Warning: Major spoilers for Netflix’s FUBAR season 2 below!FUBARseason 2 is a fun ride, but the show really needs to cool down with the constant Arnold Schwarzenegger movie references. Arnie joiningthe cast ofFUBARmarked his first leading role in a TV series, and while the first season had plenty of gags at the expense of his past work, it also gave him an interesting character with CIA agent Luke Brunner. Luke practically sacrificed his personal life to be an agent, so when he learns his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) isalsoa spy, his life gets real complicated.
FUBARis aTrue Liessequel in all but namein this regard, though it lacked the incredible action of that James Cameron blockbuster. Growing up a fan ofArnold Schwarzenegger action moviesmadeFUBARrequired viewing for me. While I was mixed on season 1, it was nice to see the veteran star take on a more challenging role and one that played to his age. Schwarzenegger will never challenge Brando as a dramatic performer, but I think season 2 shows he’s definitely improved as an actor - which made the cringey Arnie movie gags quite annoying.
FUBAR Season 2 Went Too Far With The References To Arnie’s Other Movies
“I’ll be back” doesn’t always have to come back
Look, I fully expectedFUBARto add a few winks about Schwarzenegger’s past roles, and that’s fine. The show gets its “I’ll be back” joke out of the way early, andFUBARreferencing Arnie’s pal James Cameron raised a chuckle - even if it teased a cameo it didn’t pay off. Season 2 also does a good job of looking into Luke as a character and how the return of former lover Greta (Carrie-Anne Moss) was complicating his reunion with ex-wife Tally (Fabiana Udenio). For me,what kept getting in the way of that story were the Arnie movie nods.
It feels likeFUBARreferences just abouteveryfilm Arnold ever fronted. The return of Tom Arnold is a major nod toTrue Lies,a scene where Luke has to turn a wheel is a riff onConan the Barbarian’s"Wheel of Pain" and in the finale, Luke is told he needs “Total Recall” to remember an important code. There’s even an oblique reference to Schwarzenegger’s infamous debutHercules in New York.
FUBAR continues an irritating trend in Schwarzenegger’s career that began with The Expendables movies and has kept running, which is any movie he appears in needs to comment on his most famous roles.
A few easter eggs spread out across the eight-episode run would be fine, butFUBARseason 2 rings the Arnie meme bell too many times. It continues an irritating trend in Schwarzenegger’s career that began withThe Expendablesand has kept running, which is any movie he appears in needs to comment on his most famous roles. It’s a joke that’s grown stale but the show keeps pulling it out regardless.
FUBAR Season 3 Should Just Let Arnold Be An Actor
Time to terminate the Arnold puns
While David Ayer’s 2014 thrillerSabotagedidn’t quite work, it at leasttriedto reinvent Arnold’s screen image and made no winking references to his past. It allowed Arnold to play against type as a scummy, corrupt DEA agent and showed he could go dark with the right material.FUBAR’sLuke is the most fleshed-out character he’s gotten to play to date, with the show exploring both his spy career and personal life. Season 2 allowed him to grow into the role even further, and he’s got some nice dramatic moments to play.
That’s why the meta Arnie gags got to me more thanFUBAR’sfirst season, because the show should just let him be an actor at this point. They no longer need to do the wink-wink approach or throw in an “I’ll be back” reference to make audiences groan. It’s a played out gag, soifFUBARseason 3 comes together, there should be a three strike limit on Arnie easter eggs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s next film isThe Man with the Bag, co-starringReacher’sAlan Ritchson.
The season 2 finale ends on a cliffhanger that very much indicates another series is coming, though Luke’s retirement - and plan to remarry Tally - might see Arnold get less action next time. In truth,FUBARturns over much of the physical action to Luke’s team, so giving Schwarzenegger more of a supporting part might not be the worst idea. It should also see the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie gags die waaaaaaaay down.
FUBAR
Cast
FUBAR follows a father and daughter who unknowingly both work for the CIA, discovering their shared secret while handling an undercover mission. This unexpected revelation turns professional operations into a complex family matter, complicating the mission and their personal dynamics. Released in May 2023, it features elements of action and espionage.
