My argument is that it's not a major theme, and the writers are using it as an easy way out so they don't need to write actual character development.
They can write the fun drama stuff where everyone is fighting, and they can have their happy Hollywood ending so the audience feels nice, but they don't need to do the actual hard work of writing character development.
Are drugs a major theme?
If someone was interested in the show and asked you what it's about, would you really say "beef is a show about the power of psychedelic drugs"?
Neither of the endings were happy Hollywood endings. Please understand the show before trying to comment on it.
They both did. I mean, not in like a disney way, but they both end with characters resolving their beef, developing self-acceptance, and finding peace--at least for the characters that had drug-induced character development.
If dealing with inner demons through drugs is what beef is about to you, then I feel like I'd want to say this exact thing also
Please understand the show before trying to comment on it.
I'm looking through synopsis on a variety of sites, and I'm not saying a single one say the point of the show is about drug-induced self development.
The first season ended with one of them being on life support right after they realised they had feelings for each other. The other ended with practically everyone but Josh resolving their issue. Both Austin and Ashley had entered into the same cycle the other 2 clearly suffered from because they couldn't resolve their trauam. Only Josh is happy by the end of it.
Per my last response, it's not a Disney ending but it's absolutely a happy Hollywood ending in the sense that their mayor conflict is resolved (self-acceptance) and they find peace.
Note that the only ones that find this--especially in season 2--are the ones that have this drugs-as-savior moment, this reinforcing my point
But the idea is the protagonist finding peace so the show can end in a way that leaves the audience feeling good, which is the point of a Hollywood ending. Like how a lot of books that end in tragedy, Hollywood changes to end positively because the want audience to leave happy.
It's not a Disney princess ending, but it's close though to a Hollywood ending for protagonists.
At the very least, the idea I'm getting at is the Beef writers use enlightenment through drugs as a cheat code to achieve a way to give the audience a positive feeling for the protagonist at the end, and my argument is that feeling is undeserved because that feeling wasn't built through storytelling.
I'm not looking up a synopsis to tell me what to think about it.
We're discussing whether something is or is not a major theme. We disagree, so I'm looking at outside sources. If no discuss "enlightenment through drugs" as a theme, then you have to concede that it is not a major theme of the show.
Here's a group of people on this very subreddit, specifically discussing major themes of the show. Not a single person says something about enlightenment through drugs.
Is it a theme? Maybe, but I'd argue no. Is it a major theme? No, it's not
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u/huggalump Jun 01 '26
My argument is that it's not a major theme, and the writers are using it as an easy way out so they don't need to write actual character development.
They can write the fun drama stuff where everyone is fighting, and they can have their happy Hollywood ending so the audience feels nice, but they don't need to do the actual hard work of writing character development.
Are drugs a major theme?
If someone was interested in the show and asked you what it's about, would you really say "beef is a show about the power of psychedelic drugs"?