280. Web-series Reviews – 113

More web-series reviews…

Dahaad – Came out in 2023.  When a series of women are found dead in public bathrooms under mysterious circumstances, Sub-inspector Anjali Bhaati is tasked with leading the investigation. As the case unravels she begins to suspect that the seemingly clear-cut suicides may be the work of a serial killer on the loose, triggering a riveting game of cat and mouse between a seasoned criminal and an underdog cop.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

The many low ratings you see here are the ones who haven't even seen the series and only giving 1 star because Sonakshi was there. IMDb should somehow bring a system where only verified veiwers can give their ratings .

Now talking about the series, it is not something new and unique. It's a simple cat and mouse chase between a serial killer and the cops. However , Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar know how to enhance the quality of such simple series . They make it interesting by placing a serial killer who is extremely tough to catch. He's smart and he knows how the police work. How the police , which include Sonakshi , Gulshan and Sohum manage to catch this killer is the main story of this series.

The killer is known from beginning but what makes the series interesting is how difficult he makes it for the cops to track him down . The first 6 episodes go into investigating who is committing the crimes and last ones go into the chase for the criminal .

What Reema has also added is a lot of social commentary on caste, class and marriages which never felt spoonfed or forced. It is very naturally mixed with the dialogues and screenplay and they show us how these social demons are being used by human demons to exploit women .

BGM is good especially the one that plays when the serial killer is in the frame . Sets are good as well.

Vijay Verma steals the show as the smart pyscho killer. What a talent he is !!! He literally dominates the whole show with his creepy nature . Even without lifting a hand on any woman , he manages to creep you out with his crimes. Gulshan as the senior cop and a broad minded father is amazing to watch . Sonakshi definitely does a much better job than what she has been doing so far. Sohum Shah displays a good range of his character from being a negative thinking guy to a positive minded person.

Negatives - from the 6th episode onwards i felt the series stretches a bit too much while trying to capture the killer. In doing so , they ruined the climax. They could have made a climax that was explosive because the pyscho killer was so difficult to get to but instead the makers realised the series is getting too long and decided to end it in a hurry .

Overall, definitely a must watch series. Don't go by negative ratings, watch it and then decide but don't expect anything unique or new.

My Take – A definite watch!

 

Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo – Came out in 2023.  Savitri, the matriarch of a massive cartel in the lawless Borderlands, opens up a battle for succession to find her heir in a murky world of drugs and violence.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

SBF aka Saas Bahu and Flamingo is a a family drug cartel based series directed by the Cocktail/ Angrezi medium director Homi Adajania . If you have seen Homi's filmmaking , you must have witnessed that he focusses more on characters, their relationships and the world building.

SBF shows a good glimpse of this . It was marketed as a brutal action series but thankfully it is not all action action action ! SBF revolves around a family of drug makers lead by Rani baa and her girls. SBF focuses more on the main characters, their dynamics and the world building around them. How these relationships and characters ultimately decide their fate and the fate of Rani baa corp and how they go about dealing with their enemies. So most of the series is character driven and those who love character driven series will enjoy the interesting and exciting conversations between characters and some interesting relationships that are shown in this series. Yes, the series is a bit slow moving due to this.

Talking about enemies, Rani Baa corp is up against a person named the Monk who keeps trying to interfere in their business. So this is where the action sequences come. There are only two major action sequences and they are wonderfully choreographed making you whistle at each action sequence. The best one was the old granny literally shooting a dude point blank through a running fan (in the 7th episode) while Radhika Madan too has some slick action sequences.

The last two episodes is where the series starts to go plot driven mode and a lot of shocking twists and turns are revealed. Also i really appreciate that the main lead Dimple has a strong back story to her name from being a poor gypsy to the ruler of an empire. Angira Dhar too has an interesting back story that becomes the meat for the 2nd season but we don't yet get to see Isha Talwar's back story yet. Also, another threat to Rani's Empire is an investigating officer Proshun who is hell bent on capturing the drug dealers . He too has an interesting angle towards the end so every character here is important and has a contribution to the next season.

I am out of words for praising this man Deepak Dobriyal. First, in Bholaa and now here. He just nails the villianish role of the Monk . Can't believe this man can do comedy and negative role both . What a talent . He doesn't have much role this season but hoping to see more of him in the next season.

Talking of Varun Mitra (Kapil) and his elder brother (i forgot his real name ) Harish, you see a gradual change in their character as the series progresses. Harish brings in the much needed comic relief to the series and it works extremely well. His one scene where he consumes lot of Pink Unicorn drug and him hallucinating is absolutely hilarious. Varun at first is normal but later becomes a brutal character.

Negatives. I feel the tussle between Rani and Monk could have been better and also i feel the Monk could have been utilised more. Maybe they are keeping it for the next season.

Overall, a highly enjoyable character driven series that is brutal, intense and has some funny moments as well. Highly recommended series.

My Take – A definite watch!

 

The Diplomat – Came out in 2023. In the midst of an international crisis, Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, lands in a high-profile job for which she is not suited, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

My Review - The Diplomat Series 1 on Netflix My Rating. 8/10

The Diplomat is a British Political thriller series which the Brits seem to excel so well at. Most of the cast is British apart from Keri Russell who plays the slightly unkempt Kate Wyler the unorthodox inexperienced but very effective newly appointed U. S. Ambassador to the British Court of St James .

Kate is married to a former Ambassador Hal Wyler played charmingly and raffishly by Rufus Sewell.

Kate prefers her smart working uniform or black trousers jacket and plain easy comb hairstyle resisting attempts to restyle her appearance to suit the smart magazine journalists or her male colleagues perception of professional women.

However wait till later in the series when she stuns everyone in a dramatic fire engine red couture gown at a Government Heads reception to suit her own agenda .

The Wyler's marriage is rocky due to career rivalry and gender rôle expectations and jealousy but it's not on the quite on the rocks they obviously have affection for each other.

They are a very interesting pair as Kate establishes her credibility in her new role as the American Ambassador and it soon becomes apparent that she is short listed for a Vice President role if successful.

Debora Cahn the writer and creator of The Diplomat knows her craft she has written and co produced scripts for The West Wing and Greys Anatomy. She is assisted in this production by a team of writers who have created a fictional but spookily uncanny scenario that resembles so closely the ,Political world we all inhabit today.

This had to be intentional I think as we have an ageing American President William Rayburn played by Michael McKean who is looking for a replacement for his unpopular female Vice President .

We have a Mr Toad like bombastic British Prime Minister who even has a racy red sports car like Mr Toad that he races through the British countryside causing havoc when ever he pops in on vital strategic meetings .

Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge or is it Boris J ? Is played so well by Rory Kinnear and he's intent on letting loose the dogs of war in retaliation to a perceived attack by Iran or is it Russia ? On a British War Ship that kills over 50 British Navy personnel.

Even The Lenkov Group referred to in this story is a reference to the real life Russian mercenary Wagner Group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The Russian War waging in The Ukraine is mentioned also making the fictional scenario even more topical and scary as we watch the Diplomatic incompetence of some of the elected officials thankfully in contrast to those with some common sense and intelligence who have the difficult task of finding safer strategies to guide the World towards more peaceful solutions to the conflicts that arise that don't involve nuclear superpower destruction.

There's some fine performances in The Diplomat apart from Keri Russell as The US Ambassador and Rufus Sewell as her husband Hal including David Gyasias cast as The British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison who impressed me. Also Ali Ahn as Eidra Graham an Intelligence Officer in a relationship with The Ambassador's Personal Assistant Stuart Heyford also played well by Ato Essandoh.

We even get the pleasure of a cameo from the delightful Celia Imrie playing Margaret Roylin a Left of Centre but charming Political gossip columnist who is more aware of the current regime than at first is apparent.

Considering the dramatic cliff hanger finale of episode 8 titled The James Bond Clause I'd be very disappointed if there's not a Series 2 of The Diplomat it hasn't been commissioned yet but the quality of series 1 deserves an encore season in my opinion.

Even if you're not into Political intrigue there's enough human interest in the characters in this story to make if less dry and more entertaining than just your average Political thriller.

My Take – A definite watch!

Cheers till next time😊!