10 TV Shows Like Beef You Should Watch Next
Netflix has completed the second season of its action-packed anthology series “Beef,” created by Lee Sung-jin. It pits wealthy country club managers Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan against the staff, played by Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton. This follows the first season, which saw Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in a road rage situation that escalates into operatic chaos by the end of the episode. It’s dramatic, but also funny! Small conflicts are okay when they happen to other people.
Dead to Me (2019–2022)
Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini make a great TV couple in this dark, twisted comedy about two women brought together by tragedy—and lies. Applegate plays Jen Harding, a realtor whose husband is killed in a hit-and-run accident; she’s dealing with the tragedy and draws inspiration from Judy Cardellini, who maintained a cheerful outlook after her fiancé Steve died of a heart attack—which was easier, considering Steve was still secretly alive. Then we discover Judy owns a storage unit with a car suspiciously similar to the one that hit Jen’s husband—and that’s just part of the first episode. From there, the show gets even crazier—like Beef , but more cunning and passive-aggressive.Watch Dead to Me on Netflix.
Another Black Girl (2023)
Nella Rogers is an editorial assistant at (fictional) Wagner Books, a major New York City publishing house. She’s also the only Black woman working there, and is initially thrilled when Hazel-May McCall (Ashleigh Murray) is hired as a fellow editorial assistant and, well, “the other Black girl.” At first, the quiet Nella and the outspoken Hazel bond, but Nella begins receiving threatening notes, and Hazel’s advice gets her into trouble. Is this a sitcom about two Black women who can’t work together without conflict and competition? Or is there a deeper mystery beneath the surface? (Incidentally, it’s probably the latter.) Watch The Other Black Girl on Disney+ and Hulu .
Bad Sisters (2022–2024)
The perfectly crafted (and dark) Irish comedy Bad Sisters earned several well-deserved Emmy nominations in its first year. Writer and co-creator Sharon Horgan stars as Eva Garvey, the eldest of five sisters, including Grace (Anne-Marie Duff), married to John Paul, an abusive and withdrawn husband. When he is found dead under suspicious circumstances, down-on-his-luck insurance investigator Tom (Brian Gleeson) becomes involved. We know the sisters definitely wanted John Paul dead, but did they actually do it? Tom’s family business will go bankrupt if he has to pay the insurance premiums, so he’s determined to pin the (potential) crime on at least one of the women. Watch Bad Sisters on Apple TV.
White Lotus (2021 — )
Another darkly comic season-long anthology series is White Lotus , the similarities between which we suspect were further heightened in the second season of Beef , in which a pair of managers at a luxury country club engage in an increasingly heated feud with the staff. The initial episodes of Mike White’s show, meanwhile, begin with a flashback to the rather dire consequences that at least some of the vacationers who visit one of White Lotus’s resorts will face (each season features a distinct storyline and location, with recurring characters). The first season’s manager, Armond, played by Murray Bartlett, makes it clear to the staff that the super-rich guests are nothing more than overgrown children and should be pampered accordingly. In these ultra-luxurious resorts, where people pay absurd amounts of money for luxury, competition and general toxicity ensure that everyone is miserable, regardless of the price. Like “Beef,” “White Lotus” attracts A-list stars each season. Watch “White Lotus” on HBO Max.
Your Friends and Neighbors (2025 – )
In Friends & Neighbors , Jon Hamm plays Andrew “Coop” Cooper, a recently divorced and unemployed New York hedge fund manager. Trying to create the illusion that nothing has changed in his life, he begins breaking into the homes of his wealthy neighbors to steal and sell their belongings, unwittingly revealing their secrets. This dark comedy isn’t exactly about the hardships of being a formerly rich white guy, but it’s also not a cautionary tale about the decline of toxic masculinity. Coop is an insider forced to play the role of an outsider (while playing an insider), which gives him a unique perspective on the artificiality underlying a life predicated on the display of wealth. Watch Friends & Neighbors on Apple TV.
Barry (2018–2023)
Bill Hader won multiple Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Barry Berkman, a depressed and anxious hitman who discovers a love for acting, leading him to seek a life outside of murder, though he’s quite good at it and continually returns to it. As Barry strives to rebuild his life on stage, the incredibly eccentric Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler, who also won an Emmy for this role) becomes a mentor and father figure, fully supporting Barry until he discovers his protégé’s double life. Watch Barry on HBO Max.
Fargo (2014–2024)
This anthology crime series, with each season focusing on a specific storyline, is set primarily in the Midwest and combines crime drama, small-town mysteries, and a healthy dose of dark humor (if you’re familiar with the Coen brothers’ film on which the series is based, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about). The ever-changing cast of eccentric characters is sometimes likable, sometimes repulsive, and always engaging—like Beef , there’s a sense that the heroes are getting their comeuppance, yet there are also moments of unexpected kindness. Watch Fargo on Hulu .
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (2026 – )
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast is created by Irish playwright and Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee, though that earlier and deservedly beloved series will only partially prepare you for the new version. Three high school friends from Belfast reunite after learning of the unexpected death of their fourth best friend—or perhaps she’s not dead, which is a thorny development, considering they all have secrets they hoped to bury. Now they set out to investigate the mystery of a suspected murder and immediately find themselves embroiled in a complex web of lies, secrets, and old vendettas. The tone is quite volatile, but somehow it works, and beneath all the chaos, there’s a vibrant heart.Watch How to Get to Heaven from Belfast on Netflix .
I Hate Suzie (2020–2022)
Pop star-turned-actress Susie Pickles (Billie Piper) has just landed a role in a new Disney series when, in the first episode of I Hate Susie, she experiences the worst day of her career: an incriminating phone hack exposes her to the world, both literally and figuratively. Support at home is virtually nonexistent, especially since some of the photos don’t feature her husband. Lucy Prebble and Piper renew their collaboration, begun with The Secret Diary of a Prostitute and the acclaimed play Effect , in this darkly funny series about a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Piper is, as always, phenomenal, playing a character whose life story mirrors her own—the world has turned against her, but early fame has left her both deeply vulnerable and utterly self-absorbed. Watch I Hate Susie on HBO Max.
No Good Deed (2024)
I’m adding this show mainly because of Lisa Kudrow, but there’s a dark humor element to it too—plus, No Good Deed is a great show that many people have missed. The premise sounds like a gripping crime thriller: Kudrow plays retired pianist Lydia; Ray Romano is her husband, Paul. They’re in pretty tight financial straits and must sell their house without appearing too desperate to potential buyers, while also hiding a secret related to a death that occurred several years ago. Despite all this, it’s a comedy with a great supporting cast, including Linda Cardellini, Luke Wilson, OT Fagbenle, and Teyonah Parris. Watch No Good Deed on Netflix .