321. Web-series Reviews – 152

More web-series reviews…

Ray Donovan – Ran from 2013 to 2020 at about 7 seasons of 82 episodes.  Set in the sprawling mecca of the rich and famous, Ray Donovan does the dirty work for LA's top power players as the go-to guy who makes the problems of the city's celebrities, superstar athletes, and business moguls disappear. This powerful drama unfolds when his father is unexpectedly released from prison, setting off a chain of events that shakes the Donovan family to its core.

Rana Naidu is a copy of this series.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

This is a solid drama - with the lead character helping upper crusty (mostly) Hollywood types safeguard their positions in society. In addition to the basic premise, the lives (and issues) of the Donovan family are explored.

Ray Donovan drives a good portion of this drama - but as a strong silent type - it is the lives of his family, associates and clients that keep the viewers fully engaged. Jon Voight delivers a remarkable performance as the troublesome father - and I think it is his role that helps elevate this series past a 6-7 rating. He really spices things up.

The lives of his brothers (Bunchy, Terry and Daryll) - while not compelling in themselves; add a real-life substance to the series - helping make this a serious drama.

I think the series suffers when we delve into Ray's immediate family - his wife (Abby) and his children (Bridget and Conor). You might have a different take on their roles but I personally found them uninteresting and often irritating.

Abby doesn't seem to have a real role - she's not quite a mother, not a knowing/wise wife - but instead comes across as a needy teenager. Her scenes are passable and still somewhat watchable because of Paula Malcomson's impressive acting ability.

Conor, the son, completely forgettable. His life doesn't engage nor does it irritate - it's simply meh - filler material.

Bridget, on the other hand, plays the typical (Hollywood) epically annoying teenage girl. You will want to fast forward anytime she appears at 100x speed but... you'll miss out on characters like Marvin and Cookie. So you have to put up with her (it won't be easy). Since the rest of the series is so strong, Bridget is unable to single-handedly destroy the series (which Hollywood-written teenage girls often do).

I am reviewing this after watching 3 seasons. I'm tempted to rate this a 6 because I dislike the epically irritating Bridget character so much. But there is so much more going on, so many other great characters, so many outstanding performances (from strong emotions to nuances) that this series is easily an 8 - despite the annoying teenager.

May update review later (since I plan on watching all 7 years). It's been bingeable good!

My Take – Watched season 1 and read about the rest of the episodes on Wikipedia. A worthwhile watch!

 

Puli Meka – Came out in 2023.  Detail from 123telugu.com.  Telugu series with Audio available in Tamil also.  English subtitles available.

OTT platform ZEE5 has now come up with a crime thriller series Puli Meka, starring Lavanya Tripathi and Aadi Sai Kumar in the lead roles. The series is currently streaming on the digital platform, and let’s find out how it is.

A serial killer keeps killing Police officers one after another in the city of Hyderabad. This becomes a big headache for the entire Police department. Kiran Prabha (Lavanya Tripathi), an IPS officer who has an excellent track record in nabbing criminals, is given the task of catching the killer. She, along with her team, starts the investigation process. Prabhakar Sharma (Aadi Sai Kumar), an expert Forensic head, assists Kiran Prabha in the investigation. Who is the killer? Why is he targeting the Police department? What is his motive behind the killings? Did Kiran Prabha and her team capture the criminal? Watch the show to know the answers.

Plus Points:

The series marks the OTT debut for the lead actors Lavanya Tripathi and Aadi Sai Kumar. Lavanya Tripathi as the IPS officer, performed with aplomb. She was very much convincing as a cop, and her stunt sequences were amazing. Her character had a good scope to showcase a wide variety of emotions, and Lavanya just grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It is undoubtedly Lavanya’s best role to date.

It’s very nice to see Aadi Sai Kumar in a different role after a long time. Though he is seen less in the first few episodes, his character graph strengthens as the show progresses. Aadi gave a very sincere performance and did precisely what the character demanded without going overboard. It would be great if Aadi gives more preference to such characters.

The surprise package in the series is BiggBoss fame Siri Hanmanth. She got a very pivotal role in the show, and the actress made very nice use of it. The show picks up the pace with the entry of Siri Hanmanth, and the actress was very good at portraying emotions. Her characterization is nicely written, and Siri did justice to Pallavi’s character.

Raja Chembolu, who played another crucial role, was fine. It was great to see a seasoned artist like Suman playing a significant role, and the senior actor did a commendable job. The main twist and the flashback portions are the main trump cards of the show.

Minus Points:

What otherwise could have been a very good thriller is marred by the issues in writing at a few junctures. The first four episodes are very slow-paced, and nothing noteworthy happens during these episodes that excite the viewers. The investigation angle lacks any novelty and is very generic. The scenes that come in this regard aren’t engaging at all.

Crime thrillers shouldn’t be having logical errors, but sadly Puli Meka suffers from this. To name one, a key character gets involved in a drug case and will be all over the news. Everyone gets to know this except the parents of the accused, living in the same city strangely.

The unnecessary family drama doesn’t make any sense, and this part doesn’t hold any relevance to the show’s main storyline. Extreme usage of cuss words in many sequences irritates one and might also hinder the show’s reach. The length could have been taken care of.

Technical Aspects:

Many big names have worked on the series, which is reflected in the show’s quality. Brahma kadali’s artwork is impressive and is in tune with the show’s theme. Praveen Lakkaraju’s background score is good, and in a few places, the impact was enhanced through his work. The cinematography by Ram K Mahesh is fair. Makers spent what was required for the show. The editing could have been better, though.

The plot written by Kona Venkat and Venkatesh Kilaru is decent. Though the flashback portions are not something out of the box, they still make sense, and the emotional aspect works. Coming to director Chakravarthy, he did an okay job with the series. The way the initial episodes were handled lacks the punch, and the pacing is one more issue here.

Verdict:

On the whole, Puli Meka is a mystery crime thriller that works to an extent. The lead cast, Lavanya Tripathi and Aadhi Sai Kumar, were solid in their roles, and the rest of the cast also was good. The twists that unfold from the mid portions and proceedings thereafter are interesting. But to enjoy the show, one has to go through a few unexciting episodes. Nevertheless, you can still give Puli Meka a try this weekend.

My Take – A worthwhile watch!

 

Locked – Came out in 2020.  Details from 123telugu.com...

Story :

Dr. Anand(Satyadev) is a neurosurgeon who is quite popular for his way of handling patients. He is also doing special research in the field of medical science and for this, he chooses a unique route. One fine day, he is suddenly attacked by two ladies at his home. Things become even more chaotic when his colleague Misbah and a cop enter the house. A series of crazy events take place and a startling truth about Anand is revealed. What is that truth and how it affects the others in the house forms the story of locked.

What’s Good

Firstly, what impresses you is the mood of the web series. Credit should go to director Pradeep Deva Kumar who has an eye for detail. He creates a gripping atmosphere for the show which makes things very interesting. He does not beat around the bush and showcases things in a most rustic manner which is the best part of the show.

Coming to Satyadev, he is in form and is amazing as the crazy neurosurgeon. Right from his expressions to his body language, Satyadev is terrific and the way he showcased the negative streak with his eyes and expression was too good. It was really good to see veteran actress Lakshmi in a good role after a long time. Her track of robbery is quite good and nicely gels with the story.

The production design needs a special mention as the medical setup which showcases surgery and other serious stuff is nicely managed. The camerawork is top-notch and creates gripping visuals. The way the ending is created is also impressive. The manner in which all the characters enter the story and how the hero deals with them looks good. Logical issues are handled well.

What’s Bad

The research of Satyadev and why he is behaving in such a manner should have been showcased in a more detailed manner. Also, Satyadev’s backstory and the way it is showcased look dull. The screenplay during the initial episodes is a bit dull and it takes a bit of time for normal people to understand what is going on. The screenplay moves back and forth which is not that clear in the initial part.

Final Word:

On the whole, Locked is a web series that has a very gripping premise. Satyadeva’s crazy performance, the dark nature of the show, and intriguing characters make things engaging for the thriller genre lovers. Though the start is a bit sluggish and the screenplay is dull, once the series enters the main story, it looks gripping and makes up for a decent watch.

My Take – A worthwhile watch!

Cheers till next time😊