Netflix’s Beef Returns With Strong Rotten Tomatoes Score

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I have to say, when this series dropped in April of 2023, it was an immediate sensation. The buzz was huge, and Netflix clearly agreed – they greenlit a second season almost right away. And now, thankfully, that second season is finally here!

Like The White Lotus, but without the beautiful scenery and vacation vibe, Beef is a series that explores the inner lives of people going through big changes. The first season started with a simple road rage incident that quickly spiraled into a major conflict, and the second season expands on this with two couples facing similar struggles. Beef Season 2 was well-received, earning an 82% approval rating upon its release.

This score is based on 34 reviews and could change as more people share their opinions. While it’s a good score, the first season received even higher praise, with a 98% approval rating.

What Happens in Beef Season 2?

In the first season, Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead and Ali Wong from Birds of Prey were involved in a dangerous road rage incident. It started with a near collision and quickly turned into a destructive car chase, with both actors repeatedly trying to sabotage each other.

The first season of the show pitted two people with very different financial situations against each other. But season two is expanding the conflict with more participants, and adding a new dynamic: a rivalry between a young Gen Z couple and an older Millennial couple.

Ashley Miller and Austin Davis, recently engaged, find themselves at odds with their boss, Joshua Martín, and his wife, Lindsay Crane-Martín. After accidentally witnessing a heated and violent argument between the couple, Ashley and Austin become entangled in a web of schemes and manipulations that extend far beyond their workplace at the country club.

Created by Lee Sung Jin and produced by A24, the series is available on Netflix. It stars Oscar Isaac as Josh, Carey Mulligan as Lindsay, Cailee Spaeny as Ashley, and Charles Melton as Austin. The cast also includes Youn Tuh-jung, William Fichtner, Matthew Kim, and Mikaela Hoover.

What Are Critics Saying About Season 2?

Ross McIndoe of Slant Magazine praised the show’s second season, saying it’s just as witty and darkly humorous as the first. James Jackson of The Times highlighted the show’s strengths, noting its ability to be funny, insightful about relationships, and simply enjoyable, describing it as ‘rare and delicious’ when it hits its stride.

In a review for Inverse, Hoai-Tran Bui criticized the second season of Beef, stating that despite a strong cast, it lost the unique spark of the first season. She felt the show seemed to be trying too hard to replicate the success of The White Lotus and, as a result, felt incomplete and rushed.

Beef Season 2 is streaming on Netflix.

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2026-04-16 21:22