Forget Beef season 2 on Netflix — here are 6 ‘gripping’ dark comedy shows you should stream this month
Already finished Beef season 2? Me too. But, fear not, if you’re left wishing you hadn’t binge-watched the iconic Netflix show’s latest tumultuous season quickly, there are plenty more shows I’m happy to recommend watching next.
Beef season 2 picked up on an entirely new storyline to season 1, prompted by fresh ‘beef’ between country club couple Josh (Oscar Isaac) and Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), who have some… issues. Yes, I’m putting that lightly.
The White Lotus
Like Beef season 2, The White Lotus also follows the twisted lives of rich (and not-so-rich) individuals. Only in the hit HBO Max show are they on vacation.
That certainly doesn’t stop the drama from following them, though, and it also doesn’t prevent an eerily dark vein from lacing its way through everything that unfolds.
The two are weirdly similar in tone, keeping you on the edge of your seat, unsettled and waiting to see what happens next. Which, in every episode, is pretty unpredictable. If you feel like bad things might unravel in The White Lotus, you’re probably right.
Similarly to Beef, it’s an alternative take on an anthology series, as a different resort providing the luxurious backdrop for the show’s three seasons and counting (here’s everything we know so far about The White Lotus season 4).
The critical eyes among us will spot a couple of recurring characters, like the critically acclaimed Tanya McQuoid, played by Jennifer Coolidge, who they just couldn’t leave behind.
Where to watch: HBO Max (US/UK)
Friends from College
Friends from College follows a group of friends who, you guessed it, have been acquainted since college. Now, they’re navigating life in their 40s, which comes with a torrent of big life decisions, complicated relationships and navigating waves of change.
Fortunately, there’s also a wonderful balance of comedy thrown in. And it’s those dynamics that make it a great option if you loved Beef.
At first glance, Beef season 2 seems focused entirely on Josh and Lindsay’s relationship. A few episodes in, and it’s clearly far more complex than that, with the ensemble cast all exploring their own problems.
Friends from College certainly has more light comedy than Beef, but it still explores multiple personalities and will leave you thinking about how flawed they are for a while afterwards. It was cancelled after two seasons, but there’s still plenty of episodes to enjoy.
Where to watch: Netflix (US/UK)
Barry
Bear with me here, because this choice is a little darker. Barry (Bill Hader) is an assassin. He’s pretty depressed, he doesn’t really like his life, and he has to kill people to earn money. But when Barry gets hired to head to Los Angeles on his latest hit job, he finds himself integrated into an acting class while on the job… and realizes that he loves it.
But while Barry wants to leave his life of crime behind and pursue his passion for the arts, it’s simply, well, not that simple. And that’s the premise behind this twisted, dark comedy that resembles Beef in its shadowy nature.
There’s unexpected turns and an overwhelming urge to back someone that hasn’t got the best morals. With Barry, you’ll find you can’t help yourself and that’s what makes it a really excellent watch.
Where to watch: HBO Max (US/UK)
Dead to Me
In Dead To Me, Jen (Christina Applegate) is grieving the loss of her husband, murdered with no killer to be found. Attending a support group, she makes a new friend, Judy (Linda Cardellini), whose cheery disposition, if a little grating, is one that Jen can’t resist.
There’s a darkness to their newfound friendship that unravels majestically over three funny and devastating seasons.
Sounds a little like Beef? You’re not wrong. Strange relationships and an acute look at human nature make Dead To Me a gripping watch, much like it did with Beef. There are humorous moments intertwined that make some of the stressful parts a little bit easier to stomach.
Where to watch: Netflix (US/UK)
The Bear
On the surface, The Bear sounds like it has a fairly simple premise. Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) is a young chef trying to turn his family’s struggling sandwich shop around in Chicago. But really, it is anything but.
In fact, it’s a psychological drama that dives into the ins and outs of familial relationships, friendships, taking ownership, and navigating strong personalities. What we’re left with, like Beef, is a pretty stressful ride.
The crew Carmy has working for him is a mixed bag, but our chef isn’t exactly a shining example of humanity either.
But what they’re passionate about is food, and through their shared love, they form their own kind of family. It’s certainly not an elite country club like Beef season 2, but the grind never stops.
Where to watch: Disney+ (US/UK)
Killing Eve
Killing Eve follows Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), who is assigned by the British intelligence agency she’s working for to catch an assassin named Villanelle (Jodie Comer). And while the case has been made perfectly clear to her — bring Villanelle in — the waters between the pair become increasingly murky.
Over four seasons, they establish a strange cat-and-mouse dynamic that’s scintillating to watch and incredibly dark in nature. She’s an assassin, after all. Created by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the concept is incredibly unique, and it also demonstrates, like Beef, that a person’s psyche may not be as straightforward as you once thought.
Where to watch: Netflix (US), BBC iPlayer (UK)
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