Beef creator Lee Sung Jin discusses the clash between Millennials and Gen Z.

      Emmy-winning "Beef" creator Lee Sung Jin was prepared to move on from his successful series after its celebrated first season. However, inspiration struck when he eavesdropped on a passionate argument between a couple in his neighborhood, sparking ideas for Season 2.

      “It wasn’t particularly interesting by itself. But when I shared the story, I noticed a generational gap — my Gen Z friends were shocked, asking if I had called 911,” Lee, 44, explains. “In contrast, my peers simply shrugged, saying, ‘Who hasn’t done that?’”

      This generational divide became the basis for Season 2, which follows two couples at different stages of their lives, each experiencing love, resentment, and financial difficulties.

      Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan portray a quarreling couple stuck in a sexless marriage, while Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny play a younger pair with ambitions.

      “One of the central themes is marriage versus time,” Lee adds. “It explores a naive, hopeful viewpoint compared to a more weary, experienced one. When you’re young, ideals matter. But as you grow older, life becomes increasingly complicated and ambiguous.”

      Capitalism is another significant theme of the season. The narrative takes place within an exclusive country club inspired by Lee’s visit to Santa Barbara’s Montecito Club, a place where extreme wealth determines inclusion.

      “A friend I’ve known since we were struggling financially came into a lot of money and joined that club,” Lee shares. “The fees are outrageous, around $300,000. I judged him, but after spending five days there, I thought, ‘Let me check that application.’”

      This experience clarified how individuals adapt to privilege while highlighting how inaccessible that world remains to most people.

      “What stood out to me was that all the members were older,” he observes. “Meanwhile, the younger employees worked incredibly hard but would never break through that social barrier.”

      For Lee, this dynamic reflected a larger societal anxiety. “Many young people feel the American Dream is unattainable now. Homeownership rates are declining, and birth rates are down. The life that once seemed possible now appears completely out of reach.”

      Love and Money: Lee Sung Jin on "Beef" Season 2

      (Left to Right) Charles Melton as Austin Davis, Carey Mulligan as Lindsay Crane-Martin, Oscar Isaac as Josh Martin, and Cailee Spaeny as Ashley Miller in episode 202 of "Beef" Season 2. Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

      Lee soon compiled what he refers to as a “bucket list” ensemble cast.

      Isaac, sporting a surprisingly captivating mullet, brought an intensity that transformed the script. “Our first Zoom session lasted four and a half hours,” Lee recalls. “We connected quickly, diving deep without much focus on the show itself. It felt like a therapy session.”

      On the other hand, Mulligan revealed herself to be a comedic powerhouse. “The first thing she said to me was, ‘I’m not playing someone who’s dying,’” Lee chuckled, acknowledging her typical serious roles. “She wanted to infuse humor, and she does. There’s almost Peter Sellers-level physical comedy involved.”

      As the season evolves into darker satire, tensions escalate with a wild journey to Seoul, delving into Lee’s Korean heritage. The antagonist is Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung), a wealthy Korean who owns the country club and resorts to drastic measures to conceal a scandal involving her cosmetic surgeon husband, Kim (Song Kang-ho).

      The chairwoman chillingly illustrates Lee’s core message that the rich dehumanize those outside their exclusive circles and that love can become self-serving in a capitalist environment.

      “This is the essence of capitalism,” Lee asserts. “It’s a natural system, centered on the self. Love exists within this framework. All relationships operate within this system.”

      "Beef" is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

      Main image: Lee Sung Jin, creator/showrunner/director/executive producer of "Beef." Photo credit: Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2023