Blackmailing, blood and bribery are central to the highly anticipated second season of “Beef” on Netflix. Released on April 16, the season continues an exploration of class, money and love with a thrilling storyline, shocking twists and absurd humor that tells a story full of social commentary. Creator Lee Sung Jin brings together a brand-new cast of characters and storylines in a gripping eight-episode run.

The season opens at a country club, introducing general manager Josh (Oscar Isaac) and interior designer Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), whose picture-perfect marriage is plagued by intimacy issues and financial struggles. The couple works with the wealthy but is not actually part of the elite itself, which contributes to the tension as they struggle to maintain their facade while lacking the power to fix their problems.

The two characters are an interesting exploration of class and how status and reputation can be misleading. The story is helped immensely by Issac and Mulligan’s amazing acting abilities; their pure mutual hatred seems extremely real.

A vicious fight between Josh and Lindsay is recorded by two club employees, engaged couple Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and Austin (Charles Melton), setting off the insane chain of blackmailing and petty revenge that comprises the season. It is a fun setup, although not nearly as unique or exciting as the first season, which starts with a road-rage incident between two strangers that blows out of proportion.

The final major character is billionaire Chairwoman Park (Youn Yuh-Jung), the new club owner. Her actions impact the entire season, and she evades responsibility as the two couples suffer, an all-too-common occurrence for those at the top of the social hierarchy.

Austin is the most frustrating character of the season, which is intentional. A chronic people pleaser, he struggles to be honest because he fears disappointing others. Additionally, he and Ashley are both working class and financially struggling, but the gender hierarchy adds another layer to the social dynamic between them, as he gets unexplainably jealous of her success. His character is an effective display of how destructive avoidance and toxic masculinity can be.

Episode four is the series at its best. Austin and an injured Ashley are stuck in a hellish depiction of an American emergency room for hours, surrounded by violently ill people, rude staff and struggling with the wildly expensive deductible of Josh’s insurance plan.

The cinematography and all-too-realistic depiction of the waiting room make the episode a brilliantly uncomfortable watch, bringing to light some of the issues with the American healthcare system through only slight exaggeration.

Ashley’s injury isn’t taken seriously until it’s too late — one of her ovaries is removed, leaving her distraught. In a satisfying and shocking scene of revenge, she breaks into Josh’s house and pours her menstrual blood into his orange juice. It’s an absolutely jaw-dropping moment, the absurdity of it conveying the pure anger Ashley feels after being screwed over by the healthcare system, gender hierarchy and the wealthy.

Eventually, the fighting between Josh and Lindsay is too much, and the couple tearfully agree they need a divorce. Mulligan masterfully conveys the conflicting emotions that come with ending a long-term relationship, shifting through anger, denial and acceptance.

Everything culminates when the characters meet on a plane to Korea. Loyalties are tested, and the consequences of the lying, dirty secrets and blackmailing of the season blow up. They are held at the mercy of Chairwoman Park, who could ruin their lives in seconds. In a shocking turn, Josh ultimately decides to take the blame for everything in exchange for a guarantee of Lindsay’s safety, and they share one last kiss.

The show ends eight years later. Ashley is now the general manager of the country club, married to Austin, with a young son. Mirroring the opening scenes, as soon as they’re alone, we see that their marriage is unhappy, a well-delivered reminder of the negative cycle that can form when people aren’t honest in relationships.

Lindsay, now remarried, hasn’t moved on, watching Josh’s first post-release prison interview with a smile, a reminder of how long-lasting love can be.

The two couples’ endings are an interesting contrast. Ashley and Austin represent a negative cycle, trapped in an unhappy relationship due to dishonesty and avoidance, whereas Lindsay and Josh’s ending shows more lasting and true love, as broken as it might be.

The final shot is an aerial zoom out, depicting various moments from the show and the couple’s lives in vignettes, making up a visual that mimics samsara, the Buddhist and Hindu cycle of life, suffering and rebirth. It’s a fitting way to end a story that explores love and relationships, time and cycles.

The season is mostly successful, though it is a little difficult to see where the actual “beef” is. Nonetheless, the storytelling is dynamic and thrilling, the characters are interesting and well-acted, and the message is powerful and bold — a stark reminder of the importance of honesty and the harms of social hierarchies.