As much as I want to watch American cinema, the country hasn’t been producing much content lately.
Only once in a while do we have a new show from the region on popular streaming platforms. The latest to hit the market is Obliterated.
Full of action, it is a raunchy, funny, and exciting series on paper, carrying eight episodes. In its seven-hour long duration, Obliterated aims to excite the audience like never before.
Does it succeed? Well, here is my review.
Obliterated Synopsis
A special forces team thwarts a nuclear attempt to finish Las Vegas. However, when they go out to celebrate the victory, they are informed that the war has just begun.
With the future of Vegas hanging in the balance, six officers put their lives on the line to save the city.

The show is created by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald.
It stars Shelley Hennig (Ava Winters), Nick Zano (McKnight), Terrence Terrell (Trunk), Paola Lazaro (Gomez), C. Thomas Howell (Hagerty), Kimi Rutledge (Maya), Alyson Gorske (Lana), Eugene Kim (Paul), and many other able actors.
What Works for Obliterated?
Some ideas are so serious that you don’t expect them to turn out differently.
However, Obliterated breaks this belief as it takes on a life-and-death kind of concept and infuses it with unhindered fun.
You get a chance to laugh once every minute either via witty dialogues, situational comedy, or even slapstick humor.
The series kicks off with an adrenaline-pumping mission where an undercover special ops team joins forces with a Russian terrorist to secure a hidden nuke.
Post-success, they decide to revel in a well-deserved celebration, only to discover that the real threat still looms large over Las Vegas.

As the mission extends, our intrepid team finds themselves under the influence of various substances, transforming the pilot into a witness of Gremlins, the sniper into a love-struck warrior, and the bomb disposal expert into an unconscious participant.
Amidst the chaos, the remaining members struggle to maintain composure, driven by the realization that abandoning the mission would jeopardize millions of lives.
The written outline is enough to excite your senses and when the mayhem unfolds, entertainment has no bounds.
Obliterated has many laugh-out-loud moments, something American content has lacked in recent times. Also, the show doesn’t hold back in going explicit.
It owns the raunchiness by not hiding behind female nudity. Be prepared for some uncensored male showdowns as well.

Furthermore, the screenplay of Obliterated is vibrantly stirring. It has all the sparkles a comic ride needs to shine.
The thrill is there, while action never ceases to amaze when seen together with relaxing humor. Also, the dialogues are quite sarcastically written for certain characters like Hagerty and Paul.
It ascends the quirky characterization that’s already in play from the very beginning.
And while we are on this, I must mention that Obliterated goes beyond the ordinary, and employs offbeat traits to magnetize viewers to its characters.
Its extravagant nature reminds me of the ancient style of American filmmaking, further ameliorated by the tributes to Elvis Presley.
All of this happens in a fast-paced narration keeping the series away from boredom.
How are the Performances?
Shelley Hennig plays Ava Winters in the show. Her appealing persona multiplies with each new episode. She charms as the leader of the pack while honing several impromptu scenes on the way.
Action suits her equally well as glamor and glitz. Also, her funky expressions sometimes take you on a wild ride.

Nick Zano as McKnight is quite the enchanter in Obliterated. His ripped physique somehow manages to blend with the typical romantic-action hero image he is meant to showcase.
He puts up his A-game when using intensity as a cover for his dwindling temperament. You will notice him taking mindful alternative routes to leave a lasting impact.
Terrence Terrell as Trunk and Paola Lazaro as Gomez make for an exciting combo. Especially Terrell’s food-deprived acts throw chunks of laughing material.
Although not unique, it still tickles your funny bones. I think a bit more action in his pocket would have helped the cause of the series.

Lazaro gets the screen time and she utilizes it to the best ability.
C. Thomas Howell deserves a mention for his hilariously pretentious act as Hagerty. He will make you roll on the floor just with his expressions.
Obviously, the credit must go to the writing department.
Kimi Rutledge, as Maya aka the Tech Chick, aces an insecure individual who also has the brains. She is funny mostly because of her delivery of dialogue, which is supreme.
Alyson Gorske is a revelation in Obliterated. She plays Lana and starts from the ground level before growing on to become noticeable.
And when she does, her natural instincts take command over everything else.
Eugene Kim portrays Paul and while he may not be a likable character, he definitely is a brilliant actor.
What Doesn’t Work for Obliterated?
Trying to stand out, the show sometimes becomes too ambitious and hence, loses its hold on the plot. Subsequently, the story falls onto predictable lines.
Maybe, they could have been a bit subtler about the upcoming twists in the narration.
The good thing is they manage to stage a comeback quite quickly because of certain sub-domains.
Interestingly, though I may have mentioned extravagance as a downside it is also a positive aspect; kind of a double-edged sword.
Stream or Skip?
See, comedy is subjective. You may laugh at something and another person might not even move a hair.
From a general sense of fun, I think Obliterated will entertain you. So, you can go for it.
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