A pair of pampered Pakistani-American brothers lose everything when their convenience store magnate father suddenly dies. They are forced to reckon with their Baba's secret life of crime.A pair of pampered Pakistani-American brothers lose everything when their convenience store magnate father suddenly dies. They are forced to reckon with their Baba's secret life of crime.A pair of pampered Pakistani-American brothers lose everything when their convenience store magnate father suddenly dies. They are forced to reckon with their Baba's secret life of crime.
- Awards
- 2 nominations total
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Summary
Reviewers say 'Deli Boys' is acclaimed for its unique comedy-crime blend, sharp writing, and witty dialogue. The performances by Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan are praised for authenticity and chemistry. The show explores cultural themes and family dynamics, with humor that addresses serious issues respectfully. Cinematography and set design enhance the immersive experience. However, some note inaccuracies and stereotypes in cultural and religious depictions. Despite this, the overall reception is positive, with hopes for renewal.
Featured reviews
Two Dar boys set out on the road to carry on the empire built by their father, this series while a bit childish at moments will never let have a dull moment and always keep you hooked, however incomplete and paced character development as well as a sometimes holed script leaves this box of achar with lots of masalas dripping into the wounds of people looking for logic, but if you don't want a logic and just want to enjoy a great relatable dark comedy (especially for all the ABCDs out there) then brace up for 10 episodes of quirky jokes, relatable characters as well as some sibling bonding moments.
What happens when "Fargo" crashes into "Dumb and Dumber"-but with a generous serving of spicy masala? You get "Deli Boys", a fresh and frenetic crime-comedy that's as unpredictable as it is entertaining.
At the heart of the series are two brothers: one flamboyant and reckless, the other naïve yet ambitious. Their father, a successful businessman who deliberately kept them out of his empire, suddenly dies-leaving them to inherit not just his legacy but also the shady dealings hiding beneath it. As they fumble through legal and financial chaos, a whirlwind of colorful characters enters (including FBI) the picture, none more magnetic than Aunt Lucky (Poona Jagannathan), who effortlessly steals every scene.
Clocking in at around crisp 23 minutes per episode (sans credit roll), Deli Boys delivers tight, well-paced storytelling, a rarity in today's era of overlong streaming series. The humor is sharp, unforced, and refreshingly authentic-never pausing to over-explain inside jokes, especially those rooted in South Asian (particularly Punjabi) culture.
Goofy yet organic, Deli Boys blends smart writing with strong technical execution. It may not reach cult-classic status, but it's a solid, standout comedy that will resonate with South Asian audiences for years to come.
At the heart of the series are two brothers: one flamboyant and reckless, the other naïve yet ambitious. Their father, a successful businessman who deliberately kept them out of his empire, suddenly dies-leaving them to inherit not just his legacy but also the shady dealings hiding beneath it. As they fumble through legal and financial chaos, a whirlwind of colorful characters enters (including FBI) the picture, none more magnetic than Aunt Lucky (Poona Jagannathan), who effortlessly steals every scene.
Clocking in at around crisp 23 minutes per episode (sans credit roll), Deli Boys delivers tight, well-paced storytelling, a rarity in today's era of overlong streaming series. The humor is sharp, unforced, and refreshingly authentic-never pausing to over-explain inside jokes, especially those rooted in South Asian (particularly Punjabi) culture.
Goofy yet organic, Deli Boys blends smart writing with strong technical execution. It may not reach cult-classic status, but it's a solid, standout comedy that will resonate with South Asian audiences for years to come.
Looking for something to watch on a boring night of TV? Five hundred channels and nothing on? Give this show a shot. We needed something new to kill time on TV, and remembered the ads for this show. I have to say it did start a little slowly, and there are a few references early on that some people may not "get." But about halfway through the first episode, a lot of that had been put aside and the fun started. A lot of good back-and-forth dialogue that keeps you listening and interested. The storyline takes a few unexpected twists and turns as well. We're 4 episodes in, and we're looking forward to the rest of the season.
I am SO happy to have found this show! It is VERY bingable and immensley entertaining. Deli Boys is a true masterclass in dark comedy without going too dark or too light. I'm just sick to death of these bland, TV-14 sitcoms that take no risks and use the same tired plot hooks over and over.
Deli Boys does an outstanding job of navigating the dark comedy genre without over-relying on excessive gore or violence. Yet at the same time, there is plenty of action, blood, drugs, etc mixed in with a few sweet moments and some satire. Again, if you like the sort of comedy in shows like The Boys, Avenue 5, Future Man, etc then you will be very happy :)
It boasts an all-star, diverse cast who are presented in such a way that it felt very intentional and purposeful. Which is why each character feels 'real' and is believable. Deli Boys seamlessly brings you into the cultural dynamics of the family in addition to the unique issues faced when two different gangs of two very different ethnic backgrounds clash.
This is in stark contrast to how so many of those TV-14 sitcoms I mentioned cast POC these days; as though they realized last minute they needed more diversity and so hastily recast or even created a new role. Of course, this results in characters who are so one dimensional they just as easily could've been Chinese, Ethiopian or English!
Deli Boys does an outstanding job of navigating the dark comedy genre without over-relying on excessive gore or violence. Yet at the same time, there is plenty of action, blood, drugs, etc mixed in with a few sweet moments and some satire. Again, if you like the sort of comedy in shows like The Boys, Avenue 5, Future Man, etc then you will be very happy :)
It boasts an all-star, diverse cast who are presented in such a way that it felt very intentional and purposeful. Which is why each character feels 'real' and is believable. Deli Boys seamlessly brings you into the cultural dynamics of the family in addition to the unique issues faced when two different gangs of two very different ethnic backgrounds clash.
This is in stark contrast to how so many of those TV-14 sitcoms I mentioned cast POC these days; as though they realized last minute they needed more diversity and so hastily recast or even created a new role. Of course, this results in characters who are so one dimensional they just as easily could've been Chinese, Ethiopian or English!
Went into this show knowing nothing other than it was a comedy that takes place in a deli. Only watched it because they filmed across the street from me for a day though I didn't see any where in the show the footage (did I forget a boat or harbor scene?).
This is truly a dark comedy. The characters are my favorite part of this show and they are quirky or a bad ass female like a 10yr old show Breakin In (Fox show cancelled after one season). To compare to a more popular show, the characters and comedy style are like Parks and Rec if they went darker on some characters.
The inclusion of stories on Italian, Indians, Peruvian and Pakistanis really made for some great material. Add in some dumb stoners, spiritual / yoga types and mafia elements and it was just a surprising show that is well written with great funny characters
Really hoping this gets a second season since it has potential for an even better second season.
This is truly a dark comedy. The characters are my favorite part of this show and they are quirky or a bad ass female like a 10yr old show Breakin In (Fox show cancelled after one season). To compare to a more popular show, the characters and comedy style are like Parks and Rec if they went darker on some characters.
The inclusion of stories on Italian, Indians, Peruvian and Pakistanis really made for some great material. Add in some dumb stoners, spiritual / yoga types and mafia elements and it was just a surprising show that is well written with great funny characters
Really hoping this gets a second season since it has potential for an even better second season.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough the series is supposed to be set in Philadelphia it is filmed in Chicago.
- How many seasons does Deli Boys have?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime27 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD
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