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What would happen if a bunch of Guy Ritchie's fast-talking mobsters butted heads against vain Los Angeles cops? That question is answered in Bad Lads, a new web series from creator Michael Plewa. In the first episode, rough-and-tumble Cockney Jimmy Smythe (Jason McBeth) relocates from London to La. Shortly thereafter, he is arrested for dealing cocaine, and in order to avoid jail time, he agrees to help Detective Ambrose (Jennifer Mather) go undercover with his gang. What follows is a fish-out-of-water comedy, as Ambrose attempts to fit in with her new Cockney mates without arousing too much suspicion. Ritchie's crime thrillers are clearly the most prominent influence here; Plewa, in an email to Tubefilter, claimed to be a "huge fan of the Cockney toughs" in Snatch. At the same time, Bad Lads offers snatches (pardon the pun) of many other genres as well. Jokes about linguistic differences between British...

What's better than a web series about a twentysomething battling the trials that come with being a young adult? A web series about Two twentysomethings battling those trials, of course. Professional Friend, a new series from creator Eric Bilitch, follows two fraternal twins as they return home for a Thanksgiving full of surprises. Professional Friend's two leads--Jonathan Biver and Sal Neslusan--don't look remotely alike, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief because they have such an excellent chemistry together. As siblings Larry and Harper, they portray an familial relationship that feels real and honest. Their bond is buttressed by very adept writing. Bilitch doesn't attempt to spend every second cracking jokes, and understands that the best comedic moments are the ones born out of well-constructed situations, not sudden gags. Bilitch is patient with his punchlines, and the interstitial space is filled with strong dialogue. Many indie web series try to do too much.