Hulu’s 10-Part Crime Series Is Like If Breaking Bad Was An Outright Comedy

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There are a lot of serious, intense crime shows on TV right now. While shows about gangsters, like MobLand, are often well-made and exciting, many of them are missing something. Crime dramas don’t need to be funny, but when a really good crime comedy comes along, it really stands out.

Many consider Breaking Bad to be one of the best crime thrillers ever made, and its occasional funny scenes – like the famous pizza-throwing moment – helped make it a hit. But Breaking Bad was ultimately a dark and intense show, which is why Hulu’s new 10-episode crime comedy, Deli Boys, is finding an audience. It offers laughs while still exploring the world of crime.

How Deli Boys Riffs On Breaking Bad’s Premise

Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, famously described the show as a transformation from a mild-mannered teacher into a ruthless criminal. The series follows Walter White, an ordinary suburban father, as he descends into the world of drug trafficking. Throughout the show, the central characters gradually discover Walter’s double life, with his son, Flynn, finding out the truth about his father’s meth operation just before Walter’s death.

The story of Deli Boys starts with a shocking discovery: two brothers learn their recently deceased father was involved in organized crime. Though unfamiliar with the criminal underworld, they unexpectedly inherit his operation and, guided by his longtime advisor, attempt to carry on his work.

The show Deli Boys has a similar storyline to Breaking Bad – imagine if Flynn took over his father Walter’s drug operation after he passed away. Deli Boys uses this concept for comedic effect, creating a funny and thrilling crime show that became a hit in 2025. Interestingly, Poorna Jagannathan, an actor in Deli Boys, also appeared in Better Call Saul, a Breaking Bad spin-off.

Okay, so Breaking Bad definitely had its moments of levity, but overall it was a seriously dark and intense show. Deli Boys, though? It’s a completely different beast. A lot of the actors are familiar faces from sitcoms, which immediately signals a shift in tone. Honestly, if Breaking Bad had been a straight-up comedy instead of a violent thriller, I think Deli Boys is what you’d have gotten.

Deli Boys’ Excellent First Season Sets Up A Bright Future

The first season of Deli Boys was very well-received, earning a 96% positive rating from critics and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. These numbers are comparable to the first season of Breaking Bad, which received 96% from critics and 97% from audiences. Like Breaking Bad, some found the initial pace of Deli Boys to be slow, but many viewers appreciated the show’s gradual development.

Even if you don’t compare it to Breaking Bad, Deli Boys quickly became popular, reaching the top 10 on streaming charts. Critics loved the actors and thought the show had a lot of promise for future seasons. The first season ended with a shocking reveal: the father, Baba Dar, wasn’t accidentally killed – he was murdered. The final scenes suggest his sons are now determined to find whoever was responsible.

Discovering who killed Baba Dar could dramatically change Deli Boys, potentially making it more intense and similar to Breaking Bad. Alternatively, the show’s creators could keep the focus on comedy, which is what currently sets it apart from other popular family crime shows like This City is Ours.

Fans won’t have to wait much longer to see what happens with Mir and Raj Dar! Season 2 of Deli Boys is coming next month. This season will feature new characters and a more complex storyline, including a plot involving money laundering and the introduction of a defense attorney – who might remind you of Saul Goodman. Deli Boys returns to Hulu on May 28th.

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2026-04-06 03:08