Netflix's Most Divisive Action-Comedy Series is a Must-Watch for Pineapple Express Fans

Summary

• The trio of writers behind Cobra Kai created this 8-episode homage to The Hangover.
• In Obliterated, an elite strike force tries to stop a nuclear attack after getting blitzed in Las Vegas.
• Critics are divided on the series.
• More seasons are possible, but the writers are currently focused on the final season of Cobra Kai.

What Is Obliterated About?

An elite strike team – the best of the best – is pulled from branches of the Armed Forces and the US Intelligence network. Their mission? To stop a nuclear bomb from detonating in Las Vegas. The team accomplishes their mission early in the first episode, and celebrates by going out on the town and doing… well, what people do in Las Vegas. Drugs, alcohol, and lots of nudity abound.

But before you can say 'Hangover', the team learns that the bomb they dismantled is a fake. That means that Vegas is still under threat, and the team has to stop vomiting and hallucinating long enough to stop it from going off.

This ensemble series features Nick Zano, Shelley Hennig, Terrence Terrell, Paola Lázaro, C. Thomas Howell and Eugene Kim. If you like a mix of action, raunchy jokes, drugs, and rock and roll (aka Pineapple Express), then you will definitely enjoy this movie.

Team Cobra Kai

This raunchy dramedy was dreamed up by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, the team behind Netflix 's beloved Karate Kid sequel series Cobra Kai. The trio has lots of experience in the realm of R-rated comedies, with movies like Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Hot Tub Time Machine under their belts.

When asked about the success of Obliterated – which hit #1 on Netflix when it was first released in November – Hurwitz told Deadline that it was a no-brainer to combine two of the world's most popular genres: raunchy comedies and action films. He commented:

'Obliterated is an uncompromising merge and celebration of the two genres in a way that's never been seen before on television — cinematic, high-octane action mixed with unflinching R-rated comedy storytelling. It's a barrel of whiskey-soaked popcorn for everyone to enjoy.'

Fun Fact (With Spoiler!)

Terrence Terrell was given a prosthetic penis for his torture scene in episode 5, when his character is stripped down and some truly horrific things are threatened to his manhood.

On the other hand, 57 year old C. Thomas Howell really is baring it all in his nude scene.

Critics are Torn

Much like Pineapple Express, Obliterated has firmly divided critics. Those who love it say things like:

'Obliterated packs a lot of raunchy humor and epic action into its eight hour-long episodes, while also managing to be one of the best counterterrorism thrillers since 24.'

– Inverse.

…While those who hate it respond with thoughts like:

'...Obliterated is a baffling, nearly unwatchable hodgepodge of nonsense littered with penises and explosives.'

– Variety

Of course, this is a pretty standard critical response for over the top, R-rated comedies. Harold and Kumar likewise divided critics, while Pineapple Express was called brilliant by some and puerile by others.

Will There Be More?

Obliterated has a satisfying wrap up after 8 episodes, but the creators are open to more seasons. Because the strike team could in theory be called to dangerous situations anywhere in the world, there are endless possibilities for the shenanigans they could get up to next.

While Hurwitz, Schlossberg, and Heald are open to the idea of more seasons of Obliterated, for now they're busy focusing on the final season of Cobra Kai. After delays with the writer's strike, the team is hard at work bringing fans the conclusion they deserve to the Miyagi-verse.

Obliterated was released on Netflix on November 30, 2023.

Source: Deadline.