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Season 1 – BAIT

Play trailer 1:36 Poster for Season 1 – BAIT Mar 2026 Drama Comedy Sci-Fi Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
97% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
London-based actor Shah Latif suffers from an existential crisis and his life spirals out of control after auditioning for the role of a lifetime.
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BAIT — Season 1

BAIT — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Riz Ahmed creates and stars in this compassionate, humor-filled meta-satire that dazzlingly lures in its audience like delicious BAIT.

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Critics Reviews

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Randy Myers San Jose Mercury News 12h
4/4
It is that more nuanced self-awareness that makes “Bait” a standout, a comedy with bristles attached to it. Go to Full Review
Geordie Gray The Australian 6d
This is the trick that Bait pulls off so well. It circles serious themes, identity, visibility, the degradations and calculations required to stay in the room, without ever lapsing into piety. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take 6d
3.5/4
As a brown actor auditioning to be the next James Bond, Riz Ahmed makes this so-called sitcom bait for viewers to consider the deeper implications of racial and cultural identity. It’s the freshest and funniest series of the new year. Go to Full Review
Alci Rengifo Entertainment Voice 1d
It's not a raging, bitter show, but a wise one that is also deliriously funny. Go to Full Review
Rob Owen Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 1d
Ahmed created the series, and he’s clearly having a blast making fun of himself and wringing laughs from the situations he puts his alter ego into, absurd as they often are. Go to Full Review
Andrew Murray The Upcoming 2d
4/5
The possibility of a non-white actor being the next James Bond has been a hot-button topic in recent years. With Bait, Ahmed takes this idea and turns it on its head to deliver a laugh-out-loud comedy that’s also poignant and deeply personal. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Drazen D @RT75560285 17h I love everything from Guz Khan, but this is simply not really funny. Main character is not likable and the whole premise is just not funny. Did I mention it is not funny? See more Helen R @HeleneR 1d This is full of joy. Riz Ahmed is a genius. Made me laugh, made me think, made me listen to all the music on Spotify. One of the greatest cast ensemble I’ve seen on any show, specially the mother/son previously seen as mother/Hamlet. Wonderful. See more Kamran Vighio K @RT67850391 2d This original concept masterfully blends humor, drama, and identity into a cohesive package. This show explores the challenges of finding your identity and realizing that you don't need to conform to any specific racial or cultural expectation. Instead, the key is to embrace your individuality, recognize the best qualities of both British and Pakistani cultures, and proudly present yourself as a blend of both, without feeling compelled to choose one side over the other. See more Mims M @RT00123387 2d The only bad thing about this show is that it is only 6 episodes. It has the perfect ballance, it's addressing serious issues with such a light and at the same time heavy approach. It's feels so authentic and really well built, you'll leave with a feeling that you just got ARTed. I think it's the best performance I've seen of all actors you could really see their skills in each's character nuances. And what an absolute masterclass ending! couldn't think of any better ending. Hopefully we will see more of them all. Kickass show! See more Nida M @RT31703378 2d The series is powerful, thought-provoking, chaotic, and emotionally gripping. Riz Ahmed delivers a compelling performance, bringing authenticity and nuance to every scene. The film does an incredible job of exploring complex themes. South Asian representation is lacking in the Hollywood scene and it was refreshing to watch this series. I hope to see more of Riz Ahmed and Guz Khan collaborating, they make a great duo. See more Iram K @RT75101343 2d Kind of went in blind and got confused for a second with the imaginary talking pigs head 🥲 buttttttt this show beat all my expectations!! It really hit the nail on the head on the cultural pressures to succeed in a non-traditional career path whilst still trying to get familial approval in the process. It was thought-provoking and Guz Khan and Riz Ahmed are such a good duo! I hope to see more from you both See more Read all reviews
BAIT — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Mar 25, 2026 Blatant, Not Subtle Out of work actor Shah Latif blows his audition for the role of a lifetime; his desperate effort to put himself back in the mix throws his personal and professional life into chaos. Details Episode 2 Aired Mar 25, 2026 TO TROLL, TO PROVOKE Shah's family grills him on the rumors; he faces a bizarre physical training session. Details Episode 3 Aired Mar 25, 2026 HOUSE OR HOME A hallucinatory sequence where Shah envisions his life as a global superstar. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 25, 2026 LOYALTY, ALLEGIANCE Public backlash and fan theories reach a fever pitch. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 25, 2026 LURE, PART OF A TRAP Shah returns home to find his family missing and evidence of foul play; with the help of an unlikely companion, a spiraling Shah searches the city, trying and failing to enlist help from everybody and anybody. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 25, 2026 THE SUBTLE ONE The clock ticks on Shah's final callback for the role of a lifetime; Shah struggles to piece together what happened to him and his family over the last four days and must confront the real reason he blew his audition. Details

Season Info

Director
Bassam Tariq
Executive Producer
Riz Ahmed, Ben Karlin, Jake Fuller, Roopesh Parekh, Allie Moore
Screenwriter
Riz Ahmed
Network
Prime Video
Genre
Drama, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Mar 25, 2026