Summary

• Danny and Amy's feud comes to a boiling point in the final episode of Beef, leading to them being stranded in the desert together. This unexpected circumstances forces them to rely on each other and ultimately brings their feud to an end.
• Danny is shot by Amy's ex-husband, but he survives and is shown recovering in the hospital at the end of the season. The open-ended nature of their relationship leaves room for viewers to interpret if they have developed romantic feelings for each other.
• The significance of Amy's back tattoo is revealed to be a reference to "Catch-22," symbolizing the irrational and impossible situations they feel trapped in. The appearance of crows in the finale also connects to the theme of generational trauma in Asian Americans explored throughout the series.

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Beef season 1!Netflix's Beef show ends with Danny (Steven Yeun) and Amy (Ali Wong) finally reaching an end to their feud, as the two characters reach this conclusion with some much-needed breakthroughs. The A24 Netflix series follows the chaotic revenge story that begins following a parking lot misunderstanding. The moment of rage for both Danny and Amy sparks a rivalry that consumes their lives for months. The series of escalating events as the two attempt to get even allows Beef to serve as a showcase for Yeun and Wong as performers, as well as an exploration of generational trauma in Asian Americans.

Danny and Amy's feud reaches several boiling points that put everything at risk for the two main Beef characters. The consequences of their actions result in the final episode of the show focusing on them stranded in the desert together. After Danny and Amy drive their cars off the side of a cliff, they are forced to spend time together and lean on each other to survive. This proves to be exactly what the characters needed to help bring the feud to an end. The Beef show ending is able to bring some natural resolution to Danny and Amy's stories, but it also delivers a few surprises.

Does Danny Die In Beef’s Finale?

Danny and Amy's feud and the dire circumstances they keep putting themselves and each other puts their fates in the balance during Beef's ending. This not only is because they have to survive in the desert together and eat potentially poisonous berries. Amy repeatedly threatens to shoot Danny, but it is not Amy's gun that delivers a potentially fatal shot. The show's final episode includes George finding the pair as they finally leave the desert, and Amy's ex-husband shoots Danny thinking he has harmed her. The gunshot wound leaves Danny hospitalized and hooked up to a ventilator.

Beef's ending does not have Danny die, though, as he is confirmed to not only be alive but recovering. This is confirmed through the final moment of the season. Once Amy climbs into the hospital bed with Danny, Netflix's Beef show ends with a brief tease of Danny's arm moving, so he can put it around Amy. The moment confirms that Danny did not die as a result of being shot, having his arm broken, and potentially being poisoned. The series instead ends with a hopeful sign that Danny will be alright after finally seeing his beef with Amy end.

Are Amy & Danny In Love In Beef's Ending?

Amy and Danny's feud is officially over by the time Beef's final episode concludes, but the show also teases that their hatred might have turned into love. It is easy to view Amy climbing into Danny's bed and him wanting to wrap his arm around her as a romantic gesture. Amy and Danny being in love by the time Beef ends tracks with how the final episode explored both characters and developed their relationship. Their potential love is not explicitly confirmed, though, which means that it is open to each viewer to determine if Amy and Danny's relationship has turned romantic.

It might seem unthinkable that love could exist between Amy and Danny considering how horribly they treated each other before. However, Beef is all about showing the ramifications of their actions as the feud unfolds. This includes Amy and Danny essentially losing everything and everyone that is important in their lives. Amy and George are heading for a divorce, while Paul wants nothing to do with Danny. They've also both seen their professional lives ruined, lost money, and much more. Amy and Danny have come a long way since Beef's car chase and genuinely care about each other, so them falling in love in Beef's ending is possible.

The open-ended nature of Amy and Danny's relationship was purposeful. Series creator Lee Sung Jin told USA Today that there were considerations to have more dialogue during this moment and make where they stand more direct. It was ultimately decided that it was better for the series, and for viewers, if Beef's ending was not so cut and dry, allowing each audience member to project their own thoughts and feelings about the duo onto the conclusion.

The Significance Of Amy’s Back Tattoo Explained

Amy's back tattoo plays a significant role in Beef's story, as it is how Danny comes to realize that she was pretending to be Kayla. Beef's ending explains the true significance of the tattoo, though, by confirming that it is a 22. The meaning of Amy's tattoo is a reference to "Catch-22," the novel by Joseph Heller. The book coined the phrase that can be defined as an irrational, circular, and impossible situation. Both Amy and Danny express in the finale that this is what life often feels like for them. Not being able to experience light without dark, control without chaos, happiness without anger, and so on.

Why The Crows Appear In Beef’s Finale

The early portions of Beef's ending are unexpected, as the show pivots its point of view to two crows who have watched Danny and Amy drive off the road. The talking crows connect to some of the key moments in Danny and Amy's feud. They discuss their experiences with the two humans, as one notes that Danny fed it before, and the other comments that Amy scared Paul. The crows then corroborate the stories of Amy's poor behavior, leading them to swoop in later on and knock the gun out of Amy's hands. The moment pays off the various moments in Beef season 1 where crows can be seen.

The crows' role in Beef's ending is also connected to a story told by Michael earlier in the season. He mentions that crows became conditioned to hate Dick Cheney's face. It has been scientifically proven that crows have incredible memory with human faces, develop grudges against people who attempt to harm them, and on these grudges through generations. The crows' appearance is another example of how Beef explores generational trauma, with Amy and Danny's stories specifically focusing on second-generation Asian-American angst.

While the interpretation of what the crows mean in Beef might vary, series creator Lee Sung Jin confirmed to USA Today that they are important. He noted the prominent role that crows have played through various forms of media and the natural sense to include them here thanks to the Los Angeles setting. However, Jin did not confirm his exact intentions behind the crows. He said, "I am excited to see how people interpret the crows," and he again noted that they are incredibly smart. That could lend credence to the interpretation that the crows are connected to the show's larger themes.

How George Found Amy & Danny In The Desert

The final moments of Beef's ending are set into motion after George finds Amy and Danny in the desert, and the show briefly explains how this happened. When Amy and Danny's phones get reception again momentarily, a flurry of notifications begins to pop up on the screen. This includes one for Amy's phone that shows that the Find My Phone app is being used. That moment explains that George has been using the app to try and find Amy, and he finally gets a signal as she and Danny head toward the tunnel to leave the desert.

What Happens To George & June After Beef’s Ending?

One of the unanswered questions from Beef's ending is what happens to George and June next. It is unclear if George would be arrested for shooting Danny or if he would be cleared of any charges thanks to his lawyers and the confusion surrounding the situation. If George is arrested and goes to jail, that would mean that Amy could get full custody of June. Otherwise, it would appear that George could take June and start a new life away from Amy. In either instance, it is unlikely that Amy, George, and June become a happy family again after Beef's events.

How Beef's Creator Explained The Ending

Beef's creator Lee Sung Jin has kept his true intentions for the show mostly to himself at this point. While he's participated in plenty of interviews since the release, he has refrained from directly explaining and confirming what he wants viewers to get out of the show and the ending in particular. Speaking to USA Today, Jin said, "I think part of the joy of watching television is so many things are open to interpretation, but the one hope is that no matter where you’re at in your own life, the show’s gonna offer you something."

Unlike other storytellers who directly confirm what thematic ideas they are exploring with different projects, Jin's approach to letting audiences decide for themselves what the purpose is creates room for more conversation. He noted that each viewer can relate to Beef in different ways depending on what they want to get out of the show. There are laughs and thrills to be had for people just looking for general entertainment while connecting to Amy and Danny's stories could bring about deeper revelations. Ultimately, Jin said, "I’m just hoping that the show can connect in some form or fashion."

How Beef's Ending Sets Up A Possible Season 2

A potential Beef season 2 is set up thanks to the events of the finale. While Danny and Amy's rivalry is done and a second season cannot renew the feud without undoing their character development, Beef's ending could mean that they become aligned in a new feud if the show continues. Instead of their anger being used against each other, Danny and Amy could develop beef with someone else. Season 2 would be inherently different from the first season then, as Danny and Amy could be working together. This allows Beef to have the characters share in their highs and lows.

There is certainly interest in seeing Beef season 2 happen from a variety of levels now. Although the show was designed as a limited series, Jin has confessed that even he is intrigued by the idea of returning to this world and showing what happens to Amy and Danny next. So far, Netflix and A24 have yet to greenlight a second season. Based on the awards recognition that it has received and the strong impression it leaves, only time will tell if the continued interest in Danny and Amy's stories will be enough to make Beef season 2 become a reality.

Beef has dominated awards ceremonies, picking up multiple wins at the Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, and Critics Choice Awards.

The Real Meaning Of Beef’s Ending

For a show that is focused on rage, Beef's ending explores the consequences of uncontrolled and suppressed anger. By having two main characters who are so similar, Beef shows that the thing they needed the most was someone who understood them. Instead of needing to suppress their feelings or find an alternate outlet to express them, the conversations between Danny and Amy finally allow both characters to talk about their feelings with someone who can empathize with them. No one else in their lives was willing to take the time to understand the hardships of their lives, and both felt the societal, cultural, and generational pressure to bottle up these emotions.

It is only after Danny and Amy finally are able to express how they have been feeling and feel truly heard that they are able to move forward. Beef's ending illustrates how depriving Amy and Danny of this opportunity fueled their rage. They are tired of feeling helpless and living a life that takes from them more than it gives. But since they are expected to act as though everything is alright, that is what they do, even as they struggle with suicidal thoughts and more. Both might not be completely free from anger forever after Beef's ending events, but they at least received the catharsis needed to move on.

Source: USA Today