Call it the Sopranos effect: Over the last twenty years, countless grim and gloomy crime shows have flooded our screens, even though the HBO series that inspired them was famously witty and stylish. To make matters worse, these imitators aren’t just needlessly bleak—they’re often literally too dark to see properly. As a great tweet once said: Men of LA, stop becoming influencers! We need lighting technicians!
That might be why Hulu’s Deli Boys was such a delight this year. The show follows two spoiled Pakistani-American brothers who are forced to take over their CEO father’s crime syndicate. It doesn’t shy away from drama, but it’s also a vibrant explosion of family chaos, a thoughtful portrait of New York’s South Asian communities, and a showcase for incredible fashion—from Poorna Jagannathan’s Aunt Lucky and her mob-mama-chic leopard prints and fur jackets paired with tinted aviators reminiscent of Gloria Steinem, to Amita Rao’s Nandika and her dedication to Princess Mononoke cosplay.
While Deli Boys thoughtfully explores the divisions among the religious and ethnic identities it portrays, it does so without any preachiness, and with a genuine curiosity about how greater understanding could improve the world—even the underground crime world inhabited by protagonists Mir and Raj.
“Obviously, this is a time when, in India and beyond, Muslims are being severely oppressed, and in Pakistan religious minorities—Hindus, Christians, Ismailis, and Shias—are being oppressed. It goes every single way, right?” Deli Boys creator Abdullah Saeed told Vogue in March. “Man, call me a hippie if you want, but I just want us to all get along.”
Luckily for those of us who devoured Season 1 of Deli Boys like so much Caca Brand Achar (the pungent mango pickles used to smuggle cocaine on the show), Hulu announced in August that the series will return for a second season, with Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen joining as a series regular. I’m looking forward to seeing how Raj and Nandika’s engagement—set to last four years under the distribution deal Raj and Mir secured with Nandika’s parents—plays out. I need all the details on Raj’s hippie ex Prairie’s collaboration with the feds, and I can’t wait to see what Lucky Auntie will wear next season as she continues to make every man around her look like a fool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Hulus Deli Boys in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What is Deli Boys about
A Its a stylish crime dramedy about two cousins Winston and TK who inherit their familys struggling deli in Los Angeles To save it they get pulled into the highstakes dangerous world of food smuggling
Q Is it based on a true story
A No its a fictional series However its inspired by the very real often unseen world of international food smuggling and the pressures of running a small family business
Q Who are the main actors
A The series stars Shazad Latif as Winston and Tony Revolori as TK the two cousins It also features Katherine Hughes Adan Canto and Arturo Castro in key supporting roles
Q Is it a drama or a comedy
A Its a blend of botha dramedy It has tense highstakes crime moments balanced with sharp humor family dynamics and the absurdity of their situation
Q How many episodes are there
A The first season has 8 episodes all available to stream on Hulu
Style Appeal
Q What makes Deli Boys different from other crime shows
A Its unique stylish twist Instead of drugs or guns theyre smuggling ultrarare luxurious foods The show mixes the gritty tension of crime with the vibrant aesthetic world of highend cuisine and LA culture
Q You call it stylish What does that mean
A The show has a distinct visual flairthink slick cinematography fashionable wardrobes a fantastic soundtrack and scenes set in LAs trendy food and nightlife scenes It makes the criminal underworld look cool and glamorous
Q Is it more about the crime or the delifamily
A It expertly balances both The core driving plot is the smuggling operation but the heart of the show is the relationship between the cousins and their struggle to honor their familys legacy while breaking the law to save it
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