing Danny and Paul together. Poor Jordan. My initials instincts about Isaac are certainly coming to fruition. Danny's confession t his brother destroyed me. As this episode ended, I was literally shaking.

Ep 10. Survived? Seriously? Danny really needs to just run at this point. "I am not helping you unless you use nice words." The scene on the rocks was the perfect tension-reliever the story needs right now. I lost it when Danny ate the skittles. The hallucinating is fascinating to watch, loved when they began speaking simultaneously. Wow, this was one hellish rollercoaster ride. There were things I didn't get and things I hoped would be addressed further that weren't but this was still riveting.