What Does FUBAR Even Mean?

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Warning: Major Spoilers For Netflix’s FUBAR Season 1 Below!FUBAR is the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new Netflix spy comedy, but what does the term actually mean? FUBAR is selling itself as an action comedy, but it’s relatively light on the action. Instead, it’s more of a comedy show where Arnie’s retiring CIA agent Luke Brunner is forced to mentor his daughter Emma (Monica Barbaro) as they keep their spy work separate from family life. The lack of explosive setpieces might be a disappointment to fans of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action movies, but it does let him stretch his dramatic muscles somewhat.

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FUBAR does underline the personal toll that being a spy can take. His commitment to his job saw Arnie’s Luke sacrifice his marriage and a close relationship with his daughter, while Emma faces the exact same problems trying to balance both sides of her life. Despite being called FUBAR, the show never explains what that means, though it regularly applies to the events of the series.

Related: FUBAR Cast & Character Guide


FUBAR Term & Origin Explained

In short, FUBAR is military slang for “F***** up beyond all recognition.” A softer variation of the acronym puts it as “Fouled up beyond all recognition,” but it all comes to the same meaning. FUBAR is believed to have its origins in World War 2 and refers to any situation, event, person, etc, that has been messed up beyond repair. Again, Arnold’s Netflix show FUBAR doesn’t explain what the acronym means, but movie fans might recognize it from other sources.

One of the first major movies to use it as a saying was 1989’s Tango & Cash, a buddy comedy starring Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone. Russell’s Cash makes repeated use of “F.U.B.A.R.” before Stallone’s Tango finally asks what it means. The same gag was repeated in 1998’s Saving Private Ryan, where other soldiers constantly refer to “FUBAR” around Jeremy Davies’ Upham, who only figures out its meaning before the final battle.

FUBAR Serves As A Perfect Punchline To The Netflix Show

Fubar cast in a car driven by Arnold Schwarzenegger

FUBAR’s season 1 finale “That’s It And That All” ends with a shootout in a church. Luke and Emma protect their family from the wrath of Gabriel Luna’s terrorist Boro after he learns their identities, and they all flee together in a van. Luke is then told Boro has revealed his and Emma’s identities to every terrorist or criminal he’s ever taken down, making him and his loved one’s targets. Realizing the mess he’s in, all Luke can say is that the situation is “Totally FUBAR!” It’s a nice punchline that finally references the title, and it’s hard to think of a better description for the mess Luke is in.

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