Obliterated Review: Directed and written by Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, and others, the action-comedy series features Nick Zano as Chad McKnight, Shelley Hennig as Ava Winters, Kimi Rutledge as Maya Lerner, C. Thomas Howell as Hagerty, Paola Lázaro as Angela Gomez, Alyson Gorske as Lana, Terrence Terrell as Trunk, Eugene Kim as Paul Yung, Ivan G’Vera as Vlad, and other talented actors. This Netflix series comprises 8 episodes, each with a runtime of 50-60 minutes.
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Obliterated Plot
The Obliterated story revolves around an elite special force team tasked with thwarting a bomb threat in Las Vegas. Initially, the team manages to deactivate what they believe to be the bomb, only to realise later, amidst their celebration filled with excessive drugs, alcohol, and indulgence in intimate encounters, that the bomb they neutralised was a decoy. Now heavily impaired and inebriated, the team must urgently locate and disarm the actual bomb before it detonates.
– Netflix Obliterated Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Obliterated Review
This show seems to be a rollercoaster ride of missed opportunities and problematic execution. Obliterated ventures into an intriguing setup, blending action and comedy within a high-stakes scenario involving elite operatives thwarting a terrorist plot in Las Vegas. However, despite the promising premise, it appears to falter at multiple points.
Discovering that the series shares its creative lineage with Cobra Kai triggers an immediate sense of anticipation, an expectation that it will soar to exceptional heights. However, as the opening episode unfolds, it becomes apparent that it struggles to live up to these lofty expectations, making it a challenge to immerse oneself in its storyline. The action-comedy genre typically intertwines thrills and enjoyment seamlessly, creating an engaging fusion that captivates audiences. Regrettably, this series falls short of achieving that elusive balance—at least in my personal experience. Despite the pedigree of its creators, the promise of an exhilarating blend remains unfulfilled within the initial episode, leaving a sense of unmet potential lingering in the narrative.
The series is critiqued for its overindulgence in clichéd humour, leaning heavily on crude jokes that revolve around genitals, drugs, and an overall lack of depth in its comedic approach. The portrayal of female characters draws criticism for being overly sexualised and lacking agency beyond their relationships with male counterparts. Stereotypical representations of race and body image seem to be rampant, detracting from the potential depth of the characters.
The series aimed to depict Special Cops, yet the portrayal of these characters lacked the authenticity expected of secret agents or law enforcement officers. Each character’s portrayal felt flawed, distancing them from the expected essence. The persistent use of nudity as a comedic element in every episode became more of a distraction, leaving an anticipation for the series to move beyond this predictable aspect.
Narrative pacing emerges as another prominent stumbling block. Despite the urgency of the mission to locate the genuine nuclear threat within a constrained timeline, the series meanders through episodes that feel excessively prolonged and repetitive. This disconnect between the supposed urgency of the mission and the languid pace of storytelling will leave the audience feeling detached and frustrated. Additionally, the predictable plot twists contributed to a lack of innovation, leaving the storyline feeling somewhat mundane. The show seemed to miss the mark in delivering unexpected turns that could have added excitement and depth.
However, the chemistry between the lead characters was a highlight, providing a semblance of authenticity to the narrative. The final episode, though, did manage to redeem the series slightly by showcasing commendable action scenes. It served as a glimpse of the potential the show had in utilising its talented cast. Nonetheless, it highlighted the underutilisation of these actors throughout the series, leaving a feeling of missed opportunities.
Moreover, the pacing and length of the episodes are condemned for being excessive, resulting in a drag that undermines the show’s potential. Despite a potentially hilarious setup of intoxicated operatives trying to save the day, the execution appears lacklustre, with predictable storylines and dialogue that fail to capture the cleverness needed for a successful satire.
The potential for a witty, fast-paced parody seems to have been lost in the show’s lengthy and repetitive sequences, leaving viewers longing for real moments of humour and excitement that never fully materialise. If Obliterated had trimmed down its episodes and focused on delivering sharper, more concise storytelling, it might have managed to salvage some of its intended charm.
Obliterated Series Review: Final Thoughts
Obliterated offers a rollercoaster ride of unmet potential and flawed execution. Despite a promising premise of action-comedy in Las Vegas, the series falters, struggling to fulfil expectations set by its creators’ previous work. It leans heavily on crude humour, lacks depth in character portrayal—especially of female characters—and misses the mark on authenticity expected of elite operatives. The narrative’s pacing feels disconnected from the urgency of its mission, resulting in a repetitive and predictable storyline. While the chemistry between lead characters and some commendable action scenes redeem parts of the show, the series ultimately fails to deliver the sharp wit and excitement it initially promised, lost in its own meandering narrative and missed opportunities for genuine humour and innovation.
Obliterated 2023 is now streaming on Netflix.
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The series was really disappointing
Great review. Might I mention the hypocrisy when it comes to male vs female nudity standards. The men are shown in a sexual nature with nothing hidden from the camera. Male genitalia frequently depictedin graphic detail yet no female genitalia shown.
The female version of the male glans, ie clitoris remains ever elusive. As does the female uretra orifice which is displayed in detail in the men. More crucially, a man is graphically raped in one scene with a long sharp device. His genitalia is shown in detail during the ordeal. The toxic feminist double standard is highlighted here. Why never show female rape in such detail?