Unravelled: Battling the World's Woes Amidst a Crippling Hangover
Obliterated fearlessly saves the world amidst a wild Hangover With irreverent abandon, this raunchy series by the creators of Cobra Kai embraces its excesses Much like The Boys, it's a toast-worthy show that delivers uproarious entertainment in eight thrilling episodes
"Obliterated" is executed with audacious abandon, steamrolling over its abundant excesses and stretching out the challenge over eight episodes. Proudly raunchy in a way that recalls "The Boys," this series from the creative team behind "Cobra Kai" merits a toast, or in the spirit of the show, five or six of them. The general idea is another elite "Mission: Impossible"-type squad, who in the early moments of the first episode thwart the threat of a nuclear explosion in Las Vegas, with their eccentric bomb technician, Hagerty (C. Thomas Howell), capping off the operation.
As the group realizes that their time together is coming to an end, they throw a wild party filled with drugs, debauchery, and even a wandering camel. However, they soon learn that the bomb was just a distraction and a Russian arms dealer is outsmarting them. Despite their chemically induced impairments, they continue to navigate James Bond-esque activities, adding a new level of difficulty to their dangerous mission.
Under circumstances, they are compelled to confess to their superiors (played by Carl Lumbly, also seen in Netflix's "The Fall of the House of Usher") that "someone" had given drugs to Hagerty. When questioned about the type of drugs, the team's muscle Chad (Nick Zano) and Trunk (Terrence Terrell) hesitantly respond, "All of them."
The night also brings its fair share of internal issues and complications, with team leader Ava (Shelley Hennig) still coping with lost love and feeling a strong attraction to Chad; Maya (Kimi Rutledge), the talented computer genius, secretly longing for Chad as well; and Trunk keeping a secret from his best friend, Chad. Additionally, skilled pilot Paul (Eugene Kim), who unwittingly joined in the revelry, discovers that his daughter has run off with her boyfriend for the weekend - to none other than Vegas.
"Obliterated" needs more suspense and misdirection to maintain the thrilling urgency. Imagine a limited series version of "The Hangover" with added violence and nudity. Despite this, the show is entertaining, skillfully blending comedy and spy tropes with self-awareness and respect for the genre. It stands out from other shows, with "Fubar" being the closest in comparison.
"Obliterated" will premiere on Netflix on November 30. Honestly, this series isn't the type that would be suitable for a second season, even if it is successful. What happens in Vegas should stay there, but the first season has enough to make it worth watching. It also serves as a good reminder to be careful about getting too drunk after work.
