Netflix favourite Beef is back for its second season, but does the evidence bring down Chairwoman Park? Find out below.
The first season was released in 2023 and revolved around two strangers, played by Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, who become entangled in each other’s lives following a road rage incident.
This time around, the drama has shifted to a new set of characters, led by Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Cailee Spaeny, Charles Melton and Youn Yuh-jung. The latter two play an engaged couple who work at a club managed by Isaac’s character, who is in a heavily strained relationship with Mulligan’s character. The two couples become involved in a protracted war with each other.
All eight episodes of season two landed on Netflix on April 16, and you can watch the trailer here:
While season one of the show featured an original score from Bobby Krlic, aka The Haxan Cloak, he has not returned for season two. In his place is Finneas, the renowned pop producer best known for his double Oscar-winning work with his sister Billie Eilish.
In a four-star review of season two, NME wrote: “While there are slightly needless pop culture nods to everything from Top Gun: Maverick to The Hunger Games and its star “J-Law”, it remains a compelling look at ambition and avarice gone awry. With enough memorable scenes to prompt another helping – not least Carey Mulligan doing something utterly grim in an airplane toilet cubicle – Beef season two serves up another deliciously savage hunk of drama for you to sink your teeth into.”
Beef season two ending explained: does the evidence bring down Chairwoman Park?
The two central couples find their feud converging on Seoul, South Korea in the final episode of season two, at the demand of billionaire Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung).
Amid escalating blackmail and retaliation centred on incriminating footage connected to Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), the two couples are ultimately forced into an uneasy alignment as they are drawn into Park’s larger scheme to cover up her husband Dr Kim’s (Song Kang-ho) responsibility for a patient’s death.
Josh and Lindsay are held in Park’s facility, separated by a wall through which they finally confront the state of their relationship. Over the course of this, Josh comes to accept his situation and decides to take the fall, using his embezzlement as the basis for a story that will satisfy Park’s needs.
Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Charles Melton), meanwhile, face the collapse of their own relationship. Ashley hands over the USB containing incriminating material, and Austin ultimately betrays Eunice (Seoyeon Jang) by giving it directly to Park in exchange for security and career advancement for himself and Ashley.
With the evidence now in her control, Park is able to construct a narrative in which Dr Kim’s death is framed as isolated negligence and Josh’s crimes account for the wider scandal, allowing her to avoid any consequences.
Eight years later, Josh has adapted to life in prison and is eventually released, appearing at peace. Lindsay has moved on with another wealthy partner. Ashley and Austin now run the country club, effectively replacing Josh and Lindsay in both status and dynamic, while Chairwoman Park remains untouched by the events.