FUBAR Season 2 Review Roundup: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Spy Comedy Stumbles Despite Charm

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s return to the small screen in FUBAR Season 2 has sparked a wave of reactions, and this FUBAR Season 2 review roundup reveals a mixed bag for Netflix’s action-comedy series.

Released on June 12, 2025, the eight-episode sophomore season sees Schwarzenegger’s CIA veteran Luke Brunner and his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) tackling a new global threat alongside fresh faces like Carrie-Anne Moss.

While some praise the show’s campy humor and Schwarzenegger’s enduring charisma, others slam its lackluster action, overcrowded cast, and tonal inconsistency. With a 56% Rotten Tomatoes score and polarized audience reactions, we dive into the critical and fan responses, analyze what works and what doesn’t, and explore the show’s future prospects.

Highlights

• Critical Reception: 56% on Rotten Tomatoes (9 reviews), 61/100 on Metacritic, with a 78% Popcornmeter audience score.

• Audience Sentiment: Mixed, with fans on X lauding Schwarzenegger’s humor but decrying repetitive dialogue and weak action; 68% of viewers are 25-44.

• Standout Performances: Schwarzenegger and Barbaro’s father-daughter dynamic shines; Moss adds intrigue but is underused.

• Strengths: Absurd humor, including puppet gags and Swedish mafia shootouts, delivers laughs; fast-paced plot keeps viewers engaged.

• Critiques: Subpar action, convoluted love triangles, and too many characters dilute the focus.

What Are Critics Saying About FUBAR Season 2?

Critics are split on the show’s execution. Collider’s 7/10 review praises the “core team” of Schwarzenegger, Barbaro, and Milan Carter for “dramatically interesting arcs” but notes the season feels “strained” by its sprawling cast.

IGN calls it “decent, yet ultimately underwhelming,” citing “yawn-inducing shootouts” and pacing issues tied to a love triangle involving Schwarzenegger, Fabiana Udenio, and Moss. Decider’s Joel Keller finds it a “stupid good time,” celebrating Schwarzenegger’s self-aware humor, while iNews.co.uk’s Ed Power (4/5) hails it as “campy bad guy bashing” with Schwarzenegger “as delightful as ever.”

However, harsher voices dominate. DMTalkies brands it “the worst show of 2025,” likening it to a “torture device” for its tonal mishmash of slapstick and hollow sentimentality. The Telegraph’s two-star review calls it “strung out and all too familiar,” and FandomWire deems it a “flop,” arguing Schwarzenegger is “past his prime.” The Globe and Mail’s J. Kelly Nestruck critiques Moss’s struggle with a “leaden” script, though she elicits rare smiles.

How Do Performances and Casting Impact the Reception?

Schwarzenegger remains the show’s anchor. Collider notes he “hasn’t lost a beat” as Luke, blending his action-hero swagger with comedic timing honed in Kindergarten Cop. Barbaro’s Emma is “entertaining in action,” per AVForums, with her spry athleticism complementing Schwarzenegger’s seasoned approach.

Their evolved trust and banter are a highlight, with IGN noting “pleasantly meaningful interactions.” Milan Carter’s Barry delivers heartfelt moments, and Fortune Feimster’s Roo amuses, though her one-dimensional delivery grates for some, per Rotten Tomatoes user reviews.

Carrie-Anne Moss’s Greta Nelso, a former East German spy and Luke’s ex, adds intrigue but feels underutilized. AVForums praises her chemistry with Schwarzenegger, but the Globe and Mail finds her stifled by weak dialogue.

Guy Burnet’s Theodore Chips, a rogue MI6 agent, overplays his role but scores in a “steamy” dance with Barbaro, per AVForums. Supporting players like Jay Baruchel and Andy Buckley are sidelined, with Collider noting the season struggles to balance its ensemble.

Why Does the Humor and Action Fall Short for Some?

The show’s humor is a divisive element. When it leans into absurdity—like a muppet of Schwarzenegger in a submarine or a pig in a pizza parlor shootout—it lands, per DMTalkies. Posts on X, like @Pickitflickit’s, call it “funnier” and “packed with great action,” while @ForumReelz finds it a “fun and decent watch.”

However, the Telegraph notes the humor “barely raises a smile,” and AVForums calls it “noise” when it veers into strained punchlines. The show’s attempt to parody spy tropes while tackling generational trauma feels awkward, with DMTalkies criticizing its failure to “thread the needle.”

Action sequences are a bigger letdown. IGN notes Season 1 set a low bar, and Season 2 “trips right over it” with close-quarters combat lacking scale. Collider wishes for “bigger, grander” moments, and FandomWire calls the action “consistently underwhelming.” Shoddy sets and blatant product placement (Volvo, Cheetos) further detract, per DMTalkies, fostering a “claustrophobic” feel.

What Are the Main Criticisms of the Season?

The FUBAR Season 2 Review Roundup underscores three key issues: an overcrowded cast, tonal inconsistency, and uninspired action. With too many characters—Luke, Emma, Greta, Theodore, and safe-house stragglers like Baruchel’s Carter—the narrative feels bloated.

AVForums suggests jettisoning extraneous players, and Collider notes even strong performers like Buckley are underused until late episodes. The love triangles, particularly Luke’s with Greta and Tally, drag the pacing, per IGN, and feel forced.

Tonally, the show wavers between Austin Powers-style parody and sincere drama, leaving both hollow. DMTalkies likens it to a mix of Johnny English and The Brothers Grimsby, failing to commit. The action, meant to evoke Schwarzenegger’s True Lies era, lacks intensity, with AIPT noting a “step down” in tension from Season 1.

Metacritic’s 61/100 reflects this, with critics like Kenneth Seward Jr. calling it a “B-movie” that thinks it’s a blockbuster.

How Does Season 2 Compare to Season 1 and Other Spy Comedies?

Season 1 earned a 51% Rotten Tomatoes score, criticized for flat jokes and weak action but praised for its ensemble chemistry. Season 2’s 56% suggests marginal improvement, with Rotten Tomatoes users calling it a “step up” for its absurd gags, as @ButWhyThoPC on X echoes. However, AIPT and DMTalkies argue it makes Season 1 look like Homeland.

Compared to True Lies (the 1994 film or its short-lived TV spinoff), FUBAR lacks the slick style, per AVForums, and it falls short of The Night Agent’s tension, per JoBlo.

The show’s reliance on Schwarzenegger’s charisma mirrors his earlier hits, but critics note it doesn’t evolve beyond nostalgia. Unlike Reacher, also created by Nick Santora, FUBAR’s visual storytelling and production values disappoint, per DMTalkies. Its 78% Popcornmeter score suggests fans of Season 1’s campy vibe—especially Arnold devotees—find more to enjoy than critics.

What’s the Future for FUBAR?

The season ends with unresolved plot points, like Greta’s survival, hinting at a potential Season 3, per The Economic Times. However, Netflix has not confirmed renewal, with viewership data—particularly completion rates—deciding its fate.

Mixed reviews and posts on X, like @the_snickman’s prediction of cancellation despite a “goofball” pivot in later episodes, suggest uncertainty. The show’s streaming dominance in its debut week (May 2023 for Season 1) hasn’t recurred, per Nielsen rankings.

Fans on X are divided: @moneight praises the “fast-paced” fun and Moss’s addition, but @ell_enn calls it “unbelievably bad” with “repetitive garbage dialogue.” The 25-44 demographic drives viewership, per audience data, but critics urge streamlining the cast and amplifying action to sustain interest. For now, FUBAR remains a divisive romp banking on Schwarzenegger’s star power.

Some Closing Thoughts:

FUBAR Season 2 delivers laughs and nostalgia for Arnold fans but struggles to rise above its flaws. While Schwarzenegger and Barbaro keep the spy antics watchable, weak action and a cluttered narrative hold it back.

As Luke and Emma brace for more chaos, the show’s future hinges on whether Netflix sees enough spark to keep this mission alive.

Have you binged Season 2? Share your take in the comments!