Josh casually pours himself a glass of orange juice at the beginning of Episode 5 of Beef Season 2. Before he can drink, Lindsay interrupts with bad news: Burberry is missing. The couple panics right away and starts looking for their dog.
The Search Begins: Clues, Dead Ends, and Rising Stress
Josh calls a neighbor to look at the CCTV footage. She says she saw a car that was the color of pistachios in the area, but Josh doesn’t care. They also search online, posting about Burberry on social media sites. Lindsay follows up on a tip from a nearby animal shelter, but the dog they found is a different breed than Burberry.
The shelter says they should take the other dog home for a while in case Burberry doesn’t come back. Even though they agree, Lindsay is very upset about the situation. Things quickly get tense, and what starts out as worry turns into blame. Their argument gets worse as they both start to bring up old problems that haven’t been solved.
Emotional Distance: Escapism vs Reality
Josh tries to get away from the situation by focusing on work, but people notice what he’s doing. Troy steps in and takes him to Utah on a private jet for a special Hot Chip concert. Lindsay keeps putting up posters for missing people back home, but her hope fades as she feels more and more alone.
Unexpected Support: Ashley and Austin Step In
Ashley and Austin come to help with the search out of the blue. Austin tells Ashley to go, but she decides to stay and help Lindsay instead. As they talk about Ashley’s procedure and think back on the night they made the video, their time together becomes more personal. Ashley tells Lindsay that she is valuable and that Josh doesn’t appreciate her, and the two become closer because they are both vulnerable.
Josh’s Escape: A Moment of Fame and Breakdown
Josh gets to be in the spotlight for a short time in Utah, even joining the band on stage. But the moment quickly turns inward as he starts to fall apart and has an existential crisis. Even though he tries to escape his reality, he begins to understand how important Lindsay is to him. Troy talks about his past and admits that he used to be a womanizer until someone changed his mind. Josh can relate to this.
The Turning Point: A Shocking Discovery
Lindsay drops Ashley off later that night and goes on the search by herself. She keeps going and ends up in a forest, where she sees a coyote attacking Burberry. She is able to scare it away, but the dog is badly hurt.
Tragedy at the Vet: A Breaking Point in the Relationship
Josh hurries to the vet hospital, where Burberry is put under anesthesia for surgery. Lindsay tells Josh she wants a divorce when she is clear-headed and tired. A little while later, the vet tells them terrible news: Burberry didn’t make it.
Full Circle Ending: A Symbolic Closing Moment
Josh comes home at the end of the episode and drinks the orange juice straight from the jug. This is similar to the opening scene, but with a stronger emotional impact.
Review of the Episode
This episode goes into great detail about how Lindsay and Josh’s relationship fell apart, starting with Burberry’s disappearance. Their relationship is characterized by avoidance, miscommunication, and emotional distance, which ultimately culminates in a breaking point.
Josh’s trip is very interesting. He needs to have a strange escape and see his “ideal” life to realize that what he’s been avoiding might be the most important thing. His story is both ironic and sad, especially since he realizes it too late.