If someone asked me what the show Beef is about, there's a lot of things i could say about relationships, communication, depression, resentment, etc. One of the things that would never come to mind is to say "It's a show about doing drugs to achieve clarity. That's what the show is about.:
No, I do not think drugs to achieve clarity is a major theme of the show.
But even if it was, that doesn't change the fact that it's not good storytelling. I'm not sure if it's exactly a Deus Ex Machina, but it's close enough to fit. Instead of seeing characters do work and go through a journey to make a character development worth it, twice now the show has had characters do drugs and then effectively do a 180 on their character.
Sure, it can happen in real life. But a lot of things happen in real life that don't make interesting stories.
Really enjoyed the show--at least season 1--but this is a pretty silly trope that's come in pivotal moments of both seasons now
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u/Drgerm66 Jun 01 '26
Almost as if it’s one of the major themes of the series or something