Official Trailer
Rating: 6.7/10 | Genre: Drama, Comedy | Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 16 | Status: Returning Series
Starring: Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan
Deli Boys is the kind of show that shouldn’t work but somehow does. It’s messy, it’s uneven, and honestly the 6.7 rating on TMDB feels about right. But I found myself genuinely invested in these two idiot brothers fumbling their way through the criminal underworld, and that counts for something.
The premise is solid. Two sheltered Pakistani American guys whose convenience store owning dad suddenly dies only to find out he was basically a crime boss. They’re forced to take over his operation because, well, what else are they gonna do? Lose the family fortune? The show mines a lot of comedy from the culture clash and their total incompetence at actually being criminals. It’s like if Succession was about two goofballs instead of a dysfunctional dynasty, and they ran a deli empire instead of a media company.
Season 1
The first season kicks off strong. The pilot does its job of setting up the premise and introducing us to Raj and Mir, played by Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh respectively. There’s immediate chemistry between them. You buy that they’re brothers who have no idea what they’re doing.
The early episodes balance comedy and drama pretty well. We’re learning about their Baba’s secret life while watching these two try to figure out the drug smuggling operation he left behind. There are some genuinely funny moments mixed in with scenes that actually have some weight to them. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it also isn’t just a comedy either.
Where season 1 stumbles is in the middle stretch. Some episodes feel like they’re spinning their wheels a bit. Character introductions happen and then disappear. Plot threads get dropped. You can tell the writers were still figuring out what the show wanted to be. By the end though, it finds its footing again and leaves you wanting to know what happens next.
Poorna Jagannathan shows up as Nandika, Raj’s wife, and she’s a scene stealer whenever she’s on screen. She’s the one person in their lives who actually seems to have her act together, which makes her interactions with these two brothers hilarious and surprisingly grounded.
Season 2
Season 2 jumps right into the consequences. They’ve got money now but the problem is it’s all dirty. They need to launder it without getting caught. It’s a different kind of problem than season 1, and the show actually handles it pretty well.
The shorter season length works in its favor. Six episodes instead of ten means less filler. The pacing is tighter. We’re not waiting around for things to happen. There’s real stakes here. Raj actually ends up in jail. Things escalate in ways that feel earned rather than forced.
That said, season 2 doesn’t quite hit the highs that season 1 did. It’s more drama heavy and less comedy. That’s not necessarily bad, but it does lose some of the charm that made the first season fun. You’re watching these guys suffer more than laugh. For some people that’ll be the better season. For me it felt like the show was trying to get serious when what made it special was how it balanced both tones.
The character work is still solid throughout though. Asif Ali in particular does good work with Raj as things get darker. You see him transform from this clueless guy to someone who’s actually capable, and that arc is satisfying even if the journey gets a little grim.
Deli Boys won’t change your life. It’s not prestige television. But it’s a genuinely fun watch with characters you care about and a premise that keeps things moving. If you like shows that don’t take themselves too seriously but still have some heart, you’ll probably dig this. Are you more into the chaos of season 1 or did season 2’s heavier tone work better for you?
Episode Guide
Season 1 (10 Episodes)
Episode 1: Pilot (6.8/10)
After their Baba's sudden death, brothers Raj and Mir realize their family's deli empire is actually a criminal front. Their survival depends on Lucky Auntie, who does something totally messed up but also kind of awesome.
Episode 2: Deadly Boys (5.7/10)
Raj and Mir set out to find half-dead Hamza in the Forgotten Bottom, but they are idiots and nepo babies. Meanwhile, Lucky fights chauvinist Ahmad for Dark DarCo's throne, and Agent Mercer struggles to crack the FBI’s boys' club.
Episode 3: Delhi Boys (5.3/10)
As Lucky, Mir, and Ahmad work to revive a smuggling operation, Ahmad's racism surfaces and Drexel’s business program gets a bad rap. Raj learns professionalism from the "Murderwalla," while Agent Mercer picks up an unexpected ally.
Episode 4: Delicate Boys (6/10)
A Philly gangster gives the crew 24 hours to unload coke and pay his vig—but demands a hostage. Lucky screams disturbing things at Raj after he scares off the cocaine mixer, while Bushra holds Mir’s nuts to the fire.
Episode 5: Jersey Boys (6.7/10)
It’s Chickie Lasagna's epic "Big Game" party, and the Pennsylvania "Football Birds" are playing. But the gang is too busy trying to expand their turf and discovering that Chickie's daughter Gigi is a hot psycho. Mercer witnesses a beatdown.
Episode 6: Lucky Boys (6/10)
Hamza's British cousins hop across the pond on a lark, drive on the wrong side of the road, and kidnap Lucky at GMT for a wee Brexit with tea and crumpets, Stonehenge, O levels, and a Jack Russell terrier. The boys follow Raj's third eye.
Episode 7: Delivery Boys (6/10)
The boys learn the value of work-life balance. Raj and his shaman/lover smoke a fat rosin donut en route to deliver drugs to his fiancé/business partner at West Philly Pakora Palace. Meanwhile, Mercer and Simpson finally get on the same page.
Episode 8: Sweaty Boys (6/10)
Mercer and Simpson close in on the sticky, chewy, nutty center of the Dar crime ring. Raj rides a scooter. Mir channels his inner tech bro. Lucky pulls a fast one. Ahmad finally gets to pull down the pull-down gate outside the ABC Deli.
Episode 9: Shaadi Boys (5.3/10)
On the first day of Mir and Bushra's pyari pyari shaadi, the Peruvians want their money—and it's threatening Mir's ability to be a fab dullah. Raj is acting super weird, the boys might tiff (no tiffin), and a mystery finally unravels.
Episode 10: Confetti Boys (5.2/10)
Philly PD Sergeant Angelo F. Testicola fights to protect his very important crime scene despite interference from Mercer, Simpson, Raj, Mir, Lucky, Ahmad, Seema, Bushra, Chickie, Chickie's date, and Corey—the only white guy at the wedding.
Season 2 (6 Episodes)
Episode 1: Wealthy Boys
Drowning in dirty cash, the Dars scramble to launder their stash before Philly’s worst criminals sniff it out. Enter Max Sugar, casino king and money launderer who agrees to help and rolls the dice on Lucky.
Episode 2: Stealthy Boys
Episode 3: Felony Boys
Raj lands in jail and goes viral for his mugshot thanks to his wife Nandika. Meanwhile, Lucky gets entangled in a love triangle when Max hires her ex (hello, Kumail Nanjiani) as Raj’s lawyer.
Episode 4: Icky Boys
Max cons Lucky into couples therapy. Mir and Raj play detective on Ahmad’s murder, grilling Maalik Ali and his wife Aisha (Lilly Singh) while Mir doubles down on the golf course hustle.
Episode 5: DarCo Boys
Episode 6: Manly Boys
Secrets are out and Lucky goes full beast mode to protect her empire. The Dars are caught in a crossfire with Max Sugar, Chadwater, and the Philly PD, but who’s holding the cards?
Where to Watch
Stream on: Disney Plus, Hulu, JioHotstar