All 8 episodes of Netflix’s second season of FUBAR are available to watch now on the streamer. Created by Nick Santora, this seasons stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Fabiana Udenio, Aparna Brielle, Guy Burnet, Andy Buckley, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jay Baruchel, Barbara Eve Harris, and Scott Thompson. Luke Brunner is a veteran CIA operative who, up until recently, was on the verge of retirement. After his last mission in saving another operative – who just so happened to be his daughter – he’s back and face to face with new villains. This one is an old flame from Luke’s past who threatens to destroy the world…if she doesn’t destroy his life first.

It’s been two years since the first season of FUBAR, and honestly, I don’t remember much from it other than some key story points. Needless to say, I think it’s a show that managed to get a second season only because of the key star power attached to this. I grew up on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films. They weren’t always perfect, but there was a fun and creative tone with every single one. You saw the name you and you knew exactly what you were getting yourself into. I do, however, remember how I felt with that season. It started off great, but you can feel it fizzling out by the end. That’s exactly how I felt with this season.

The season starts off great! The first half of the show seriously made me feel like this was a great show. It leaned into the cheesy tone that felt just right with the performances. I guess now that Monica Barbaro is an Oscar-nominated actress, I can see where she knows how to transition into the right tone. It’s a show that I was actually able to turn my brain off and enjoy it. The show strives on the character’s dynamics and the action is exciting. Unfortunately, something felt off in the beginning of the second half and it only got worse from there.

Before I get more into the negatives, I do also want to mention how much I liked the addition of Carrie-Anne Moss. I thought she was excellent with what she was given. Her character manages to gives Schwarzenegger’s character more depth that makes sense. For his character’s old age, it manages to give more issues to deal with. I even liked how they utilized some of the flashbacks to make this story work.

By the time you reach the second half, I started to get the sense that this was going on for far too long. For 8 episodes, I can’t say I ever felt bored as each episode has a lot to offer, but by the second half, I seriously began to question the dip in quality. For a TV show, I am sure it can be a lot on an older & popular actor. You can see where the show starts to rely a lot more on the rest of the cast, and about half of it works. The supporting cast is great with the action and drama, but doesn’t quite land with the comedy.

The comedy here, quite simply, does not land. We get multiple callbacks to film references. If we are getting so many film callbacks, why isn’t this just a film series? The irony. The callbacks can be fun and lighthearted at times, only to go too far into it and to only repeat the same references. We get it. We heard it the first time. Some of the jokes with a pig are off-putting. Characters talk in unbelievable ways that are more cringe than funny. While I like the relationships here, I just don’t buy the comedy. I am getting the impression they are trying too hard to win you over.

The final two episodes are a mess. I honestly couldn’t believe what we got here. I don’t think the show knew how to wrap these characters up while keeping things open for another season. Andy Buckley and Jay Baruchel being paired up feel underutilized. I am getting a strong impression the show didn’t know what to do with them in the end. The season doesn’t even on Schwarzenegger. It’s just clear this show is only able to keep going because everyone has to fill up the screen whenever Schwarzenegger isn’t available. I am sure many viewers like myself will probably forget the first season like I did and still watch it because of the star power. Don’t be surprised if this gets renewed for a third season.

The last thing I want to touch on here is the CGI. Typically I am warned with early screenings that the CGI isn’t always finished. I got access to this last week and watched over the next several days. I think the CGI is here to stay. I am not even big on CGI as it is lately. It shouldn’t be something that’s relied on, but something used to help enhance the scene. It feels like the show used their money in other things instead of the right things. If this show wants to get better, it has to look better. At this point, I have low confidence that will happen. If this show already boasts impressive numbers for Netflix, we are just going to keep getting the same visual quality.

Overall, the second season of FUBAR stars off strong and promising, only to fizzle out in the end. I personally think this could work as a film series. At least the film references would work. The cast, especially in their relationships, work, but when the show has to rely on them over its main leading man, that’s when the show can really go off the rails. I am sure viewers will go on to enjoy it. Just don’t expect anything extraordinary.

VERDICT: 2.5/5 (Okay)