Netflix fans beg for 'brilliant' series to be saved – despite admitting it's bad
Netflix's hit action-comedy series FUBAR has seen a plunge in viewership for its second season, leaving many fans worried the show could be cancelled.
The show, which dropped eight new episodes last week, follows a father-and-daughter duo, Luke and Emma Brunner, portrayed by The Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger and Oscar nominee Monica Barbaro.
When they discover they both secretly work for the CIA 'their high-stakes missions get tangled up with awkward family dynamics.'
After the first season proved a smash success for the streamer in 2023 — topping the streaming charts and securing 25.57 million viewing hours in its first week — the second season seemed a sure bet.
However, the viewership numbers say otherwise. The second season only generated 2.2 million views over its opening weekend, marking an 80 percent drop-off from the first season's 11m, Deadline reports.
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The second season had been hotly anticipated by fans of the show, but those same fans have now been left fearful the show is on the chopping block – even as many admit it was a less-than-stellar return.
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@firdaus_sheik took to X to describe the season as a 'tough watch' while @SaidWhatWeSaid wrote: 'Season 2 of FUBAR was full of action and found family but felt underwhelming in prioritising messy love triangles over character growth.'
Meanwhile @rbaccari9 feared the show would get cancelled 'before it gets a deserved final season', writing: '[Netflix] keep increasing prices and refusing to give shows that people love a last season. I am going to FINALLY cancel Netflix if Fubar doesn't get a 3rd season.'
The reaction from viewers to the season has been a mixed affair online, with many saying it doesn't quite live up to the first installment.
Pan N wrote their review on Rotten Tomatoes, savagely sharing: 'The first season wasn't this bad. The acting is horrible, the direction is awful, the story is ridiculous and the dialogue dreadful. The premise is stupid and then it went downhill from there. There were times I literally cringed.' Ouch.
Other viewers had a more measured take, with Depechemark writing the second season was: 'Not bad but also not good. Some of the cast is okay, some of the cast is terrible. Really no chemistry between anyone. Arnold is funny with his lines of course, and there's a few funny lines here and there.'
However it's not to say all the reaction was negative, with many Netflix subscribers taking to X to praise the second season. @itswallsworld said the 'quirky but brilliant' CIA team headed up by Schwarzenegger brought 'terrific fun'.
@Kilts4me echoed: 'Just finished Fubar S2 This show is just great. A bit slap stick, but clever and just fun. Stand out performances from absolutely every cast member, my fav from Andy Buckley he was hilarious. Hope of hopes there's a S3. Schwarzenegger more please!'
The second season sees the return of Travis Van Winkle as Aldon, Fortune Feimster as Roo, Milan Carter as Barry and Scott Thompson as Dr. Pfeffer, among other familiar faces. More Trending
Speaking about what to expect from the new season, creator Nick Santora called it 'bananas' and the Brunner family will have 'a million things they're going to have to deal with.'
'They are family, and they know the only way they are going to survive is as a family working together. And they're going to have to do so if they don't want the world to end as we know it!' Santora added.
A version of this article was first published on June 12.
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Fubar seasons one and two are available to stream on Netflix now.
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