‘Bad Thoughts’ Review: Tom Segura’s Proudly Disgusting, Occasionally Amusing Netflix Comedy

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In the opening moments of Netflix’s “Bad Thoughts”, creator and lead actor Tom Segura humorously describes his profession as a comedian: “You remember those harmless things you’d usually get in trouble with HR for saying? Well, I get paid to do exactly that.

He’s clarifying the main topic of the episode – “jobs” – however, one might argue that he could be discussing his entire series. Moreover, his statement is far from empty rhetoric. The purpose of Bad Thoughts is to challenge societal norms, aiming to evoke a mix of delighted horror or disgust. Whether you believe Segura achieves this and if you think it’s a valid goal are subjective opinions. However, one thing I can assure you is that Segura doesn’t hold back in his pursuits.

In interviews, Segura has likened “Bad Thoughts” to shows like “The Twilight Zone” or a humorous take on “Black Mirror.” A simpler way to put it might be that the series resembles a comedy sketch show similar to “I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson.” However, it’s easy to see why a comedian would prefer not to directly reference other comedians’ work. Each episode is divided into two or three parts, with the final part often serving as the first half of a two-part story – making it more likely for viewers to let Netflix’s autoplay continue. The entire series runs for 114 minutes, including credits, which is shorter than an average weekly episode of “Andor” on Disney+.

Despite Segura’s labeling the show as “dark,” it doesn’t truly fit that description. It’s more about inappropriate, graphic, occasionally violent and frequently sexually explicit content. (None of which are inherently problematic if that’s your preference.) However, whether it’s dark or not might depend on how one defines the term.

In the show “Bad Thoughts”, you’ll witness a character (Segura) in various unusual scenarios. One of these includes Robert Iler from “The Sopranos” having a bathroom incident while seated on another man (Kirk Fox). There’s also a scene where Segura is receiving an unconventional act from an elderly person, and another instance where he engages in sexual acts with a character that might be considered unattractive or monstrous. Additionally, there’s a scene where Segura appears to be handed an axe to self-mutilate his genitals, although this is not explicitly shown. The show also features some notable guest stars such as Dan Stevens, Shea Whigham and Rachel Bloom. However, despite these scenes, I didn’t find anything that felt genuinely shocking or disturbing.

The structure of these narratives shifts from one part to another, ranging from post-apocalyptic terror, sensual international films, and a humorous addition to a direct-to-DVD Steven Seagal production’s bonus features. While the parodies may not always hit the mark with pinpoint accuracy – for instance, could “A25” be the studio behind a heartwarming comedy about a janitor who emotionally connects with people in more ways than one? Nonetheless, Segura and his fellow directors, Rami Hachache and Jeremy Konner, excel at capturing the essential details. The James Bond-esque spoof that starts the series is quite amusing. The accurate depiction of the sound a spy makes when dropping soiled pants on the ground – the ‘plop’ sound – is spot on.

Despite the diverse genres and approaches, common themes that frequently appear are quite apparent and masculine-oriented. Given the comic’s reputation for being a frequent guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, this may not come as a surprise. One recurring theme is an obsession with what is or isn’t considered appropriate to say. Fortunately, Bad Thoughts steers clear of the most condescending anti-“cancel culture” rhetoric, but it does seem to seek out ways to navigate this issue subtly. For instance, a racially charged war story might be deemed inappropriate for public consumption. However, what if it’s being shared by a little boy? What if the boy is delivering this at a school assembly as a tribute to his beloved grandfather (Segura)? Or what if Segura portrays himself as the horrified father of the boy? Is it acceptable to laugh under these circumstances?

Another significant and recurring topic is the humiliation of sexual situations. If the book, “Bad Thoughts,” is intended to offer a glimpse into Segura’s darkest thoughts, it seems he constantly imagines scenarios where a man is compelled to engage in sexual acts he deeply wishes to avoid – be it due to a woman demanding him to sleep with another unattractive woman before they can be together, or because his wife’s final wish is for him to be intimate with a handsome stranger, or because he finds himself more attracted to a stranger he just met than facing the public’s disapproval after his standup performances. (Notice the recurring theme.)

In terms of humor, neither “Are you offended?” nor “Ew, gross sex” seem exceptionally original or shocking. However, Bad Thoughts manages to extract more laughter by repeatedly amplifying these themes. The three-part series titled “Cyrus” becomes funnier each time it’s revisited not because the jokes are necessarily fresher, but because Segura consistently introduces increasingly bizarre twists to connect them all. Another standalone sketch takes the typical male fantasy of having a large penis and pushes it to absurd limits; the amusement lies in watching how far he’ll push the joke, and then, when he reaches his limit, seeing how he’ll extricate himself from the predicament.

Among all pieces, the one that stands out most for me is one that showcases Segura’s mischievous wit in an entirely different manner. “Rex Henley” is a two-part story about a simple country singer who gains immense wealth and fame, eventually losing touch with his fans, and resorting to incredibly extreme measures to regain his charm. Whether this fear is genuine for Segura or not, the plot certainly seems to resonate with the potential apprehensions of an individual who has amassed five Netflix specials, a podcasting empire, and now his own Netflix comedy series.

Unlike a whimsical tale of punishing a barista for messing up a straightforward drink order, there’s nothing even remotely relatable about the idea. Segura doesn’t try to sugarcoat it either; he portrays himself as an unstable and erratic antagonist, while Daniella Pineda takes on the role of the surviving character. If the concept is too absurdly specific compared to the crude humor, explicit language, and sexual embarrassment that dominate much of the series, that’s what makes it so captivating. It’s one of the rare instances in Bad Thoughts where you get a glimpse into someone’s personal negative thoughts, rather than typical universal struggles.

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2025-05-13 03:24