Following the aftermath of Amy’s (Ali Wong) home invasion and Fumi’s (Patti Yasutake) accident, episode six of Beef, entitled “We Draw a Magic Circle,” showcases a transition in each character as mysteries unravel. As tensions rise, so does a few supporting characters’ confidence. In this episode, we see an advantage switch between the supporting characters and the main two characters. Amy and Danny (Steven Yeun) both, for the first time that we’ve seen, feel insecure and vulnerable due to new challenges in their lives. However, ultimately, Amy and Danny both decide to take control of their new challenges in morally incorrect ways.
The events in episode five, titled “Such Inward Secret Creatures,” have raised the stakes for multiple characters. While Fumi learning that Amy has been having an affair by overhearing Amy and Danny’s younger brother, Paul (Young Mazino) being intimate is an advantage for Fumi, it is also a factor that will put Amy’s marriage in jeopardy. Even though Fumi does not simply say that she knows what Amy has done and expects better treatment, she hints at it multiple times. This frightens Amy, and she tries to win Fumi’s silence by taking her shopping and being extra sweet to her. Fumi responds with some martial advice for Amy, and it is the first time we see a loving and supportive mother-in-law and daughter-in-law moment from them. Which is a surprising response on Fumi’s end given the context of the situation.
Amy’s relationship with her mother-in-law is not the only relationship in her life that is changing its dynamic. Naomi’s (Ashley Park) behavior towards Amy changes immediately after Naomi feels Amy is not being honest with her. Naomi admits to Amy that she has looked into the accusations concerning the road rage incident that Danny made a public announcement about in Las Vegas. Naomi goes on to reveal that she knows that Danny and his cousin Isaac (David Choe) are connected to the home invasion because one of the robbers is wearing a company shirt from the company in Isaac’s name. This starts to worry Amy until Naomi accuses Amy of having an affair with the wrong brother, Danny. Amy laughs at Naomi and insults her, not knowing that Fumi is listening to their conversation.
Amy fears that Naomi will expose that it was her driving in the road rage incident, and that will interrupt her deal that is about to close, so she texts Danny to meet up with her. Despite Amy and Danny bickering back and forth, the conversation surprisingly goes well, and they come to an agreement that will help both of them. Amy asks Danny to call her neighborhood watch tip line and lie and say he was driving her car, and in exchange, she will pay him twenty-five thousand dollars. Danny originally wanted one hundred thousand dollars, but Amy said she would’ve only offered him ten thousand dollars, so he should be thankful for what he gets because he is poor and really needs the money. All is well until Amy gets a call from Naomi on her drive home saying that Fumi admitted to driving Amy’s car during the road rage incident. We as an audience know that Fumi is lying; however, Naomi thinks that Amy was just covering for Fumi to spare her embarrassment. Amy calls Danny and lets him know the deal is off out of curiosity and Danny is furious until he realizes that he can use the situation in his favor.
Rating: 8/10