The Drama of Original Choice

**The Drama of Original Choice** is the eighth episode in the first season of the Netflix series of *Beef*. It aired on April 6, 2023.

## Synopsis

Painful memories of her youth push Amy to confront her family issues and marital woes. Danny spins an elaborate lie that leads him down a dangerous path.

## Plot Summary

Amy engages in anonymous sexual encounters with men, whom she meets online. Later, Amy sees a creepy, witch-like character, being reflected in the mirror, who the viewers learn is a psychotic character from a storybook that she read as a child. Growing up, her parents neglected her since their constant arguing and her father's infidelity, and they never discussed anything with her. Amy would hear their arguments behind closed doors and she knew that they never wanted kids, making her feel like a mistake. As a child, she read the storybook with the creepy witchy character, and began seeing her as a manifestation of her conscience. This character appears during all of Amy's darkest moments and promises never to reveal her secrets, as no one would ever love her if they knew the truth. Amy struggles with feeling loved unconditionally, due to her parents' uncaring behavior. When she visits them as an adult, she realizes that nothing has changed.

After Paul confesses to Amy, she reveals everything to George, including her affair, the road rage incident, and Danny. George cannot handle the truth, and he asks for a divorce. Although Amy accepts this, she begs him not to take June away from her.

On the other hand, Danny's life is also falling apart. Similar to Amy, he had a complicated childhood, and was bullied and ostracized as a social outcast. Danny never wanted Paul to outperform him, so he threw away all of Paul's college applications to keep him close. He never revealed this to Paul. Danny hopes that the house fire is arson, so he can claim the insurance money. He follows Edwin to his house, and he confronts him inside of his garage. Edwin confesses to pulling pranks on Danny, because he is jealous of him. Edwin's wife, Veronica, had a thing for Danny when they were teenagers, which made Edwin resentful and bitter. However, Edwin did not start the fire, and the fire investigator reveals that the faulty wiring caused it. As Danny built the house, he is responsible for the fire.

Instead of accepting responsibility, Danny tries to frame Amy for the fire. He informs Paul that they found a woman's glove and a gas canister at the scene and plants evidence to incriminate her, including planting a matching glove in Amy's bathroom cabinet.

Danny goes to George's house. George, who now acknowledges Danny's identity, refuses him to enter the house. After some persuasion, George relents and allows Danny to use the bathroom. However, when Danny opens the door, George pulls out his family gun and they fight over the gun. Danny knocks George unconscious, and he accidentally kidnaps June, while driving away in his car.

## Cast

### Main

* Steven Yeun as Danny Cho
* Ali Wong as Amy Lau
* David Choe as Isaac
* Young Mazino as Paul
* Joseph Lee as George
* Patti Yasutake as Fumi

### Recurring

* Maria Bello as Jordan
* Ashley Park as Naomi
* Justin H. Min as Edwin
* Andrew Santino as Michael
* Rekstizzy as Bobby
* Mia Serafino as Mia
* Remy Holt as June