Credit: Netflix

There’s a high chance that viewers were so absorbed in the beefs of BEEF season two on Netflix that they unwillingly missed Charles Melton’s mother. But keeping jokes aside, it’s probably since she, or, more precisely, her voice, appeared unexpectedly, leaving fans unsuspecting.

If you can recall, Melton’s character, former Butkus Award-winner Austin Davis, receives some selfless pearls of wisdom, albeit a little urgent, as he arrives at the crossroads in episode seven. “You need to leave right now,” Austin’s mom says, in a rather potent voice.

As it turns out, the advice in the second season of BEEF came straight from Melton’s mother, Sukyong Yu Melton. The Riverdale actor said to Tudum, with a cheeky laugh on one of those sunny LA afternoons, “You know that’s my mom on that phone line? That’s my actual mom.”

This is the first piece of advice Austin receives, devoid of the friction of the codependent relationship he shares with Ashley, as well as the self-preservation and lustful attraction inherent in his growing fascination with Eunice. The sequence unfolds as Ojai turns into a hotbed of tension, leaving Austin’s mother particularly uncertain about whether her son should continue living with Ashley and marry her in the future.

“I say BEEF felt like coming home for me. Korea is my home and was my home early on in my life. And I got to see my whole family there. They visited set,” Melton recalled. “For my mom to be a part of this show and add to its artistry, [it] touches on my identity. I’m so proud.”

While the May December actor was a natural fit for BEEF, so was Yu Melton. As Melton was preparing for the scene in question, series creator Lee Sung Jin and Melton decided that the latter’s real-life parent was who they needed for the role. “I was like, ‘Hey, I’m just going to call my mom,’” the actor says, and the showrunner was more than excited to have her on board.

Lee reportedly first came across Melton’s mother during her son’s publicity tour for May December, which also happened to be the time when BEEF’s debut season was tasting the pills of success.

“We are always trying to find ways to make the show feel a little bit more grounded and real,” he explains. “I just loved Charles and Sukyong’s dynamic. It felt so relatable. It reminded me of my mom as well.”

Speaking of the behind-the-scenes recording, Melton revealed that his mother was on the phone throughout filming, and she even left church tea early for the call. While the family affair made work on BEEF season two incredibly special for the actor, Lee was impressed with Yu Melton’s dedication and improvisation and understandably so.

So, in case you’re yet to catch up with the second season, look out for Melton’s mother’s special role. And if you’re already done watching, how about a brief revisit to BEEF season two?