Ali Wong has been conquering the recent film and television scene since her unusually sudden and important rise as a stand-up artist. Her talents in front of the lens didn’t go unnoticed for much longer and she secured a break-out leading role in several rom-coms in the past few years. But at the same time, Wong has managed to break free of the stereotypes that guide an Asian American celebrity within the peripheries of the industry. Ali Wong not only seemed beyond those but she also helped redefine the rules of the game entirely.
Also read: Beef Review: Best Binge of 2023 (So Far)
Ali Wong is a Pleasant Surprise Even to Beef Showrunner
Beef stands out as the singular high and the career best in Ali Wong‘s filmography for the 40-year-old. The groundbreaking comedy drama that holds a rare and perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes has come understandably under the purview of many among the industry critics, and Lee Sung Jin, the creator and showrunner of the Netflix series has been well equipped to tackle the curiosities of the same.
In a recent interview with Variety, a similar circumstance was provided to him where the showrunner could elaborately map out the details of his show. When asked about his decision to include Ali Wong in the series, he commented:
“The reason I abandoned Stanley Tucci-type very quickly was because — especially in the modern era — you have to talk about race, and there’s so many other shows that do that very well. I really didn’t have much interest, nor the capabilities to handle that, to write about that. So that was a factor. But I think it wasn’t the factor in working with Ali. If Ali were another race, I still would have wanted to work with her.
She really embodies so much about this character that is perfect, and she brings so many nuanced layers to the role. The fact that she is Asian American does help, because it allows for so many other doors to open and for us to explore other themes without having to address the card of race, which would take up a sizable amount of narrative real estate.”
Clearly, the discourse of race that flows so seamlessly in and out of the series, blending in with the narrative was made to look effortless. It was a conscious choice for the showrunner, as he goes on to admit, but simultaneously, Lee Sung Jin also sought to visually demonstrate a space where the conversation and the subject itself was a normalized one and did not necessarily have to stand out as a socio-cultural statement in the sphere of modern film and television.
Beef: An Unlikely Entry in the Netflix Roster
Netflix has been progressing impressively in terms of its quality as of late. Beef is a tangible proof of that. A highly interesting dramedy about the intersecting lives of two young people (portrayed by Ali Wong and Steven Yeun) involved in a road rage incident – the plot immediately holds the attention of the viewers without even having to try. Lee Sung Jin’s impeccable execution of his idea then finds an equally extraordinary cast comprising of namedrop actors like David Choe (The Choe Show), Joseph Lee (Searching), Mia Serafino (Shameless), and Ashley Park (Emily in Paris).
Beef is now available for streaming on Netflix.
Source: Variety
