‘Beef’ Isn’t About Choosing Sides But If It Was, I’m Team Danny

Beef isn’t about choosing sides, but I’m determined to do so anyway. 

Currently sitting at #2 on Netflix, Beef is top tier television. One of the best original series to ever come to Netflix, the dramedy stars Steven Yeun and Ali Wong who end up entangled in an escalating feud after an initial road rage incident. Many have praised the show for making ‘rage’ relatable, thanks to Yeun and Wong’s nuanced portrayal of elder millennials at the end of their tether.

I know that choosing sides is definitely not the point of the show, but as I grew up in peak Twilight and Hunger Games era, I simply cannot help myself. Both characters are undeniably icky, but I’m going to admit that I lean towards Team Danny.

Before you reach for the pitchforks, please give me a chance to explain.

Amy’s Honk Was Out Of Line

The first episode wastes no time getting straight into the infamous road rage incident that starts it all. And yes, even though I just said I’m generally Team Danny, I can accept that his reaction to chasing her through the streets was a little over the top.

But her absurdly long honk was out of line first! If we go by schoolyard rules, then Amy totally started it.

Danny Was On Struggle Street

I know that one of the main points of the two contrasting characters is how their lingering nihilism and unfulfilment can manifest in very different environments, but could we put that aside for a moment and focus on our faves? Danny clearly wasn’t in a good place in that parking lot. And, as we learn later, he got screwed over by his cousin, feels guilty about his parents struggling back in Korea, and has a younger brother who hates him. He’s desperate for connection and meaning, and Amy’s absurdly long honk was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Amy should’ve pulled over, justifiably yelled at him for almost backing into her, sure — but apologise for that damn honk.

I will say that Steven’s shocking choices revealed in later episodes are straight up unhinged. Then again, so are Amy’s. I’m not condoning anything the either of them did — especially Danny and his fraught family history — but for the majority of the series, I couldn’t help but side with the underdog.

Should I really be hitching my Team Danny status to the first incident that brought them into each other’s lives? Probably not. But I’m not perfect, and neither is anyone in the show.

Steven Yeun Is Just Too Good

Unrelated to either of the characters’ actual plights, I’m ultimately Team Danny just for Steven Yeun’s series-stealing scene when Danny visits a church.

I’ve *never* seen a film portray this feeling in an evangelical church service this accurately (not even in Christian films). Steven Yeun grew up evangelical Christian and you can really see the experience of that in this performance. pic.twitter.com/JpCJjLrmjE

— ? Jeremiah Warren ? (@jeremiahjw) April 9, 2023

Yeun’s performance of Danny finding connection at a Church worship session will go down in history as one of the most accurate, niche Asian experiences of all time. Ask any current, or better yet, ex-Evangelical Christian Koreans (they’re around, trust me) and they will have many thoughts. I never thought I’d see this level of specificity in a Western show, even for a story set within Asian diaspora. Bravo.

Do Yourself A Favour And Watch The Show

Outside of the nuances of the plot and the fascinating leads, it’s fantastic television. The soundtrack is perfectly suited to the millennial experience, making it feel relatable even to people who didn’t grow up in that specific era. The title cards are works of art, and each of the episode names are part of a famous quote, which creator Lee Sung Jin chose to best describe our characters’ behaviour as it becomes increasingly unhinged. That undeniable A24 magic brings a touch of intellectualism to a series that’s also kind of deranged. Don’t miss it.