Being an awkward comic is a very difficult trick to pull off; even self-deprecating humor and long, quiet beats in between jokes can't just be used over and over. But while Ralph Barbosa's incredibly chilled-out personality might not be for people who like their comedians loud and animated, his matter-of-fact punchlines and willingness to make himself sound like a bit of a wimp work like a charm. Cowabunga doesn't touch on any hot-button topics, but it doesn't have to. Throughout this hour-long special, Barbosa gives us a strong, frequently very funny view from the point of view of a guy who doesn't want any trouble, but feels no pressure just being himself—a relatable dude if ever there was one.

Some of Barbosa's bits in this special shouldn't work as well as they do, given his long pauses and soft tone of voice. But for this writer at least, these extended sections are some of his best. In particular, there's a section where Barbosa dives into an increasingly specific scenario where he describes hanging out with his dream girl: an alpha-woman illegal street racer to whom Barbosa becomes completely submissive to. The joke here is the reversal of traditional gender norms between man and woman, which would normally be corny—but Barbosa's easygoing delivery manages to get us to focus purely on his storytelling, which is a seriously impressive tool he'll only sharpen further as he moves ahead in his career.