Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan reunite in the second season of Netflix's Emmy-winning anthology series Beef, premiering Thursday. The actors play a married couple, Josh and Lindsay, whose explosive fight at an elite Southern California country club is captured on video by younger employees, triggering a spiral of blackmail and corruption that spans from California to South Korea.

Created by Lee Sung Jin, the season explores generational tensions between the affluent Gen X couple and ambitious Gen Z employees played by Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny. The actors previously collaborated on films Drive and Inside Llewyn Davis, bringing a natural chemistry to their roles. Isaac, 47, and Mulligan, 40, share a casual rapport that mirrors their characters' complex relationship dynamics.

The season delves into themes of class hostility, economic desperation, and the American healthcare system's failures. Isaac describes feeling terrified about society's direction, particularly regarding insurance companies' treatment of vulnerable populations. Mulligan expresses concern about declining global empathy and the ease of "othering" people in today's climate. The actors hope their remaining time focuses on presence and protecting what matters most, with Mulligan continuing her work with War Child.