When I first heard the premise for Bait, I thought that it sounded a little too outlandish for my tastes.
Even with Emmy-winning Riz Ahmed attached to the project, I had my doubts about this new Prime Video series.
But boy was I proven wrong.
Bait follows Shah Latif, a struggling Pakistani British actor auditioning for the role of James Bond.
While it might sound like this series is geared towards fans of the spy franchise, it mostly explores how auditioning for this role causes Shah peril in unexpected ways.
In just six episodes, Bait has become one of my favorite comedy series this year.
Bait Has the Best Building Blocks
There are so many great things I have to say about Bait, but I’ll start with the basics.
First of all, Riz Ahmed is a powerhouse.
This isn’t news, but it was pleasantly surprising how great he is in a comedy role, especially since he’s mainly been in dramas before.
But Ahmed isn’t the only standout in the cast. Virtually everyone in the ensemble steals the show in their own unique way.
I’d especially like to shout out Guz Khan (who I loved on Our Flag Means Death) for his hilarious one-liners and for perfectly embodying Zulfi’s larger-than-life personality.
Also, there are some great cameos by prominent South Asian British actors, including Ritu Arya from The Umbrella Academy, Himesh Patel from The Franchise, and Nabhaan Rizwan from Industry.
Something else that’s endearing about Bait is its tendency to veer into the unexpected.
As a fan of more absurdist, off-the-cuff comedy, it was delightful that nothing was too weird for Bait to tackle, including a severed pig head with the voice of Star Trek‘s Patrick Stewart.
Even with several laugh-out-loud moments, the series still never loses track of its earnest commentary on family and the perils of representation.
Bait Isn’t Afraid to Get Real
It’s hard to balance comedy with meaningful insights on difficult themes.
But Bait does a pretty good job of walking that delicate line.
The series doesn’t sugarcoat how Shah struggles when reflecting on the racist bullying he faced as a child.
While it can be hard to watch at times, Bait is brutally honest about the discrimination that Muslim people frequently face in the UK today.
Additionally, questions of identity and who’s allowed to be James Bond are essential to the series.
Bait considers how audiences react negatively to people of color being cast in roles typically given to white people. We need only look at reactions to the Percy Jackson cast, for example.
It also complicates these debates by questioning James Bond as a figure and the complicated relationship that Muslim people in the UK have with the police force.
But among exploring all these overarching questions, the series never loses sight of the fact that Shah, like many of us, is just trying to do his best to navigate a world that has never been kind to him.
By the end of the series, the question is no longer whether Shah will get the role of James Bond; instead, it’s about whether he will find a way to be true to himself.
Unfortunately, Prime Video has yet to confirm whether Bait is a one-off comedy series or if it’ll get a Season 2.
I’m crossing my fingers that we’ll get more of Shah, as the short season left me wanting more!
Have you checked out Bait yet?
If so, please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
If you’re looking for a surprisingly heartfelt comedy about family and the perils of the Hollywood Industry, Bait should be your next watch!
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