Chad is back and better than ever, with less cringe and more heart

Chad might not have been everyone’s cup of tea when it debuted on TBS in 2021. The comedy, with its squirm-inducing humor, demanded patience as it worked toward an earnest payoff. Series creator and star Nasim Pedrad told The A.V. Club during season one that her cringe threshold is higher than most—and it’s probably why she aces her portrayal of a 14-year-old boy. Pedrad plays Chad Amani, an Iranian American teen whose understandable identity crisis makes his life as awkward as possible. The show is loosely inspired by Pedrad’s time trying to fit in as an immigrant while in high school.

Admittedly, watching a fully grown adult shuffle around as a little dude who makes terribly naive decisions induces full-body shudders. Credit Pedrad for her take on the role, which brings to mind an unbearable combination of Pen15’s two leads (played by Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle) and The Office’s Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Chad tends to overreact, says inappropriate things in an attempt to appear “cool” in front of his peers, and usually imposes his poor choices on his loved ones. He’s your average annoying teen, and it might be hard to stomach his personality. But that’s exactly what makes Chad unique. The character will either want to make you slap some sense into him or watch with one eye closed as he embarrasses himself.

Despite all the wincing, Chad’s first season was surprisingly tender. It was especially affecting whenever Chad reflected on his Iranian heritage instead of trying to escape it (including changing his given birth name, Ferydoon). Pedrad doubles down on this approach in a lovely season two, which dropped in its entirety on the Roku Channel on January 19. Roku saved the show after TBS reversed course on its renewal in 2022. It means both seasons of Chad are now available to stream for free (with ads). Even if your cringe threshold isn’t as high as Pedrad’s—and it probably isn’t—the binge is worth it, especially to savor the 10 new episodes.

In its newest iteration, Chad will continue to make you recoil in discomfort, albeit at a lesser rate. Don’t get us wrong, it’s excruciating to witness Chad do insane things like to steal alcohol, try to run away from home, mess up his mom’s relationship, and sow chaos in the romance between his BFF Peter (Jake Ryan) and his girlfriend, Denise (Alexa Loo), as they attempt to have sex. Still, Chad curtails its cringe to focus on its protagonist’s much-needed evolution.

Season two soars because of its laser focus on a maturing Chad as he learns to embrace his culture in ways big and small. Season one established that no one besides Chad views his Muslim identity as a problem—not his family, friends, teachers, or classmates. There’s no Big Bad Bully poking fun at him. He makes it a hindrance all on his own due to perceived societal norms. The (relatable) villains in his life are his fears, anxieties, and insecurities. And they stem from his confusion over wondering, “Am I Iranian?” or “Am I American?”—and whether it’s possible to embrace being both successfully. Pedrad taps into a dilemma faced by most immigrants (including herself) and tackles it with the right amount of comedy and heart.

Speaking of the heart, Chad introduces a love interest for season two who challenges him about his confusion. Enter Mona (Sara Malal Rowe), a fellow Persian student who moved from France and finds herself in a weird, fun back-and-forth with Chad throughout the season. He’s fascinated by her confidence and maturity and, to everyone’s delight, those qualities rub off on him as the episodes go on. The great Shohreh Aghdashloo also makes a cameo as Chad’s grandmother, who visits from Iran and is desperate to teach him a lesson about “becoming a man.” Suffice it to say that their arguments lead to one of the season’s weirdest, most pivotal arcs.

Aghdashloo’s appearance notwithstanding, Chad doesn’t spend much time with the Amani clan, regretfully robbing us of scenes with his mother, Naz (Saba Homayoon), sister Niki (Ella Mika), and uncle Hamid (Paul Chahidi). Thankfully, they drop in just enough to make Chad feel wholesome and counteract the cringe. Ultimately, season two is a triumph because, in examining Chad’s ancestry, it offers a layered and vivid portrayal of a community rarely shown on TV. Pedrad skillfully adapts her experiences to the small screen, exaggerating and subverting them delightfully. The amount of cringe becomes a small, worthy price to pay.