The new comedy Chad it took too long to arrive. Created and starring Nasim Pedrad, the show has been in development since 2016 and changed Fox’s networks to TBS. Pedrad not only wrote and directed the show; she also takes on the challenge of playing the eponymous 14-year-old boy who legally changed his name from Ferydoon to Chad Amani to sound more American. He has only one goal at the beginning of high school: to make friends with the crowd he considers “cool”. It’s a familiar narrative, but Chad, who is Iranian-American, has to further navigate his cultural identity along with his teenage experiences, despite he often chooses not to do this. Chad puts his Iranian heritage in a double boiler as a way to fit in, although he is the only one who sees this as an obstacle. After a few unstable early episodes, the series management to explore some heartfelt narratives through his extremely uncomfortable humor.
Chad remember Hulu Pen15—That you see series creators Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle play teenagers too – in the way it induces goosebumps with their frightening comedy and reflections on the strangeness of school life. Chad’s character is actually more like The officeis Michael Scott. In a sincere effort to be captivating, Chad ends up telling inappropriate jokes, disrespecting – whether intentionally or on purpose –other people’s feelings and is part of other people’s conversations. Chad also lies about everything from losing his virginity to getting a pair of Jordans. Vulnerable performance of Pedrad softens Chad’s blow narcissism, but despite the show’s creative ideas, he struggles to make up for Chad’s vain personality with moments of resolve or growth.
When the show starts, Chad has a fixation to become homie with the cool kid Reid (Thomas Barbusca) to go out with her sweet best friend Peter (Jake Ryan). Chad’s obsession with Reid continues to grow as a young adult would experience a romantic passion, although Chad doesn’t crave any girls, but Reid and his popularity. Chad gives up a sword loved by a mere mention on Instagram and often paves the way through conversations, especially when his jokes don’t arrive. It’s painful to see him try to create group selfies or dump recently bought shoes from the trash can in frustration. Chad he does not hesitate to invoke brutal, unshakable, but brilliant details, which add humor and also a realistic touch to the show. But the main character the biggest problem is not whether others will accept it; it is your inability to fully embrace your own identity.
Chad refuses to acknowledge that he is a Muslim because he is afraid of the slightest chance of being rejected for that. He does not approve of his divorced mother Naz (Saba Homayoon) dating a man named Ikrimah (Phillip Mullings Jr.) until he sees how it can benefit him: Ikrimah is a bold black Muslim who can transform himself into a father figure. As with Reid, Chad clings to the idea of a bond with his mother’s new boyfriend until he throws it on the floor during a highly unsettling night. Chad does everything he can to avoid talking about his Persian culture, including rejecting the music played at home, but immerses himself in K-Pop music when he joins the school’s Asian Appreciation Club. Naz and his uncle Hamid (Paul Chahidi) like to gently remind Chad that he is a Muslim, and his response is usually “I’m ashamed of that fact”.
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As shallow as Chad it may be, it is possible to sympathize with the anxiety of a 14-year-old boy who doesn’t want to be discriminated against – although we don’t see him finding much of it on the show. Even the children he tries to grab do not intimidate him for it in stereotyped ways. In fact, they try to establish healthy boundaries. What holds Chad back is that nobody tries to educate the teenager about his bad behavior, which hinders the development of his character and, in turn, the development of the show. Naz, Hamid and even Chad’s sister, Niki (Ella Mika), are comfortable in their skin and have an astute understanding of their culture. But they let Chad’s rejection fly without much repercussions, which can undermine Chademotional depth of.
But in the second half of the season, the show makes up for the absurd with its heart. Chad’s clear problems with Dad – the reason he clings to a “macho” figure –they are exploited in subtle ways when he examines their relationship with Hamid and Peter, who go against this guy. Your supervision of your own ethnicity also comes into play more when Chad focuses on the Muslim identity of its protagonist through the lens of a naive boy who really wants to be admired by his colleagues. Despite his shortcomings, it is easy to connect with Chad and his teenage problems.
The show is also conducted by lovely actors. Homayoon’s performance as Naz is sincere (although the character could use a little more backstory), and Chahidi is comforting as an always loving uncle. The sixth episode, appropriately titled “Hamid,“ focuses on his character and is one of the most evocative of the season. Pedrad incorporates wigs, big T-shirts, an oscillating style of walking and a deeper voice, but does not exaggerate in his performance as a 14-year-old boy. Chad may be as inelegant as its central character, but given thentime to grow, it becomes a real charmer.