Charles Melton shares his honest take on Austin’s final choice and emotional state after the Netflix series’ eight-year time jump.
The second season of Beef arrived on Netflix on April 16, 2026, and viewers cannot stop talking about the ending. The show follows two couples locked in a tense game of blackmail at an exclusive country club. Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan play millennial couple Josh and Lindsay, while Cailee Spaeny and Charles Melton play Gen Z couple Ashley and Austin.
The finale jumps eight years into the future, leaving audiences with a big question. Is Austin actually happy with his decision to stay with Ashley? Charles Melton gave a thoughtful answer that might surprise you.
Austin’s Big Decision in the Beef Season 2 Finale
In the final episode, Austin makes a choice that changes everything. He decides to leave Ashley and go to the detectives with a USB drive containing evidence about Chairwoman Park’s crimes. He also calls Eunice to tell her about his feelings.
But things do not go as planned. When Austin confesses his feelings to Eunice, she does not say “I love you” back. Her delayed response makes Austin realize something painful. Eunice might have also used him for her own gain, just like Ashley did.
I think if I watched it today, I’d say he’s happy and he’s in love. I think it depends on the day you’re watching the ending and what projection you may have in that moment.
This realization hits Austin hard. He asks the taxi driver to change the destination and returns to Ashley. The final shot shows them eight years later. Ashley is now the general manager of the country club, with Austin by her side. They have a young son named Ashton.
But Austin does not look visibly happy in that last car scene. He looks tired. The couple argues in their luxury car, just like Josh and Lindsay did at the start of the season.
Charles Melton Explains Why Happiness Is Complicated
Charles Melton does not give a simple yes or no answer about Austin’s happiness. Instead, he explains that it depends on how you look at the scene.
It’s all our perception. Someone can be tired, and everyone thinks they hate their life. It’s okay for Austin not to feel like he wants to read a book to his kid because he’s so tired. Does that mean he’s unhappy with his whole life?
Melton points out that life has ups and downs. A single tired moment does not mean a person is miserable forever. He compares the ending to real life, where things change all the time.
The actor also talks about the show’s deeper meaning. Beef season two explores a cycle called samsara, which means the circle of life.
Samsara means that’s just the circle of life and the seasons, right? Sometimes things are great. Sometimes there’s a season where things are not so great.
Why Austin Stays With Ashley
So why does Austin go back to Ashley after trying so hard to leave? Melton explains that Ashley says something that really matters to Austin. She tells him she is pregnant and promises their baby will have his smile and kind heart.
I didn’t know during filming, because I wasn’t a father then, but I am one now. When you see parts of yourself in your baby, it’s the best thing in the world. Austin is just so sweet and kind. He has these dreams and hopes of those things Ashley is saying, and he really wants that.
Melton also points out that Eunice’s response plays a big role. When Austin calls her, she says “Love you too” but not “I love you.”
I think ‘Love you, bro’ or ‘Love you, homie’ isn’t the same. It’s easier to say ‘Love you’ as opposed to ‘I love you.’
That small difference in words tells Austin everything he needs to know.
What the Ending Really Means
The final scene shows that Ashley and Austin have become exactly what they once hated. They now run the country club just like Josh and Lindsay did. They argue in their expensive car. The cycle continues.
Lee Sung Jin, the show’s creator, explains that this is the whole point. Each generation thinks they will be different from the one before. But time and pressure change people.
The final symbol in the show represents this never-ending cycle. Ashley got everything she wanted. She got the promotion, the health insurance, and the stable future. But winning came at a cost. The couple now lives the same unhappy life they once judged in others.
Melton leaves the final judgment up to the audience.
I believe, as an audience member, it changes. I think that’s up to the audience to decide.
Beef Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix. All eight episodes dropped on April 16, 2026.
Also Read: Charlie Cox Says He Is Not In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, But Fans Are Not Buying It
Check out more TV show recaps and entertainment news on VvipTimes for the latest updates on your favorite series.
