With few World Cup games to stream this week, I had to cast about for a new title to try to get into. Last week’s revisit of a Ken Burns docuseries made for fascinating viewing, but it was hardly the most whimsical of watches.

This week, I decided to look for some lighter fare and remembered that I had been meaning to watch the Hulu comedy series “Deli Boys” ever since the show’s second season came out. I finally sat down to start Season 1 on Wednesday, and the series exceeded my already high expectations going in.

“Deli Boys” follows the Dar brothers, Mir and Raj, sons of a multimillionaire convenience store magnate. Mir is ambitious, dutiful, and eager to impress his father, while Raj is the complete opposite: a carefree party boy who smokes weed all day and generally doesn’t have many worries.

But when their beloved Baba is killed in a freak accident, Mir and Raj are exposed to their father’s real business for the first time. Under the veneer of a successful convenience store chain, the pater familias was running a vast criminal empire, and his death has initiated a mad scramble for power.

Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh star as Mir and Raj Dar, and they play the old duality of the hardworking brother and the slacker brother quite well. Ali especially stands out as the loyal Mir, who can’t help but bring his commitment to following procedure into his role in the family’s criminal enterprise.

Poorna Jagannathan also shines as “Lucky,” their father’s closest confidante and the person responsible for shepherding the hapless Dar brothers through the shocking revelation that Baba was a master criminal. She’s hilarious in the role, but she does a fantastic job of pivoting to deathly serious when the situation calls for it.

That’s a strength of the show in general, as well. Many times, a comedy series like ‘Deli Boys” that also includes serious crime elements can lean too far into ridiculousness, or not far enough, depending on the situation. But the show’s writing team has struck an excellent balance between comedy and serious crime drama, aided by the performances of its ensemble cast.

I’m not quite through the show’s first season yet, but I feel neck-deep in the sinister doings of “Dark DarCo,” just as the Dar brothers themselves are. I can’t wait to see what kind of ridiculous follies the boys fall into in Season 2, which was released on Hulu earlier this year.

If you’re looking for a comedy and crime combo series that manages to not take itself too seriously, “Deli Boys” is the perfect stream for you. Viewers will find Seasons 1 and 2 of the series on Hulu, which is available starting at $12 per month for an ad-supported plan or $17 per month for ad-free. Customers can also bundle Hulu with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited for an additional fee.

Deli Boys

March 6, 2025

When their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.