Bad Thoughts

 *Bad Thoughts*, the Netflix sketch comedy series created by and starring stand-up comedian Tom Segura, is a polarizing project that has sharply divided critics and audiences. Whether you will enjoy it largely depends on your tolerance for "shock" humor and your familiarity with Segura’s specific brand of comedy.

### **The Core Premise**

The show is structured as a series of loosely connected, cinematic vignettes. Segura appears in a "white void" framing device (reminiscent of Rod Serling’s *The Twilight Zone*) to introduce episodes that explore the darker, more impulsive, and "bad" thoughts that cross the human mind. The production value is notably high, often mimicking the look and feel of various genres like noir, French New Wave, and A24-style dramas.

### **Why Critics and Fans Are Divided**

#### **The Case for "Yes" (It’s a Hilarious, Unhinged Ride)**

 * **Commitment to the Bit:** Fans of Segura praise his willingness to fully commit to grotesque, uncomfortable, and bizarre characters. His physical comedy and deadpan delivery are often cited as the show's saving grace.

 * **High Production Value:** The show doesn't look like a cheap sketch show; it features polished, high-budget cinematography that elevates the absurdity of the premises.

 * **Authenticity:** For those who follow Segura’s stand-up and podcasts, *Bad Thoughts* is seen as a logical, unfiltered extension of his "id"—a no-holds-barred look at the things he finds funny.

 * **Pacing:** The episodes are brisk and bingeable, often moving quickly enough that if one sketch doesn't land, another is immediately on the horizon.

#### **The Case for "No" (It’s Juvenile, Gross, and Lacks Substance)**

 * **Shock for the Sake of Shock:** Many critics argue that the show mistakes being "disturbing" for being funny. A significant portion of the humor relies on graphic scatology (poop/fart jokes), sexual explicitness, and violence, which some viewers find "juvenile" rather than transgressive.

 * **Lack of Insight:** While the show sets itself up as a look into the dark corners of the human psyche, many reviewers found that it offers no real social commentary. Unlike shows like *Black Mirror* or *Key & Peele*, which use absurdity to comment on society, critics argue *Bad Thoughts* is often just "disgusting for the sake of being disgusting."

 * **Repetition:** Particularly in Season 2, reviewers noted that the formula—taking a normal situation and making it aggressively gross—becomes repetitive and predictable, quickly losing its initial shock value.

### **Verdict**

 * **Watch it if:** You are already a fan of Tom Segura’s stand-up, you enjoy dark and "blue" humor that aims to offend or shock, and you appreciate high-quality production even when the content is crude.

 * **Skip it if:** You prefer sketch comedy with clever social commentary or "smart" absurdity (like *I Think You Should Leave*), or if you have a low tolerance for graphic bathroom humor, extreme sexual content, and nihilistic shock value.

It is a series with no middle ground: you will likely either find it brilliant in its depraved commitment or an empty, "putrid" waste of time.

I watched the whole series and yes I in both camps but it did make me laugh 😂 

4/5