Bad Thoughts: Tom Segura's Hilarious Netflix Sketch Comedy
Tom Segura's new Netflix sketch comedy series, Bad Thoughts, elevates his already darkly humorous style to new heights, pushing boundaries and testing just how far he can take offensive comedy.
Longtime fans of Segura's stand-up will feel right at home with this unapologetically depraved show, as it builds upon the foundation of his previous work.
The series is filmed with an elevated cinematic feel, featuring elements like an apocalyptic alien wasteland and the compound of a country music star turned cult leader. What more could you ask for?
What to Expect from Tom Segura's Bad Thoughts
Bad Thoughts consists of six episodes, each loosely revolving around a universal theme: jobs, success, family, love, communication, and health. These themes act as a loose framework for the madness that unfolds.
Some sketches play through multiple episodes, while others are self-contained. One episode doesn't even feature Segura himself! Each sketch is highly inappropriate and definitely not suitable for family viewing.
Much of Segura's stand-up is incorporated into the series, including callbacks to his earlier material and adaptations of his father's Vietnam War stories into a very problematic children's play. Are you ready for the ride?
The comedy in Bad Thoughts is relatively low-brow, featuring scatological humor and sex jokes, but it's all delivered with an extra helping of dark comedy that makes it work exceptionally well. The sensationalized setups and creative execution make for an entertaining series.
Segura fully commits to a variety of different characters, including fictionalized versions of himself, the country music star turned cult leader Rex Henley, and even Steven Seagal. He's not afraid to drop the sarcasm and be completely unfiltered on-screen.
He's willing to throw everything at the wall to see what sticks, and even when certain sketches don't land perfectly, the overall aesthetic makes it all pop. The commitment to pushing boundaries elevates the series.
Why Bad Thoughts Succeeds as Edgy Comedy
For those who believe comedy can't be edgy anymore, Bad Thoughts serves as a powerful counter-argument. The series doesn't intentionally set out to offend, but it is unafraid to disgust or repulse viewers.
The show constantly escalates within each sketch, ensuring that there's never a dull moment. Segura has compared Bad Thoughts to Black Mirror, but it bears a closer resemblance to sketch comedy series like I Think You Should Leave or Key & Peele.
The characters in each sketch act upon their worst impulses, creating over-the-top gags. This willingness to explore the darker side of human nature is what sets the series apart.
Some installments end with cliffhangers that pick up in the next episode, attempting to link the themes together. While some connections work naturally, others feel a bit disjointed. But the overall effect is still highly entertaining.
Bad Thoughts: The Perfect Evolution for Tom Segura
Bad Thoughts feels like the perfect next step for Tom Segura, allowing him to fully embody his comedic persona in a way that a sitcom or feature-length movie couldn't. The series' unapologetic nature makes it feel like the live-action equivalent of South Park.
It's proudly unfiltered and makes no apologies if something offends you, operating from the perspective that everyone is an idiot, including Segura himself. This self-awareness adds to the show's charm.
Bad Thoughts isn't designed to win over those who aren't already fans of Segura's dark comedy, but it's a perfect mix of messed-up and hilarious for his existing audience. While not every sketch will be a hit, there are plenty of big laughs and moments of sheer, depraved creativity.
In conclusion, if you're already a fan of Tom Segura's brand of humor, you will find that Bad Thoughts delivers exactly what it promises: a hilariously depraved and creatively messed-up comedy experience that's now available to stream on Netflix.