Guy Menaster
Dean
Overview
Dean, a young teen living with his mother and younger brother, prepares to turn in for the night when a knock on the door changes his life forever. Correctional officers storm into his room and haul him, barely clothed, out of the house.
Seasons
- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Nov 21, 2024
Cast
9 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Joke That Saved Him
I’ve seen this story before. A kid gets swallowed by the system, spat out broken, and the camera lingers on the bruises like they’re the whole point. Bad Boy, the new eight-episode Israeli drama from Ron Leshem (one of the architects of Euphoria), doesn’t shy away from the brutality of juvenile detention—if anything, it leans into it. But what makes it worth watching isn’t the violence.
It’s the way it treats comedy not as relief, but as a lifeline. A way to breathe when the walls close in.
The series toggles between two timelines: Dean Shaiman (Guy Menaster), a 16-year-old in lockup, and his present-day self, played by Daniel Chen, the real-life comedian whose adolescence inspired the story. The past is all grimy close-ups and handheld camerawork, the kind that makes you flinch when a guard slams a door. The present is warmer, looser—stand-up clubs, laughter, the kind of freedom that feels earned.
But the show’s real trick is how it uses humor inside the detention center. Dean and his cellmate Zoro (Havtamo Farda) trade jokes like contraband, their laughter a quiet rebellion. It’s not that the jokes are good—most of them are terrible.
But they’re necessary. A way to mark time, to assert humanity when the system treats them like animals.
Leshem and his co-writers (including Chen) don’t romanticize this. The comedy doesn’t erase the horror. One scene lingers in my mind: Dean, mid-routine, suddenly freezes when a guard’s shadow falls across the rec room floor.
The punchline dies in his throat. The camera holds on his face as the laughter around him fades into silence. It’s a small moment, but it says everything about how fragile this survival tactic really is.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.7/10
"A gritty but uneven drama that struggles to escape the shadow of its influences, despite strong performances from its young cast."
Viewers appreciate the raw intensity and emotional depth brought by the lead actors, particularly Guy Menaster and Daniel Chen, who anchor the series with compelling portrayals of troubled youth. However, the story’s reliance on familiar juvenile detention tropes and a lack of narrative freshness leave many feeling underwhelmed. latestnetflix.com's read is that the series’ brutal tone and unflinching depiction of its setting are praised, but the execution often feels derivative, especially when compared to heavier hitters like *Euphoria*.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead performances Guy Menaster and Daniel Chen deliver emotionally charged performances that resonate with viewers.
- Gritty, immersive tone The series’ uncompromising portrayal of juvenile detention adds a layer of authenticity and tension.
- Emotional depth The characters’ struggles and relationships are portrayed with a rawness that connects with audiences.
Common complaints
- Derivative storytelling The plot leans heavily on well-worn tropes from the juvenile detention genre, lacking originality.
- Uneven pacing Some episodes drag while others rush through key character developments, disrupting the flow.
- Thin supporting characters Side characters often feel underdeveloped, reducing their impact on the story.
- Predictable arcs Many viewers found the character trajectories and plot twists easy to anticipate.
Recommended for
Fans of gritty teen dramas Viewers who enjoy raw character studies Admirers of *Euphoria*-style storytelling Those seeking intense, emotional narratives
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsInside Netflix’s Gritty Israeli Drama Bad Boy: The True Story Behind the Series
Netflix’s latest binge-worthy drama, Bad Boy (2024), has quickly become a talking point for its raw portrayal of teenage crime and incarceration. But what’s making headlines isn’t just the show’s intense storytelling—it’s the fact that the series is rooted in real-life events, with one of its stars playing a version of himself. latestnetflix.com's view is that here’s what we know about the show’s origins, its cast, and the dark inspiration behind its plot.
A True Story That Hits Close to Home
Bad Boy isn’t just another fictional crime drama. According to multiple sources, the series is based on the real-life experiences of co-creator Daniel Chen, who plays an adult version of himself in the show 
. The story centers on Dean Shaiman, a troubled teenager portrayed by Guy Menaster, whose criminal past during his youth forms the backbone of the narrative.
The series reportedly delves into the crimes committed by Shaiman, though specifics remain scarce in the available snippets. What’s clear is that the show’s authenticity is a major draw—viewers are getting a dramatized but grounded look at juvenile delinquency and its consequences . Comparisons to Netflix’s Adolescence have already surfaced, with critics praising Bad Boy for its unflinching exploration of male youth in crisis .
**From Euphoria Creators to a Brutal Juvenile Drama**
The creative team behind Bad Boy includes Ron Leshem, one of the original creators of HBO’s Euphoria, alongside Daniel Amsel, Hagar Ben-Asher, and Daniel Chen 
. Their involvement suggests a similar approach to Euphoria’s unfiltered storytelling, though Bad Boy shifts focus to the harsh realities of a juvenile detention facility.
The series premiered on Israeli cable channel Hot in November 2024 before landing on Netflix in May 2025, giving it a built-in international audience . While the exact number of episodes hasn’t been confirmed in the snippets, the show’s structure appears to revolve around the aftermath of a teen girl’s murder, with Dean Shaiman’s character at the center of the chaos .
Meet the Cast: A Mix of New Faces and Real-Life Connections
The ensemble cast features a blend of rising Israeli talent and actors with personal ties to the story:
- Guy Menaster as Dean Shaiman: The young actor takes on the role of the series’ titular "bad boy," a character whose real-life counterpart’s crimes are a key part of the show’s narrative .
- Daniel Chen as himself: The co-creator and comedian plays an adult version of his own life, adding a meta layer to the drama .
- Liraz Chamami, Havtamo Freda, Yishai Lalush, Bat-Chen Sabag, Neta Plotnik, Ben Sultan, and Amjad Shawa round out the cast, though their specific roles remain unclear in the available evidence.
The casting of Chen—a real-life figure in the story—adds a layer of intrigue, blurring the line between fiction and reality. Whether other cast members have personal connections to the events depicted is unconfirmed.
**Why Bad Boy Is Already Turning Heads**
The series’ blend of true crime and psychological drama has struck a chord with audiences. Early buzz highlights its unflinching look at the minds of incarcerated teens, particularly Dean Shaiman’s character, whose backstory is as compelling as it is disturbing . The show’s Israeli roots and its creators’ Euphoria pedigree have also fueled expectations for a visually striking, emotionally raw experience.
That said, details about the production itself—behind-the-scenes drama, filming challenges, or critical reception—are thin in the available snippets. What we do know is that Bad Boy is positioning itself as a must-watch for fans of gritty, character-driven storytelling.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.