Beef Season 2 Review: The Best Show on TV Becomes an Unlovable White Lotus Rip-Off
Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac star as a miserable couple running a country club in a rich versus poor potboiler that has been executed far more effectively before, most notably in the stunning first season of Beef. This disappointing turn marks a significant letdown for fans of the original series.
The Rise of White Lotus Derangement Syndrome
Since Mike White debuted his brilliant anthology series The White Lotus five years ago, a condition known as White Lotus Derangement Syndrome has spread through television commissioning. This syndrome involves dramas that pit poorer Americans against richer Americans in settings where the wealthy choose to be and the less fortunate are trapped. In The White Lotus, this dynamic plays out between staff and guests at luxury resorts. In other shows, it manifests through personal assistants, single mothers, servants, or exploited nannies. Now, Beef season two joins this crowded field, but with far less success.
A Mismatched Couple and Their Struggles
Carey Mulligan portrays Lindsay, an interior designer and hostess yearning to restore her social status from her posh English upbringing, while Oscar Isaac plays Josh, a general manager with a gambling addiction and a penchant for camgirls. Both characters are deeply frustrated, living on the fringes of real wealth without ever attaining it themselves. Their midlife dissatisfaction contrasts sharply with their employees, Austin, a personal trainer played by Charles Melton, and Ashley, a golf course gofer portrayed by Cailee Spaeny.
Blackmail and Escalating Tensions
When Austin and Ashley witness a heated argument between Josh and Lindsay, they capture it on a phone camera and use it to blackmail Josh. Their demand is for Ashley to be promoted so she can access health insurance to treat a medical condition. This initial conflict sets off a chain of events that introduces numerous additional characters and complications, including the club's new owner, a tennis coach with a side hustle, and mounting debts. Unfortunately, the plot begins to sprawl uncontrollably, diluting the tension that made the first season so gripping.
Superficial Themes and Weak Character Development
The series gestures toward important themes such as racial tension, aging, job precarity, and the flaws of the US healthcare system, but none are explored in depth. Corruption breeds corruption, love is fragile, and people are portrayed as weak and venal. However, these insights are not new and have been dramatized more effectively elsewhere. Moreover, the characters are largely unlikable: Lindsay is a cold, spoiled brat; Josh is weak and underdeveloped; Austin is a cipher whose stupidity makes him an unconvincing partner for the ambitious Ashley; and peripheral characters are even less compelling.
Conclusion: An Entertaining but Flawed Potboiler
Overall, Beef season two feels like an entertaining potboiler rather than the dark, truth-seeking drama of its predecessor. With too many plot threads and insufficient meat on its bones, it fails to capture the magic of the original series. Beef is currently available for streaming on Netflix, but viewers may find it a pale imitation of better works in the genre.
