Discover more from Criticism Is Dead

a weekly podcast about the film, TV, and culture we're consuming and what it all means (if it means anything at all). hosted by @jennygzhang and @onelongpiece

Beef, Showing Up, and Kylothée who???

Sculptures galore, plus a new romance (allegedly) blossoms...

Criticism Is Dead

and

Jenny G. Zhang

Apr 18, 2023

Hello!

On this week’s episode of Criticism Is Dead, we discuss Beef and Showing Up, a series and a film about characters who orbit around each other as frenemies — or straight-up enemies.

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02:14 Beef, streaming on Netflix, is a darkly funny, often surprising, genuinely invigorating thrill of a TV show.

Beef. Beef! BEEF!!!! It’s been a while since we’ve felt this way about a new series: excited, delighted, obsessed. The writing is masterful. The pacing is first-rate. The two leads play perfectly off each other in the most exquisite dance. This is a show about Asian American characters, that is chock-full of inside jokes and references that don’t just speak to, but also pricks at, an Asian American audience — all while prioritizing character first and foremost, rather than fixating too much on fraught questions of “representation.” Just great!

28:55 Showing Up, playing in theaters, is a deceptively unassuming portrait of an artist that — much like its protagonist — really grows on you.

Showing Up starts slowly (literally) and, upon first glance, would appear to be the opposite of thrilling. But the modest, quotidian, human drama creeps up on you until you find yourself immersed in this world and all the care, toil, and envy that goes into the reality of being a working artist.

47:23 Plus, the world reacts to rumors of Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.

Sure!

SUCCESSION SENDOFF

Don’t miss our special series following Succession’s fourth and final season! This is episode 4 about “Honeymoon States.”

LET'S GOOOOO

Bonus etc.

… is momentarily on hiatus as I continue to consume as little as possible online. This will return when I resume professionally spending time on Twitter / reading a single article again. SORRY!

Also, just a note, we are OFF for the next two weeks — but fear not, SUCCESSION SENDOFF will continue without interruption, thanks to Pelin’s grit and determination!

— Jenny

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Inquiries, complaints, and recs for what to watch can go to criticismisdead@gmail.com.

Some credits:

Music: REEKAH
Artwork and design: Sara Macias and Andrew Liu