“Fubar” fouls up Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV series debut in ratings disaster

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Fubar” falls short on originality

The latest Netflix series “Fubar” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger is essentially a father-daughter version of his 1994 movie “True Lies”. The show tells the story of father and daughter, who both hide their secret lives from one another before being coerced to team up by the CIA. While Schwarzenegger’s inherent likability and gift for one-liners make the series bearable, the show does not meet the expectations of fans who were hoping to see something new.

A predictable plot with boring sub-plots

The eight-part series, which is also Schwarzenegger’s debut as a series regular, feels like a slim idea stretched out to fill runtime. The show, with apologies to its military acronym, feels sufficiently fouled up in mostly recognizable ways. The story follows the Brunner family, where the father-daughter duo has been concealing their secret lives, as in “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” before being forced to team up by the CIA.

The production team has tried to leverage Schwarzenegger’s inherent charisma to make the show more interesting, but the story still lacks originality. At every juncture, the plot seems familiar to the audience and does not create enough excitement to keep them on the edge of their seats.

Netflix, the natural stop for movie stars?

Many movie stars are migrating to TV series on streaming platforms, especially Netflix, as they age. The channel has provided a stable for actors like Sam Elliott, Harrison Ford, and Sylvester Stallone with the “Yellowstone” series produced by Taylor Sheridan. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Fubar” also shows how the streaming platform is becoming a platform for stars of a certain age to demonstrate their performing prowess in a relatively ratings-free environment.

Final thoughts

“Fubar” attempts to bring great moments of triumph by creating cliffhanging episodes, but it falls short for the most part. The show tries too hard to be funny, making the banter among the characters superficial, and the plot predictable. The sub-genre of father-daughter who are both secret agents is not new, and the writing does not offer anything new. The series tries to sell itself as an entertaining show with the inclusion of Schwarzenegger’s inherent resemblance to the action hero he played in the past, but “Fubar” is mostly just plain tired.

Though the show might find some interest among die-hard Schwarzenegger fans, it might not appeal to a broader audience. Streaming channels are a great platform for stars, but they should also capitalize on providing original content rather than just rehashing old ideas.