Lior Raz
Overview
Raz and Sela, embark on a journey through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, exploring Central Asian landscapes while testing their friendship and personal convictions.
Seasons
- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 6 episodes
- First aired
- Jul 10, 2025
Cast
Reviews
6 min readThe Road Less Traveled, or Just Another Detour?
There’s a moment in Off Road, Netflix’s new unscripted series, where Lior Raz and Rotem Sela stand at the edge of a vast Kyrgyz valley, the wind whipping around them as they stare into the distance. The camera lingers—not on the landscape, but on their faces. Raz, usually the picture of confidence in Fauda, looks unsettled.
Sela, ever the composed presence in The Baker and the Beauty, seems to be holding her breath. It’s a rare beat of stillness in a show that otherwise hurtles forward at breakneck speed, and it’s the first time you realize this isn’t just a travelogue. It’s a therapy session on wheels.
That duality—part adventure, part emotional excavation—is what makes Off Road so fascinating and, at times, so frustrating. The series follows Raz and Sela, two of Israel’s most recognizable actors, as they embark on a 25-day, 4x4 journey through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. On paper, it sounds like a cross between The Long Way Round and Carpool Karaoke, but with more yurts and fewer celebrity cameos.
In practice, it’s something messier: a collision of ego, vulnerability, and the kind of unscripted chaos that only happens when two people who’ve spent years playing characters for a living are suddenly forced to be themselves.
The premise is simple enough. Raz and Sela, real-life friends, drive through Central Asia, sleeping in yurts, eating local food, and occasionally getting stuck in the mud. Along the way, they’re joined by an on-screen therapist who prompts them to dissect their friendship, their fears, and their very different approaches to life.
Raz, the former special forces operative turned action star, is all bluster and control. Sela, the rom-com queen, is more introspective, more willing to sit with discomfort. Their dynamic is the show’s engine, and it’s a compelling one—when it works.
But here’s the thing about unscripted television: the line between authenticity and performance is always blurry. Joel Keller at Decider put it best when he wrote, “We’re not sure if the dynamic between Rotem Sela and Lior Raz on Off Road is off-putting or completely fascinating. It’s probably both.” And he’s right.
There are moments when their chemistry feels electric, like when they bicker over directions or laugh uncontrollably at some shared absurdity. Then there are moments when it feels like we’re watching two people who’ve been told to “act natural” for the cameras, and the result is a kind of stilted, performative intimacy. The show never quite resolves this tension, and that’s both its charm and its flaw.
Audience Opinions
"Early viewer reactions are sparse, but initial impressions highlight engaging real-life dynamics between the leads."
Feedback on *Off Road* (2025) remains limited, with only a handful of comments available. Those who have seen it praise the chemistry between Lior Raz and Rotem Sela, suggesting their on-screen partnership drives much of the appeal. latestnetflix.com's take is that the documentary-reality format appears to resonate with audiences seeking unscripted, high-stakes storytelling, though some note the pacing feels uneven in places.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead chemistry The dynamic between Raz and Sela is frequently cited as the series' standout element.
- Authentic premise Viewers appreciate the unscripted, real-life challenges portrayed in the series.
Common complaints
- Uneven pacing A few comments mention moments where the narrative drags or lacks momentum.
- Limited depth Some feel the series could delve deeper into its subject matter rather than skimming the surface.
Recommended for
Reality documentary fans Lior Raz admirers Adventure travel enthusiasts
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsLior Raz and Rotem Sela Trade Scripted Drama for Unscripted Chaos in Netflix’s Off Road
Netflix’s latest adventure docuseries, Off Road (2025), drops the high-stakes espionage of Fauda and the romantic fluff of The Baker and the Beauty for something far less predictable: a 4x4 expedition through the rugged landscapes of Central Asia. latestnetflix.com's view is that Starring Lior Raz and Rotem Sela, the six-part unscripted series follows the Israeli actors as they navigate not just treacherous terrain but the raw, unfiltered dynamics of friendship, fear, and self-discovery.
From Scripted to Unscripted: A Risky Shift
Raz and Sela are no strangers to the camera, but Off Road marks their first foray into unscripted television—a bold pivot for two actors best known for tightly written dramas. Raz, the action star behind Fauda and Gladiator II, and Sela, the rom-com favorite from The Baker and the Beauty, traded controlled sets for the chaos of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, where every turn of the wheel could mean disaster 
. The series frames their journey as more than just a physical challenge; it’s a test of their bond, with the cameras rolling as they confront everything from mechanical breakdowns to emotional meltdowns .
The shift from scripted to unscripted wasn’t just a creative gamble—it was a logistical one. Unlike their previous projects, Off Road had no safety net of retakes or rewrites. Every moment, from Raz’s frustration over a stuck vehicle to Sela’s awe at the vast landscapes, was captured in real time . The result? A series that feels less like a polished travelogue and more like a raw, unfiltered diary of two people pushing their limits—both on and off the road.
A Strategic Rollout for Netflix’s Global Slate
Netflix isn’t just dropping Off Road into the void. The series made its debut with a "first pit stop" in Israel on July 10, 2025, before rolling out globally later in the year . The move aligns with the streamer’s push to expand its international documentary offerings, particularly as it ramps up its unscripted slate. Off Road joins a growing roster of travel-adventure series, but its star power—coupled with the high-stakes premise—sets it apart from the usual fare of influencers and survivalists .
The timing isn’t accidental. With competition heating up in the streaming wars, Netflix is betting on star-driven, high-concept documentaries to draw viewers. Raz and Sela’s built-in fanbases (thanks to Fauda and The Baker and the Beauty) give Off Road a ready-made audience, while the Central Asian backdrop offers a fresh, less-traveled setting for armchair adventurers . Whether the series can sustain that momentum beyond its initial hype remains to be seen, but the early buzz suggests Netflix is banking on its unique blend of celebrity and chaos.
What We Don’t Know (Yet)
For all the details that have surfaced, Off Road still holds plenty of mysteries. The evidence doesn’t reveal who directed or created the series, nor does it clarify how much creative control Raz and Sela had over the project . Were they merely participants, or did they shape the narrative behind the scenes? The snippets also don’t specify the exact release date for the global rollout—only that it’s coming "later in 2025" .
Another unanswered question: How much of the drama was organic, and how much was amplified for the cameras? Unscripted series often walk a fine line between authenticity and manufactured tension, and Off Road’s premise—two celebrities navigating both physical and emotional challenges—lends itself to both. The Jewish Journal’s coverage hints at "wild, emotional" moments, but without full access to the footage, it’s hard to separate genuine conflict from TV-friendly storytelling .
One thing is clear: Off Road isn’t just another travel show. It’s a gamble on star power, spontaneity, and the unpredictable chemistry of its leads. Whether it pays off will depend on how much viewers buy into Raz and Sela’s journey—or how much they’re willing to forgive if the drama feels too staged.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.