Bait review: Riz Ahmed's comedy is petty, narcissistic and excellent

The review discusses Bait, a six-episode series created and co-written by Riz Ahmed in which he stars as Shah Latif, and praises its humour, family drama and ensemble cast while noting moments of self-indulgence.

Bait is a six-episode series created and co-written by Riz Ahmed, who also stars as Shah Latif, a rapper-turned-actor from a west London Pakistani Muslim family. The show follows Shah as he contends to replace Daniel Craig as the new 007 and wrestles with the fear of becoming "bait"—both as a slang term for being obvious or a sell-out and as a lure used by the state. The piece frames the series as part semi-autobiographical sitcom and part surreal industry satire, and notes connections to works such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ramy and Ahmed's own Mogul Mowgli. Director Bassam Tariq is credited with directing three episodes. Key points: - Bait is six episodes long and is created and co-written by Riz Ahmed, who plays the lead role Shah Latif. - The story positions Shah as a rapper-turned-actor from a lively west London Pakistani Muslim family who is in contention to succeed Daniel Craig as 007, a plot point described as analogous to Ahmed's earlier career stage. - The review highlights the show's blend of semi-autobiographical comedy and surreal industry satire and notes Bassam Tariq directing three episodes. - The article praises performances and community casting, singling out Sheeba Chaddha as Shah's mother and noting appearances from Guz Khan, Ritu Arya, Himesh Patel, Nabhaan Rizwan and Sagar Radia. - The review says much of the humour comes from sharp dialogue that shifts between Urdu, Arabic, MLE and RP, and it also points out moments the writer finds self-indulgent, such as a pig-head soliloquy and a scene the article describes as self-congratulatory. Summary: The review presents Bait as frequently very funny and emotionally grounded, benefiting from strong supporting performances and a vivid portrayal of a British South Asian acting community. It also describes instances where the show leans into its creator's vanity, which the reviewer finds wearisome at times. The article suggests the series leaves room for a second season.