7 Shows Like Netflix’s ‘Beef’

If you’re someone who struggles with hopelessness, loneliness, frustration or despair, you’ve probably already binge-watched Netflix’s Beef. If you just like good television, you’ve probably watched it, too.

The streaming giant’s newest comedy-drama, Beef follows two people whose involvement in a road rage incident insidiously begins to consume their lives. Ali Wong plays party number one, Amy, a small business owner who married into wealth and prosperity. Despite her financial security and outwardly happy life, however, she wrestles with feelings of inadequacy and stagnation. Party number two, Danny (Steven Yeun), is a blue-collar worker with a struggling business. Though he’s in a different socioeconomic stratum than Amy, the two relate in their feelings of gloom and dejection. Their road rage incident, therefore, subconsciously (and insidiously) becomes an outlet for releasing those repressed emotions.

So far, we love almost everything about Beef. The writing is surprisingly complex and nuanced for a show about a rivalry. Class issues are discussed, though in a gentle manner, and the intense plot is thoughtfully punctuated with perfectly-timed bouts of comedy. What we hate about Beef, though, is that there are currently only 10 episodes available for streaming — and we’ve already watched all of them.

If you’re experiencing similar feelings, fear not; the show’s creator Lee Sung Jin has already teased that there will likely be more seasons to come. Until then, however, here are 7 shows to watch the next time you find yourself wondering, “Where’s the Beef?”

1. ‘Cobra Kai’ (2018)

   The sequel to Robert Mark Kamen’s Karate Kid films, Cobra Kai is television’s ultimate revenge series. The show follows Johnny Lawrence, who — thirty years after his defeat by Daniel LaRusso in the All-Valley Karate Tournament — decides to re-open the Cobra Kai karate dojo to help local outcasts stick up for themselves. It’s not long, however, before Daniel vows to bring the dojo down, thus reigniting the pair’s rivalry. Between that conflict and the competitiveness of the new students, the dark comedy, like Beef, is packed with contention.

   WHERE TO STREAM COBRA KAI

2. ‘Killing Eve’ (2018)

   Killing Eve is a British spy thriller following M16 agent Eve Polastri on her mission to track down and capture notorious (and notably insane) female assassin, Villanelle. When the two begin to cross paths, though, they quickly become involved in a cat-and-mouse game of trying to best each other. Eventually, their obsessions become life-consuming, just like Amy and Danny’s in Beef.

   WHERE TO STREAM KILLING EVE

3. ‘The Glory’ (2022)

   A third revenge story, The Glory is another one of Netflix’s recent smash-hits. The thrilling K-drama centers around Moon Dong-eun, a young woman who was once bullied to the point of dropping out of high school. Years later, she takes a job at a local elementary school in which her abuser’s child is a student in order to strike her tormentor where she least expects it. Though this series is more of a drama than a comedy, Moon Dong-eun’s fast-paced quest for vengeance will certainly remind you of Beef.

   WHERE TO WATCH THE GLORY

4. ‘The End of the F**king World’ (2017)

   If the hopelessness and despair of Amy and Danny are what drew you to Beef, Netflix’s The End of the F**king World is full of similar themes. Disillusioned and disappointed with their day-to-day existence, two teenagers decide to embark on a cross-country journey to find themselves a better life. As their trip progresses, however, they become caught in a sequence of violent events, each more ominous than the previous.

   WHERE TO STREAM THE END OF THE F**KING WORLD

5. ‘After Life’ (2017)

   After Life is another revenge tale, but, unlike Beef, it isn’t man vs. woman; it’s man vs. the world. The show centers around Tony Johnson who had a picture-perfect life until the death of his wife. Following her untimely passing, he vows to get revenge on the world by saying and doing whatever he damn well pleases. Straddling the line between dark comedy and black comedy, the series comically and creatively deals with some serious topics.

   WHERE TO STREAM AFTER LIFE

6. ‘Barry’ (2018)

   One of our favorite dark comedies currently on the air, Barry follows a hitman who, after signing up for an acting class in Los Angeles, begins to rethink his life path. Striving to make a change, he attempts to retire his guns and become a full-time performer. His criminal past, however, makes that goal a little complicated. Life Beef, Barry deals with the themes of mental instability, obsession, and vengeance through a humorous, intelligent lens.

   WHERE TO STREAM BARRY

7. ‘Kleo’ (2022)

   Kleo is a German spy thriller that focuses on an East German assassin who, after being released from a false imprisonment, vows to enact revenge on the parties who betrayed her. High-thrills, high-energy, and even a bit funny at times, the show is one of TV’s best espionage series — and a perfect way to bide the time until the next season of Beef.

   WHERE TO STREAM KLEO