Tom Segura has built a career on being unapologetically crude. From his early specials like Completely Normal to the fan-favorite Sledgehammer, the comedian has never shied away from pushing boundaries. So it's no surprise that his Netflix series Bad Thoughts is one of the most divisive shows on the platform—and arguably its most controversial.
Premiering its first season on May 13, 2025, Bad Thoughts is Segura's twisted take on the anthology format, reminiscent of Black Mirror but with a much darker, more absurdist sense of humor. Each episode contains multiple sketches tied to universal themes like jobs, success, family, and love. The second season dropped on May 24, 2026, and the debate over whether the show is brilliant or just plain offensive has only intensified.
What Is 'Bad Thoughts' About?
Across six episodes per season, Segura stars in fully produced sketches that range from the bizarre to the outright shocking. He plays a country music star turned cult leader named Rex Henley, a hitman who soils his pants during a job, and even impersonates Steven Seagal. One sketch spoofs an A24 movie trailer so convincingly that you might forget you're watching a comedy—until Segura appears as a cartoonish Italian immigrant performing lewd acts on senior citizens.
The series also revisits Segura's earlier material, including an awkward airplane conversation and his father's Vietnam War stories reimagined as a deeply problematic children's play. The humor leans heavily on scatology, sex jokes, and dark comedy, making it a challenging watch for the faint of heart. Alongside Segura, the cast includes Robert Iler, Johnny Pemberton, Kirk Fox, Dan Stevens, Malin Barr, Daniella Pineda, and Arturo Castro.
A Divisive Reception
When the first season premiered, Collider's Nate Richard gave it an 8/10, praising its originality and fearlessness. 'It's not that the series goes out of its way to offend, but it is unafraid of making the viewer feel disgusted or repulsed to the point of reaching for their remote,' he wrote. However, not everyone agrees. On Rotten Tomatoes, Season 1 holds a 54% critics' score and a 67% audience rating. Some critics have called it 'a patience test' and argued that 'the transgressiveness substitutes for humor—and shock value for its own sake only goes so far before it grows stale.'
Despite the mixed reviews, Bad Thoughts has found a dedicated audience, particularly among Segura's longtime fans. The show's willingness to embrace cringe and discomfort is exactly what makes it stand out in a crowded streaming landscape. For those who enjoy boundary-pushing comedy, it's a must-watch. For others, it's a series best avoided.
If you're looking for something lighter, check out Why HBO Max's 'The Nevers' Is Your Perfect Weekend Fantasy Binge or Berlin Season 2 Heist Dominates Netflix Charts Worldwide in June 2026. But if you're ready for a comedy that doesn't pull any punches, Bad Thoughts is waiting.
