A24 may be known for its auteur-driven films, but it also has a plethora of highly regarded TV shows. From their breakout hit Euphoria to smaller comedies like Overcompensating, the independent studio has done a good job of expanding its business beyond film. One of their biggest hits was 2023’s Beef, which was distributed by Netflix. Winning numerous Emmys and becoming one of the more popular shows on the streaming platform of that year, it was bound to receive a second season. Getting A-list stars like Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan to lead the second season, as well as up-and-comers like Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny, this was bound to be one of Netflix’s biggest shows of 2026.

Season 2 doesn’t follow the same characters and storyline as season one; instead, it follows a young couple, Ashley (Spaeny) and Austin (Melton), who witness a violent argument between their boss, Josh (Isaac), and his wife, Lindsay (Mulligan). After recording the altercation, Ashley and Austin attempt to blackmail Josh and Lindsay to secure promotions and a higher salary. What starts out as a small-scale issue eventually spirals into something much bigger once Josh and Lindsay fight back against them.

Much like the previous season, Beef Season 2 excels in the character drama. Even though each character has their moments of unlikability, the series still finds ways to hook the audience into their stories. Although it’s easy to attribute this to the writing, the performances elevate the material to greater heights. Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan are unhinged throughout this season, perfectly capturing their rage toward the young couple as well as each other with their constant screams and overreactions to every situation that comes their way. Even though the two are clearly wrong for each other, Isaac and Mulligan add enough humanity to their characters to perfectly portray the complexities of a marriage. Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton portray their characters in the exact opposite way as Isaac and Mulligan, expressing the delight of young love and attempting to repress any negative feelings they have for one another. The two couples serve as the show’s ideal dichotomy, making their parallel character developments all the more satisfying.

The season once again delves into the idea of wealth disparities, but this time in a much harsher, more satirical way. This is present through Chairwoman Park, the new owner of the country club that Josh runs. Park acts less like a CEO and more like a gangster, murdering those who betray her if any of her business is messed with. The idea of the top 1% constantly living in a life-or-death situation makes for many humorous moments, including numerous FaceTime calls with Park that leave Josh in shambles afterward. Youn Yuh-jung is a major part of why this storyline works so well, commanding every scene with ferocity and intent. Her age and physical appearance do nothing to hinder Park’s power over her peers, thanks to Youn’s captivating performance.

Despite having larger stakes than the previous season, Beef Season 2 isn’t afraid to include bits of silly humor. The characters speak in modern slang, including references to trendy websites like Letterboxd and phrases like “boomer”. The use of modern Gen Z slang can easily come across as corny, but the show uses it perfectly, making for excellent moments of levity in scenes that would otherwise be overly dramatic. In a time when the current generation speaks in an unorthodox and unconventional manner, Beef Season 2 does its best to make the language digestible.

This season does an excellent job of recreating what made the first season so successful in its themes, but it doesn’t deliver much that’s new. It once again follows a set of characters who do not feel fulfilled until they’ve taken revenge on someone who wronged them. Even though there is a heavier focus on relationships, it mostly plays out the same way as the first season, leaving a disappointingly low number of surprises by the season’s finale.

Although the show was marketed as two couples going after each other, it’s arguably more about the dying relationships between them and the beef that ensues. Throughout the show, each character withholds information from their significant other, leading to a path of destruction that overshadows everything else in their lives. While this dissection of relationships made for some solid moments of conflict, it shouldn’t have been one of the show’s main focuses. The first season thrived in the characters’ constantly finding ways to ruin each other’s lives, and the second season was desperately missing that aspect.

Despite some hick-ups, the tremendous ensemble and entertaining look at class made Beef Season 2 more than a worthy follow-up. With excellent moments of humor and a true balls-to-the-wall finale, this successfully recaptured what made the first season so beloved. It may not have surpassed the first season, but it is far from a bad show altogether.

All episodes of Beef Season 2 are now streaming on Netflix

Rating: 7/10