Spies with family baggage
FUBAR remains an exaggerated action comedy in its second season. Luke Brunner and his daughter Emma face dangerous assignments again, but family conflicts and slapstick define the tone more strongly than a serious espionage plot. Viewers who enjoyed the first season get more of that mixture.
Schwarzenegger plays his familiar charm with a knowing wink. The one-liners and deliberately exaggerated confidence work partly because the series is not trying to present him as an indestructible young Terminator.
Good friction, weaker action
Carrie-Anne Moss adds useful friction as Greta, a woman from Luke’s past. Her scenes with Schwarzenegger are among the stronger moments. Monica Barbaro keeps the father-daughter relationship alive, while Fortune Feimster’s Roo supplies many of the genuinely funny moments.
The direction cannot always keep up. Some explosions and green-screen effects feel assembled from a standard kit, and the action sequences lack individuality. The writing also becomes overloaded with subplots and characters. It often stays superficial, although the performers occasionally bring heart to the awkward dialogue.
Verdict
For me, this is 6.5 out of 10. FUBAR is a self-aware spy comedy with family chaos rather than an ambitious thriller. Despite the weak effects and overloaded writing, I had a surprising amount of fun. This kind of Schwarzenegger entertainment works for a relaxed evening; viewers who hated Season 1 are unlikely to be converted.