In episode 1 of Beef, Danny's day gets off to a terrible start. He had to save the receipts for many pricey items he bought from Forsters, but he needed to find them. Danny is struggling with the weight of his inability to retrieve the items. Things go from bad to worse when he nearly hits a car in the parking lot. He has a bigger problem with the rude driver that honks at him for no reason and gives him the finger.

Danny has had enough, so he starts to follow after them. Amy concludes the tense game of cat and mouse by nearly rear-ending Danny's truck. She returns to her luxurious mansion, where we meet her husband, George. Jordana has invited them to the new flagship store and has supper at her place. Amy is tired of the endless interviews and phone calls she has endured over the past two years.

George interrupts her before she can continue by suggesting they return to keeping gratitude journals and focusing on the positive. Amy is selling her plant art store to Forsters, and the couple has a daughter named Junie.

Danny complains to his brother Paul about "the guy" he fought with because they share a house. He also says he is bored of the world and its changing ways, instantly giving away the underlying existential dilemma the producers want to bring up about our burned-up generation and labor. His folks are eager for him to settle down with a nice Korean lady. Danny lectures Paul after learning his brother is risking real money on cryptocurrency.

After their parents' motel went bankrupt, Danny worked as a contractor. They went bankrupt because their cousin Isaac sold fake baby powder in the motel.

Mia is an employee at Amy's shop, Kyhaus. Mia and Danny went to college to study the works of George's father, the artist Haru Nakai. She maintains her pleasant expression for Mia and the other customer who requests a photo op. Amy appears to be experiencing the same mental state as Danny. Danny is less of a builder and more of a handyman; he can't handle major construction jobs.

George's mom, Fumi, speaks harshly about Junie's drawings. Fumi feels strongly that she needs a proper set instructor, even if she is still a child. Amy doesn't want to put undue stress on Junie, who suffers from anxiety and finds relief in painting. Their relationship is fraught with stress. When Danny runs across Isaac, he begs for cash. Isaac's tension rises, but he ultimately agrees. Danny is up in a tree cutting when he hears honking and looks down to see a car resembling Amy's. After that, while Danny dangles from the tree, his boss dismisses him.

Amy and George fall into Jordana Forsters' mushroom hysteria at supper. Using the money Isaac loaned him, Danny plans to repurchase the motel. His investment in Paul's cryptocurrency account had been going well for the day until the coin suddenly dropped in value. Amy sighs a sigh of relief as Jordana says they are putting together an offer for Kyhaus. Amy discovers later that night that a video of her and Danny's road rage incident is online. However, the license plates are obscured. She can't get to sleep, so she tries to get into George's locker.

Beef is now streaming on Netflix.