{"id":2385944,"date":"2026-04-23T15:03:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2385944"},"modified":"2026-04-23T15:03:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T15:03:45","slug":"beef-season-2-is-messy-in-all-the-right-ways-but-im-also-thinking-about-its-take-on-racial-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/beef-season-2-is-messy-in-all-the-right-ways-but-im-also-thinking-about-its-take-on-racial-identity\/","title":{"rendered":"Beef Season 2 Is Messy In All The Right Ways, But I&#8217;m Also Thinking About Its Take On Racial Identity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><i>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.<\/i><\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Spoilers for the latest season of <\/strong><em><strong>Beef<\/strong><\/em><strong> lie ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/tv\/articles\/watch-beef-season-2-under-140500250.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Beef Season 2 is a must-watch;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\"><em>Beef<\/em> Season 2 is a must-watch<\/a> for more than a few reasons. The show, which is available to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/tech.yahoo.com\/streaming\/articles\/netflix-subscription-plans-price-included-174717448.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Netflix subscription;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">Netflix subscription<\/a> holders, features a stellar cast, a complex story, and plenty of dark humor. Of course, there are also plenty of messy narrative beats that arise amid this <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cinemablend.com\/television\/2026-tv-premiere-date-schedule-network-streaming-series\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:2026 TV schedule;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">2026 TV schedule<\/a> entry due to the feud between couples Josh &amp; Lindsay Martin and Ashley Miller and Austin Davis. The series is still just as chaotic as fans would expect, but what I also took from it was the keen focus on racial identity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Austin (Charles Melton) looks happy, while Eunice (Seoyeon Jang) smiles on Beef.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/OCD6nrwRNlPOzSWMlte16A--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/f110bf732abc3e643cd98afa0f143f5e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">How Does Beef\u2019s Second Season Shed Light On Racial Identity?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are some layered characters to be found amid this second iteration of Lee Sung Jin\u2019s Emmy-winning anthology series (which may or may not be <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/tv\/articles\/didnt-see-beef-directors-cryptic-220046033.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:set in the same universe;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">set in the same universe<\/a> as Season 1). Charles Melton\u2019s Austin Davis definitely fits that bill, as there\u2019s far more to the fit and aspiring personal trainer than meets the eye. It\u2019s established that Austin is biracial, as he has a white mother and a Korean father (just like Melton himself), and, as the season progresses, he begins to ponder the Korean side of his heritage more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Austin\u2019s intrinsic examination of his race begins to manifest when he starts to move up within the employee ranks of the Monte Vista Point country club. Via the club\u2019s new owner, the ultra-wealthy Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung), Austin gets a taste of Korean culture and affluence, and it\u2019s intriguing to watch him take it all in.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">I appreciate how Jin and his co-writers bring these elements into Austin\u2019s life and prompt him to ask questions about his relationship to his culture. As a result, viewers get an idea of not just how Austin perceives himself but also how his partner views him. One key scene that illustrates that point involves a conversation between Austin and Ashley, who says she\u2019s never viewed her fianc\u00e9 as Korean, just \u201cArizonian.\u201d That comment becomes even more interesting in the context of Austin\u2019s attraction to Park\u2019s assistant and translator, Eunice.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Eunice (Seoyeon Jang), Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) have lunch on Beef.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/MnpA1ZdR2rVwAOxZmh.IiQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/59e4837cb1ddf99817c982bd515ecad5\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">What\u2019s also worth noting is the fact that by the start of the season, Austin has never even been to Korea, though that changes when he, Ashley, Lindsay and more get there in the finale. The natural progression of Austin\u2019s yearning for his culture and a solidification of his identity is a credit to the writers, and Melton also deserves praise for his layered performance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Austin (Charles Melton) and Ashley (Cailee Spaeney) share a moment on Beef.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/c.nO.qRGGMokdRQZVxiC.Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/cinemablend_388\/60779c169b277b5f95f5cea896cc1d01\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Credit: Netflix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">This Beef Subplot Could Mean A Lot To A Portion Of Viewers<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As an African American man with two Black parents, I can\u2019t specifically relate to the experience Austin is having. That lack of familiarity definitely doesn\u2019t diminish my appreciation of this aspect of the show, though. I can also imagine that it could mean a lot to those who are biracial and have had struggles with their identity. And, while Charles Melton\u2019s personal experience greatly differs from his character\u2019s, he appreciates having had the opportunity to examine identity in this way.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The <em>May December<\/em> star \u201clived in Korea for six years\u201d and, as he explained to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/charles-melton-korean-identity-different-beef-character-exclusive-11950068#:~:text=Charles%20Melton%20spoke%20with%20PEOPLE%20about%20examining,Davis'%20Korean%20identity%2C%20contrasts%20with%20his%20own%2C\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:People;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">People<\/a>, he was cognizant of his position as a Korean American. So, for him, Season 2 of <em>Beef<\/em> was like \u201ccoming home\u201d since he got to film in Korea. Meanwhile, Austin must grapple with the absence of Koreans in his life until just recently. Melton\u2019s take on his character\u2019s idea of \u201cKorean-ness\u201d speaks to the sense of belonging that many seek from a cultural standpoint.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">So, yes, <em>Beef<\/em>\u2019s second season offers up the craziness (like the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/tv\/articles\/beef-season-2-director-breaks-181541305.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:finale\u2019s fight\/escape scene;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">finale\u2019s fight\/escape scene<\/a> in Korea), but, like its predecessor, it also offers some thoughtful ideas. Check it out for yourself on Netflix now and take note of the deeper themes amid the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" data-yga=\"{\" ylinkelement=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/tv\/articles\/finally-know-more-beef-season-103000308.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:more diabolical story beats;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">more diabolical story beats<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Netflix Spoilers for the latest season of Beef lie ahead. Beef Season 2 is a must-watch for more than a few reasons. The show, which is available to Netflix subscription holders, features a stellar cast, a complex [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2385945,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[460155,465072,460156,344936,350733,339265,465071,23191,465070],"class_list":["post-2385944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-ashley-miller","tag-austin-and-ashley","tag-austin-davis","tag-beef","tag-charles-melton","tag-korean-culture","tag-lindsay-martin","tag-netflix","tag-racial-identity"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Beef-Season-2-Is-Messy-In-All-The-Right-Ways.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385944","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2385944"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385944\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2385946,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2385944\/revisions\/2385946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2385945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2385944"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2385944"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2385944"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}