Deli Boys on Hulu is out; Adolescence on Netflix is in

A friend recommended Deli Boys on Hulu, a crime comedy about two Pakistani brothers who inherit their father’s underground empire, fronted by a chain of liquor stores. On paper, this should have been an instant win: the actors are likable, the absurdity flows in generous doses, the style is confident, and the episodes are short and snappy—like a cousin of Barry, one of my favorite comedies of the past decade.

And yet, something felt off. Four episodes in, I kept turning to my wife and muttering, “I should love this. Why don’t I?”

Then it hit me: Deli Boys is Barry without the bite. It’s a second-generation clone—talented cast, crisp pacing, solid comic timing—but missing the animating spirit that made its influences great. Worse, it feels dated, an imitation of better shows rather than a fresh take on the crime-comedy genre. Without a real thematic core, it’s just another slick, highly-stylized caper that goes down easy but leaves no lasting impression.

So, with a mixture of relief and mild disappointment, my wife and I pulled the plug. Instead, we’re shifting gears to Adolescence on Netflix, a show critics are buzzing about—including The Watch podcast’s Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald: a brutal four-part series about a thirteen-year-old accused of murdering a classmate. A tough watch, no doubt, but at least it promises substance beneath the style. And hey, it’s only four episodes—might as well see what all the fuss is about.