Realism, sarcastic humor, and juvenile reformatories—these are the calling cards of “Bad Boy,” a series now arriving on Netflix with the impressive credentials of a successful creator, Ron Leshem, which is reason enough to watch. Furthermore, it only takes a few minutes to realize the series boasts quality in its script and aesthetics, and is narrated in an original way—raw yet funny and ironic.
Hailing from Israel, this eight-episode drama series comes with a significant pedigree, co-created by Ron Leshem, the mind behind the original “Euphoria” (2019) series that sparked the HBO global phenomenon, and filmmaker Hagar Ben-Asher, known for works like “The Slut” and “Dead Women Walking.”
The series delves into the life of Dean Scheinman, a successful comedian whose current achievements are constantly threatened by the unprocessed trauma of his past: years spent locked away in a brutal juvenile detention center. Adding a profound layer of authenticity, “Bad Boy” is inspired by the true story of its co-creator, co-writer, and star, Daniel Chen, who plays the adult version of the protagonist, drawing directly from his own experiences within the Israeli juvenile justice system.
Already lauded in its home country, “Bad Boy” arrives on the world stage carrying significant critical weight. After premiering at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023 and achieving “huge success” during its run on Israeli network HOT starting in November 2024, the series swept the 2025 Israeli Academy Awards.
The Two Deans: Navigating a Fractured Life
“Bad Boy” unfolds across two distinct timelines, constantly weaving past and present to paint a complex portrait of its protagonist, Dean Scheinman.
In the past, we meet Dean as a 13-year-old boy (played with vulnerability by Guy Manster), abruptly torn from his home by correctional officers and thrown into the grim, fortress-like reality of a juvenile detention center. Described as “biting” and “sharp and witty,” Dean quickly learns that his humor and intelligence are double-edged swords: tools for survival in a brutal environment, but also sources of potential conflict. The center is a place designed to break its inhabitants, marked by violence from the outset. Here, Dean forms a crucial and complex bond with Zion Zoro (Havtamo Farda), a fellow inmate regarded by others as a mysterious, cold-blooded killer serving time for murder. Navigating this world involves dealing with figures like the shrewdly elegant prison director Heli (Liraz Chamami) and coping with the complicated love of his troubled mother, Tamara (Neta Plotnik).
Juxtaposed against this harsh past is Dean’s present life as a successful stand-up comedian, portrayed by Daniel Chen himself. While his comedy delves into parts of his story, Dean remains desperate to keep the full extent of his juvenile incarceration a closely guarded secret. The series’ central tension lies in this precarious balance: the unprocessed traumas and buried secrets from his time behind bars constantly threaten to resurface and shatter the life he has painstakingly built.
The True Story Behind ‘Bad Boy’
The raw power of “Bad Boy” stems directly from its roots in lived experience. The series is explicitly “inspired by real events,” drawing heavily on the life of co-creator Daniel Chen. Chen spent a significant part of his youth – sources mention both four and six years – in and out of various institutions for juvenile offenders in Israel. He has spoken openly about the circumstances leading to his incarceration, citing being raised without a father, a mother who wasn’t always present, hyperactivity, and a lack of boundaries that led to increasingly severe placements, culminating in actual prison. His path was fraught with difficulties; he admitted to being arrested again just two days after a release for assaulting another youth with a knife, describing prison as a place that “tests your limits.”
The project truly solidified when Chen partnered with Ron Leshem. Leshem, a former investigative journalist, brought his own long-standing fascination with the subject. Twenty years prior, inspired by reports on children born in prison – individuals he felt were “born into a destiny and were not given a chance for an alternative destiny” – he had written a story about pre-teen youths incarcerated alongside older, hardened teenage criminals.
The individual whose life inspires the series is also the co-creator, co-writer, and star playing the adult version of himself: this imbues “Bad Boy” with a layer of authenticity. It creates a powerful feedback loop between lived experience, creative interpretation, and performance, likely resulting in a raw emotional honesty rarely seen on television.
However, the series isn’t solely Chen’s story adapted directly. It represents a collaborative genesis, blending Chen’s reality with Leshem’s thematic interests and narrative concepts. The involvement of a broader writing team, including Roy Florentine, Moshe Malka, Amit Cohen, and Daniel Amsel, further suggests a collective effort in shaping the final narrative, enriching the personal story with multiple creative perspectives.
The Creative Force
Guiding “Bad Boy” is a trio of key creative figures, each bringing distinct expertise to the project. Ron Leshem serves as showrunner, co-creator, and co-writer, drawing on his extensive experience with acclaimed series like “Euphoria,” “Valley of Tears,” and “No Man’s Land.” His track record with complex, often dark, character-driven narratives provides a solid foundation for the series.
Hagar Ben-Asher takes on the crucial role of directing the entire eight-episode run, in addition to co-creating and co-writing. Her previous work, including “The Slut” and “Dead Women Walking,” demonstrates an ability to handle challenging themes and intimate character studies. Having a single director at the helm for all episodes ensures a unified visual and tonal consistency, vital for navigating the series’ dual timelines and emotional complexities.
Rounding out the core trio is Daniel Chen, whose multifaceted role as co-creator, co-writer, star (as adult Dean), and the very inspiration for the series is central to its identity. His involvement grounds the narrative in an undeniable reality.
The cast features Guy Manster delivering what promises to be a breakout performance as young Dean, alongside Havtamo Farda as the enigmatic Zion. Supporting actors include Liraz Chamami as Director Heli and Neta Plotnik as Dean’s mother, Tamara. Notably, many cast members, particularly younger actors like Manster and Farda, are non-professionals acting for the first time.
The series is an international co-production, a collaboration between global studio Sipur and Peter Chernin’s The North Road Company (marking North Road’s first international co-production), alongside Israeli broadcaster HOT and Tedy Productions.
Our Take
As with Euphoria, we are genuinely impressed by the quality and originality of the series. Initially, you might think: a series about a reformatory? Watching a juvenile drama doesn’t sound very appealing, does it?
But that perception changes after watching just a few minutes: there’s humor, reality, but above all, cinematic quality, especially in the script. Like Euphoria, it’s a complex vision of reality, presented with humor, style, and modernity, and it doesn’t give us all the answers. There’s no cheap morality or televised life lessons here; there’s reality, woven with cinematic quality, that manages to draw the viewer into its web of complex characters.
Is it worth watching? Absolutely, yes—for its quality, its story, and above all, for its characters and the way it’s told.
Where to Watch “Bad Boy”
