Anticipating a Beef-Filled Evening at the 2024 Emmys | Vanity Fair

Written by Rebecca Ford

In the January 7 Golden Globes, the creators of "Beef" ascended the stage three times, completely dominating the limited-series categories. The Netflix series about revenge didn't only bag the best limited series accolade but also earned Ali Wong and Steven Yeun awards in their respective acting categories.

Given the 13 nominations of the series (which premiered on Netflix in April), it's anticipated to shine equally bright in the Emmys, having already garnered three awards at the Creative Arts Emmys in the sectors of editing, contemporary costumes, and casting.

The show created by Lee Sung Jin revolves around a real-life road rage incident. It features Yeun as Danny Cho, a handyman who gets into an altercation with a well-off lady, Amy Lau, played by Wong. As the 10-episode series unfolds, the back-and-forth spiteful deeds between Danny and Amy keep inflating. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lee stated his intent on delving into what happens when two people perpetually repress emotions and issues.

Both Yeun and Wong also function as executive producers on the series and joined the production even before the completion of the scripts. Yeun leveraged aspects of his own background, like his experiences in the Korean church, to develop his character further. Similarly, for Wong, this was not merely about portraying Asian American identity, but an in-depth exploration of human nature, which she communicated in a Vanity Fair interview.

Besides Wong and Yeun, both celebrated for their stand-up and film careers, the supporting cast was lauded for their performances, with actors like Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, and Maria Bello earning nominations in their categories.

Lee's character, George, is Amy's husband and an artist who gets entangled in Amy's conflicts. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lee discussed not judging his character and understanding things from George's perspective. Similarly, Mazino, who plays the role of Danny's brother, Paul, talked about understanding his character's mentality, as someone who feels isolated and antagonized by the world.

However, whether there will be future seasons of streaming hit "Beef" still remains a question. The creators initially envisioned the series as a three-season arc, but recently Yeun indicated to Vanity Fair that he's unlikely to return to his role. The closure in the final episode of the show suggests it was planned as a limited series, although there are two pending director nominations for the future.