Netflix’s Beef Doesn’t Want to Focus on Race According to Series Creator

Warning: This story contains mild spoilers for “Beef,” available on Netflix now.

Beef creator Lee Sung Jin is currently on his second collaboration with actors Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. The dramatic Netflix/A24 venture–now in its first week of streaming on Netflix–examines the fallout of a road rage incident across a collection of Asian American characters. The star-crossed take finds a bond here, as writer Rachel Seo points out, in what critic Allison Herman calls the shared recognition of a “self-destructive nihilism” between Wong and Yeun ’s characters (Amy and Danny). Lee, who considers himself a character writer first, sat down recently with Variety to discuss his latest series and explain how he investigates character development in an Asian American show through the lens of vulnerability and family dynamics rather than race.

In explaining why Lee’s initial plan to cast Amy’s character as a middle-aged white man was abandoned, Lee had things to say. “I really didn’t have much interest, nor the capabilities to handle that, to write about that,” explained Lee. “The reason I abandoned Stanley Tucci-type very quickly was because — especially in the modern era — you have to talk about race [in that instance], and there’s so many other shows that do that very well.” While admitting he didn’t have the desire to write race, Lee explained that Ali was cast for her own merits. “If Ali were another race, I still would have wanted to work with her. She really embodies so much about this character that is perfect, and she brings so many nuanced layers to the role.”

Of course, Lee conceded, “The fact that she [Ali] is Asian American does help, because it allows for so many other doors to open and for us to explore other themes without having to address the card of race, which would take up a sizable amount of narrative real estate.”

Related: The Rise of Asian Directors and Film in Hollywood

‘Everything Bubbles Up Organically’

When asked why Lee’s critically acclaimed and ground-breaking show “is not being marketed specifically as this history-making, revolutionary Asian American show” that it is, Lee highlighted his interest as a “character-first” writer. “I am very proud of all that’s happening in Asian American culture today,” Lee responded. “But I think especially as a writer, you’re always wanting to lead with character first. Yes, these characters happen to be Asian American, but there’s so much more to them than just that” explained Lee. “It really isn’t an act of dodging, but it is more of an actively pursuing character.”

Ultimately Lee has praise for the balance between the marketing and the life of the show. “Just the fact that they are Asian American says a lot on the posters, so allowing the show and the world and the characters to overtake that. It just happened organically more than anything else.” On the pressure of writing race, Lee concluded, “ I personally don’t think about it much. I just try to chase the ideas that are exciting to me…I think if I just keep my blinders on that, then everything else organically bubbles up.”

Beef actors Steven Yeun and Ali Wong are joined in the new hit series by Young Mazino, Joseph Lee, Ashley Park, Justin H. Min, Patti Yasutake, Mia Serafino, and David Choe.