The only show you need to watch this Father’s Day weekend: ‘FUBAR’
If you plan to go all out this Father’s Day with a sumptuous dining plan or spend the weekend doing a staycation at that very spot your father showed you around when you were still a child, don’t forget to top it all off with some quality time packed with dad jokes. And in case you feel like you’re at a loss for direction after booking, itinerary sorting, and practically adulting, just kick back and tune into FUBAR on Netflix, and leave the dads to do the talking.
The action-comedy drama centres on veteran CIA operative Luke Brunner, portrayed by the quintessential dad-favourite, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although the story opens with Luke on the verge of retirement, his plans are soon unravelled when he is summoned for one final mission: to rescue another CIA operative, who happens to be his daughter, Emma.
No wonder, FUBAR is ironically the most standout choice for the Father’s Day weekend because it purposefully unpacks the dad experience through not only its genre but also its core theme. At the core, it is a story about the messy, complicated, and undeniably hilarious relationship between a father and daughter, who are so much more like one another that it is basically infuriating.
Like father, like daughter, they are secret CIA operatives who have been concealing their identities from each other for years. Unsurprisingly, when the cats are out of their bags, they’re forced to work together. The Netflix comedy slyly capitalises on the high-stakes espionage backdrop to underscore the struggles experienced by a father in learning to stop treating his adult daughter like a child.
At the same time, FUBAR doesn’t fail to highlight the joy of navigating one’s independence while working as a team with their parent(s). Since the themes the show explores are grounded in reality, it’s easy to watch and still exciting.
Although the chase sequences, shootouts, and high-stakes missions might make a few question whether FUBAR at all fits the bill of a Father’s Day weekend watch, the answer is that it hits just the right spot. It acts more like a workplace family comedy where the awkward team dynamics become the source of the banter.
Most importantly, the Netflix series, despite its action roots, touches on parenthood themes like trying to balance a demanding career while being present for the family, the desire to protect children even when they are fully grown adults, and the awkwardness of navigating parents’ personal choices and lives.
So, save FUBAR for desserts after Father’s Day dinner or as the staple pick for the weekend staycation because, believe it or not, it will hit right home.