JuicyTalk
Warning: Major spoilers for Netflix’s FUBAR season 2 below!FUBAR season 2 is a fun ride, but the show really needs to cool down with the constant Arnold Schwarzenegger movie references. Arnie joining the cast of FUBAR marked his first leading role in a TV series, and while the first season had plenty of gags at the expense of his past work, it also gave him an interesting character with CIA agent Luke Brunner. Luke practically sacrificed his personal life to be an agent, so when he learns his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) is also a spy, his life gets real complicated.
FUBAR is a True Lies sequel in all but name in this regard, though it lacked the incredible action of that James Cameron blockbuster. Growing up a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger action movies made FUBAR required viewing for me. While I was mixed on season 1, it was nice to see the veteran star take on a more challenging role and one that played to his age. Schwarzenegger will never challenge Brando as a dramatic performer, but I think season 2 shows he’s definitely improved as an actor – which made the cringey Arnie movie gags quite annoying.
FUBAR Season 2 Went Too Far With The References To Arnie’s Other Movies
“I’ll be back” doesn’t always have to come back
Look, I fully expected FUBAR to add a few winks about Schwarzenegger’s past roles, and that’s fine. The show gets its “I’ll be back” joke out of the way early, and FUBAR referencing Arnie’s pal James Cameron raised a chuckle – even if it teased a cameo it didn’t pay off. Season 2 also does a good job of looking into Luke as a character and how the return of former lover Greta (Carrie-Anne Moss) was complicating his reunion with ex-wife Tally (Fabiana Udenio). For me, what kept getting in the way of that story were the Arnie movie nods.
It feels like FUBAR references just about every film Arnold ever fronted. The return of Tom Arnold is a major nod to True Lies, a scene where Luke has to turn a wheel is a riff on Conan the Barbarian’s “Wheel of Pain” and in the finale, Luke is told he needs “Total Recall” to remember an important code. There’s even an oblique reference to Schwarzenegger’s infamous debut Hercules in New York.
FUBAR continues an irritating trend in Schwarzenegger’s career that began with The Expendables movies and has kept running, which is any movie he appears in needs to comment on his most famous roles.
A few easter eggs spread out across the eight-episode run would be fine, but FUBAR season 2 rings the Arnie meme bell too many times. It continues an irritating trend in Schwarzenegger’s career that began with The Expendables and has kept running, which is any movie he appears in needs to comment on his most famous roles. It’s a joke that’s grown stale but the show keeps pulling it out regardless.
FUBAR Season 3 Should Just Let Arnold Be An Actor
Time to terminate the Arnold puns
While David Ayer’s 2014 thriller Sabotage didn’t quite work, it at least tried to reinvent Arnold’s screen image and made no winking references to his past. It allowed Arnold to play against type as a scummy, corrupt DEA agent and showed he could go dark with the right material. FUBAR’s Luke is the most fleshed-out character he’s gotten to play to date, with the show exploring both his spy career and personal life. Season 2 allowed him to grow into the role even further, and he’s got some nice dramatic moments to play.
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FUBAR Season 2 Ending Explained: What That Final Scene Really Means
Netflix’s FUBAR season 2 ends in suitably explosive fashion, with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Luke uncovering the shock identity of the mysterious Cress.
That’s why the meta Arnie gags got to me more than FUBAR’s first season, because the show should just let him be an actor at this point. They no longer need to do the wink-wink approach or throw in an “I’ll be back” reference to make audiences groan. It’s a played out gag, so if FUBAR season 3 comes together, there should be a three strike limit on Arnie easter eggs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s next film is The Man with the Bag, co-starring Reacher’s Alan Ritchson.
The season 2 finale ends on a cliffhanger that very much indicates another series is coming, though Luke’s retirement – and plan to remarry Tally – might see Arnold get less action next time. In truth, FUBAR turns over much of the physical action to Luke’s team, so giving Schwarzenegger more of a supporting part might not be the worst idea. It should also see the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie gags die waaaaaaaay down.
