‘Biff’ Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac talk about the charm of their characters

Spoiler alert: The following story contains plot details from ‘Season 2’.beef,’ now streaming on Netflix

Netflix’s “beef” is back for a second season, and the anthology series centers around two couples named Josh.Oscar Isaac) and Lindsey (carey mulligan), Austin (Charles Melton), Ashley (Kaylee Spaeny). One of the most powerful scenes is in episode 5, when Lindsay’s beloved dog Burberry goes missing after Ashley sneaks into the house and accidentally leaves the back door open. After hours of searching, Lindsay discovers a coyote attacking Burberry and, without a second thought, kills it with her bare hands.

“That’s basically what made me want to do this,” Mulligan says.

Creator Sungjin Lee had yet to flesh out all eight episodes of ‘Beef’ when Mulligan sat down with him via Zoom, but there was one thing he knew for sure: Mulligan said: “He said, ‘But I know exactly what happens in Episode 5.’ “I pitched a whole episode about losing the dog and ending up with that coyote.”

“It was kind of crazy filming it.” she added. “But I was very motivated by the idea of ​​that scene.”

This season of ‘Beef’ takes place at the exclusive Montecito Country Club. Isaac serves as the club’s general manager and Lindsay is its interior decorator. Gen Z couple Ashley and Austin work at a club but are at the bottom of the pay scale.

“Beef” begins with Austin and Ashley witnessing a heated and violent argument between Josh and Lindsey, which is captured on video. Suddenly you have the leverage to blackmail the older couple. The situation quickly devolves into a web of lies, power dynamics, and despair. The conflict between Josh and Lindsay intensifies, and the coyote scene becomes a turning point in Lindsay and her marriage.

“During that time, she had no idea what she was interested in or what she was particularly good at,” Mulligan says of Lindsay. “I think that’s a big part of what I found interesting about her: Even though she had built her life out of this marriage, she didn’t really have an identity to hold on to.”

Killing a coyote can be an unsettling moment, but Mulligan says: “The marriage is completely over, and she realizes that the only thing she feels in the world is mutual love and understanding for her. So not only is killing a coyote to protect a dog an incredible act of love, but it’s also a realization that you only have animals in your life that can’t be with people.”

In the next episode, Lindsay has changed. “She could care less about what people think,” says Mulligan. “For most of the first half of the show, she’s so caught up in how she’s perceived. After she kills the coyote, she’s like, ‘Fuck it. I’ve got to win somehow. I’ve got to find a way to survive. So I thought that was pretty liberating for her.’

Ahead of filming, Isaac sat down with Lee to find out who Josh is and where his career and marriage are at. “We started building the character together based on our initial ideas of what happened in the show, and it was amazing.”

The exploratory process with Lee was invaluable for both Mulligan and Isaac in researching their respective backstories and understanding who their characters were and what drove them.

It comes to Josh, who is short on money and seems desperate to stay young. Isaac says: “He has this vibe. I’m a young, cool, hip guy. Everything’s cool. And it was really fun to explore what he does at home and the tension between that.”

Josh’s attempt to achieve that youthful vibe is reflected in the home as well. He has a man cave full of memorabilia and even owns a Moog synthesizer that once belonged to his favorite band, Hot Chip. In episode 2 he plays it, and he’s not very good at it. A few episodes later, he goes on stage and jams with the band.

Who Josh wants to be is also reflected in his hair. Yes. That’s the little mullet he’s rocking. Issac worked with hairstylist Tim Nolan, who suggested the look. “It makes perfect sense to speak back to someone who is trying to hold on to a certain image of youth,” says Isaac. “And the person shows a sense of relaxation and energy despite being strangled the entire time.”

Josh begins stealing money from the club to maintain his lifestyle and maintain his image. “He cares more about identity and wants enough money,” says Isaac. “He will never be a member of this club, but this will be the closest he will ever get to a club.”

Surrounded by enormous wealth, Josh feels privileged and even steals money from his late mother’s bank account. “So he’s already in despair and drawing a line there,” says Isaac.

“He thinks he has the right to own what he owns, just like other rich people.” Isaac said. “Whatever that means.”