Episode nine of Beef, entitled “The Great Fabricator,” invokes a constant state of anxiety in its viewers. This episode goes from one crisis to the next, and the stakes have risen higher than we’ve seen in the series. As Danny (Steven Yeun) tries to clean up his mistakes from episode eight, his chances of getting off scot-free become slim. In episode eight, the audience is made to feel disappointed by Danny; however, in episode nine, they are back to feeling sorry for him. In addition to the issues Danny is already having with trying to fix everything, he is thrown a new obstacle. Danny’s cousin Isaac (David Choe), whom Danny had put in jail and stole from, has been released from jail and is out for revenge.
While Danny tries to figure out how to deal with his cousin Isaac and how to return Amy’s (Ali Wong) daughter Junie (Remy Holt) safely, Amy deals with her dilemma. After receiving the news in episode eight that her husband George (Joseph Lee) wants a divorce, Amy visits Jordan (Maria Bello) and Naomi (Ashley Park). Amy visits Jordan to butter her up and hopefully get her to agree to sell Amy the Tamago chair back. The Tamago chair was the last thing George’s father made before dying, so it held sentimental value. Geroge decided to sell the chair in an attempt to help his and Amy’s marriage. However, now that their marriage is ending, Amy feels awful and wants to get it back for him. Amy is primarily focused on getting the chair back, but Jordan has something completely different on her mind; she continuously subtly flirts with Amy and makes Naomi jealous.
In the midst of trying to convince Jordan, Amy gets a call from George letting her know that Danny has Junie, and George notified the police. Amy, the police, and George get on a three-way call so that Amy can fill in the police with everything she knows about Danny. While on the call, Amy gets another call; she answers it, and it’s Isaac. Isaac is now holding Danny and his younger brother, Paul,(Young Mazino) hostage and is threatening to kill Amy’s daughter Junie. Isaac promises Junie’s safe return with the condition that Amy gives him five hundred thousand dollars in cash. Amy doesn’t believe she will be able to get that much cash in time, so she makes a new deal with Isaac. She gives Isaac Jordan and Noami’s address so that he can rob her. Amy promises to make sure no one calls the police in exchange for her daughter.
While Isaac and his friend Michael (Andrew Santino) are inside Jordan and Naomi’s house, they leave their friend Bobby (Rekstizzy) in the car with Danny, Paul, and Junie to make sure they don’t get away. Paul and Danny’s main concern is making sure Junie gets out safely and doesn’t fully understand what is happening. Bobby is holding them at gunpoint, so they have to get creative. Things do not go as planned in the car or the house, and we are left wondering if Paul is still alive. For the first time, Danny doesn’t just feel alone; he is actually left on his own.
Rating: 9.5