10 Best TV Shows Of 2023 (So Far)
4. Beef
We should never have doubted the pairing of Ali Wong and Steven Yuen, but even so, Beef was far better than most were expecting -- mainly because of how dramatically its story swerved into something the trailers didn't tease.
Initially sold as a comedy-drama about two 30-somethings who enter into a petty war after an incident of road rage, Beef follows Wong and Yuen as their clash becomes a place to hide and vent from the increasing trouble of their lives. Career hardships, romantic trouble, it's all tossed aside as they pursue their revenge.
An hilarious and powerfully performed tale of trauma and insecurity, the bracing dramedy is achingly funny, but at its best soars as a moving and painfully relatable ode to finding peace in life. Wong and Yuen, with years of impressive work to their name, are at their absolute best, and worth the price of admission alone.
Netflix Originals tend to veer into forgettability or, like Beef, they hit the nail on the head. What a ride.