Beef creator Lee Sung Jin discusses the conflict that separates Millennials from Gen Z.

      Lee Sung Jin, the Emmy-winning creator of Beef, was contemplating stepping away from his breakout series after its critically acclaimed first season. However, after overhearing an intense argument between a couple in his neighborhood, he found fresh inspiration for Season 2.

      “It wasn’t particularly interesting by itself. But when I shared the story, I realized there was a generational divide — my Gen Z friends were horrified and asked if I called 911,” recalls Lee, age 44. “People my age simply shrugged it off, saying, ‘Who hasn’t experienced that?’”

      This generational gap became the basis for Season 2, which follows two couples at different points in their lives and relationships as they deal with love, resentment, and financial hardships.

      In the season, Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan portray a couple trapped in a sexless marriage, while Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny play a younger pair with ambitions.

      “One of the key themes is marriage versus time,” Lee explains. “It contrasts a naive, hopeful viewpoint with a more tired, experienced one. When you’re young, ideals hold significant value. But as you grow older, life becomes more intricate and unclear.”

      Another prominent theme of the season is capitalism. The narrative unfolds in an exclusive country club inspired by Lee’s visit to the Montecito Club in Santa Barbara, where immense wealth dictates social dynamics.

      “A friend I’ve known from our struggling days suddenly acquired wealth and joined,” Lee shares. “The membership fees are outrageous, around $300,000. I found myself judging him. Then I spent five days there and thought, ‘Maybe I should check out that application.’”

      This experience highlighted how individuals adjust to privilege, yet it also revealed how inaccessible that world is for most people.

      “What caught my attention was that all the members were older,” he notes. “Meanwhile, the younger employees worked tirelessly, yet would never breach that social divide.”

      For Lee, this setting became a microcosm of widespread anxiety. “Many young people feel that the American Dream has vanished. Home ownership is declining, birth rates are down. What once felt achievable now seems entirely out of reach.”

      Lee Sung Jin discusses love and money in 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 appear in episode 202 of Beef Season 2. Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2026

      Before long, Lee gathered what he describes as a “bucket list” ensemble cast.

      Isaac, sporting a surprisingly captivating mullet, infused the project with an intensity that altered the script. “Our initial Zoom session lasted four and a half hours,” Lee reveals. “We delved deep very quickly and hardly discussed the show. It felt more like a therapy session.”

      On the other hand, Mulligan shines as a comedic talent. “The first thing she told me was, ‘I’m not going to play someone who’s dying,’” Lee chuckled, highlighting the serious roles she typically undertakes. “She wanted to be funny, and she is. There’s almost Peter Sellers-level physical comedy involved.”

      As the darkly humorous season unfolds, tensions escalate with a thrilling journey to Seoul that explores Lee’s Korean heritage. The central antagonist is Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-jung), a wealthy Korean who owns the country club and takes drastic measures to hide a scandal involving her cosmetic surgeon husband, Kim (Song Kang-ho).

      Chairwoman Park chillingly illustrates Lee’s main message: the wealthy dehumanize those they view as outsiders in their privileged circles, and love can often be self-serving in a capitalist framework.

      “This is the essence of capitalism,” Lee remarks. “It represents a natural order, a self-centered system. Love exists within this framework. All relationships are shaped by it.”

      Beef is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

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