Netflix’s ‘FUBAR’ Gives Us Classic Arnold Schwarzenegger Action

At 77 years young, it’s unlikely the moviegoing world will see Arnold Schwarzenegger star in an action extravaganza on par with The Terminator, Predator, Commando, and the others that made him such a bona fide movie star in the ’80s and ’90s. However, the next best thing in 2025 is FUBAR, the amusing yet imperfect spy-action series nearing its Season 2 release on Netflix. For fans of Schwarzenegger’s classic comedic action role as Harry Tasker in True Lies, FUBAR is an absolute must-see.

While FUBAR’s first season drew mediocre reviews, suggesting that Schwarzenegger’s first scripted live-action TV role didn’t reach its full potential, Season 2 promises to expand the action and increase the dramatic consequences. Just in time for Father’s Day, FUBAR Season 2 premieres on Netflix on June 12, 2025, making for a nostalgic blast down memory lane and evoking Arnie’s heyday.

‘FUBAR’ Is an Engaging Spy Comedy

Arnold Schwarzenegger Is the Best Part of the Show

FUBAR

Release Date

May 25, 2023

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Nick Santora

Directors

Phil Abraham, Stephen Surjik

Writers

Michael J. Gutierrez

Nick Santora created FUBAR for Netflix, a domestic action-spy-comedy that deliberately toys with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic tough-guy image. With plot strands pulled from James Cameron’s True Lies, FUBAR centers on Luke Brunner (Schwarzenegger), a secret CIA operative celebrating his last assignment and impending retirement. Luke’s daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), is also a secret CIA employee, with neither having any clue that the other shares the same occupation.

Just as Harry Tasker learns that his wife Helen shares his job in True Lies, so too does Luke’s daughter Emma in FUBAR. When Luke finds out that Emma is also a CIA operative and vice versa, the two are forced to work on covert assignments together. Of course, their professional relationship devolves into a quarrelsome father-daughter dynamic, with Luke doting on Emma like an overprotective father who will not give her the space needed to mature and prove herself.

With shades of True Lies’ excellent combination of humorous action and impressive set pieces, FUBAR adopts a much sillier sitcom vibe that pokes fun at Arnie’s aging as an all-time great action hero. A good way of looking at the tone and temperament of the series is to remember that FUBAR stands for F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition, a euphemistic acronym for things going chaotic beyond control.

‘FUBAR’ Has Fun Playing With Schwarzenegger’s Image

Netflix

While it may not feature peak Arnie action, FUBAR knows exactly what it is and has a ball toying with Schwarzenegger’s iconic action brand. For example, Luke utters Schwarzenegger’s trademark catchphrase, “I’ll be back,” early in FUBAR, but does so in a hilarious comedic context that never takes itself too seriously. The line is nailed with Arnie’s classic intensity, only to follow up with “In around two hours or so, depending on traffic. I’ll be back.”

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Another way FUBAR taps into the best of Schwarzenegger’s action comedy chops is by reuniting him with his True Lies co-star, Tom Arnold. Arnold famously played Albert “Gib” Gibson in True Lies, playing Harry Tasker’s sidekick. The two actors had such terrific chemistry while making the movie that they became fast friends in real life, a relationship that continues 30 years later. In FUBAR, Arnold plays Norm Carlson, an old friend of Luke’s who does the Brunner family a grisly favor. Short of True Lies 2, FUBAR is the next best substitute.

FUBAR also pokes fun at Arnie’s action star image through the episode titles. Several references to rival Arnie action movies, like Tango & Cash (“Tango & Smash”) and Armed and Dangerous (“Armed & Dane-gerous”), hint at throwback ’80s action comedies that feature a similar tone as FUBAR. Moreover, the term FUBAR became popular in American discourse following the release of Tango & Cash, the buddy action comedy starring Sylvester Stallone (Schwarzenegger’s rival) and Kurt Russell.

Despite the Nostalgic Blast From the Past, Fans Must Temper ‘FUBAR’ Expectations

Netflix

Although FUBAR is an entertaining diversion for action-comedy fans, it’s worth reiterating why Schwarzenegger fans should curb their enthusiasm and temper expectations. FUBAR may pay overt homage to True Lies, but it never reaches the critical and commercial apex that the James Cameron classic reached in 1994. With a 51% Rotten Tomatoes rating, 48 Metascore, and a 6.5 IMDb rating, FUBAR is good enough to pass the time. As RT’s critical consensus states about Season 1:

“With jokes that fall flat and a story that borrows liberally from star Arnold Schwarzenegger’s earlier career triumphs, FUBAR is just OK.”

For many, “just okay” means FUBAR will leave one’s mind as soon as the credits roll. For Schwarzenegger diehards, it’s the closest approximation they will get to seeing Arnie doing classic Arnie things. Of course, with Season 2 promising to increase its size and scope, there is hope that the next eight episodes will see marked improvement over the first eight.

To wit, The Matrix star Carrie-Anne Moss has been cast to go toe-to-toe with Schwarzenegger in FUBAR Season 2. She will play Greta Nelson, a German superspy and Luke’s former romantic flame, sure to cause quite a stir at work and home. Without spoiling the particulars of Greta’s arc, Moss told Tudum:

“We just got to have so much fun. I don’t know if I’ve ever had so much fun doing a job.”

Schwarzenegger reciprocated the sentiment, adding:

“I had such a fantastic time filming with Carrie-Anne Moss. She’s a badass in every way. I promise, you’re going to love it. And it’s perfect timing — Father’s Day weekend.”

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Regarding Season 2’s premise, Nick Santora explained that the Brunner family, or perhaps the CIA itself, may have a traitor working an inside job. As Santora puts it:

“In Season 2, we’re going to go in knowing there might be a rat in the kitchen. And what are they going to do about that?” Not to mention that Luke and all his fellow agents’ identities have been exposed. “They’re in deep dog doo-doo, for sure.”

Although it may not deliver the visceral jolts of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most lasting cinematic work, FUBAR is the closest thing action movie fans have to a classic return to form. FUBAR Season 2 debuts on Netflix on June 12, 2025.

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