397. Web-series Reviews – 212

More web-series reviews…

The Hour – Came in 2011. A behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.

A review from IMDB...

Quality TV drama

Review of Series One:

This decent BBC drama miniseries depicts the lives and loves of three journalists working for the corporation during the 1950s. The series gets off to a dodgy start with the first couple of episodes, mainly because the main characters are all so damn cold. It then gets a lot better as we get to know those involved, and by the end it's become a real blast.

Romola Garai's Bel is really the centrepiece of the whole production, the producer who attempts to hold it all together while making some huge mistakes along the way. Ben Whishaw's Freddie is a bit of an oddball at first, but his deepening involvement with the series' conspiracy undertones makes him a character to watch and, come the finale, he's the most interesting by far. Dominic West is faultless, as he has been in everything I've seen him in.

The attention to detail is impeccable, and I particularly enjoyed the way that world-shaping events have a key influence on the plotting. There's romance, drama, murder and humour in spades here, along with strong performances from both veterans (Anna Chancellor, Juliet Stevenson, Tim Pigott-Smith) and relative newcomers (Burn Gorman and Julian Rhind-Tutt are both particularly good).

There are occasional faults – the unravelling of the conspiracy storyline is over-complicated and muddled – but these can be easily forgiven. Altogether a compelling piece of literate TV drama, and I'm overjoyed to hear a second series has been commissioned.

Review of Series Two:

Series two of THE HOUR turns out to be an improvement on the first series, which was great to begin with: the performances are more natural, the storyline more tightly focused, and the sense of danger and impending deadlines far more pronounced.

The series boasts impeccable production designs, intriguingly interwoven plotting and some excellent performances. In this series, Hector is really put through the wringer, allowing the audience some more of Dominic West's finely mannered acting; Oona Chaplin, playing Hector's wife, also comes into her own as a fully developed, sympathetic character for the first time.

There are casualties: Romola Garai is utilised less well here, although Ben Whishaw is as charming as ever. The problem is that the focus is away from Garai, unlike in the first series, and she's given little to do. Everyone else seems to have deeper, stronger character stuff, whereas her screen time is limited to some corny romance that never goes anywhere.

There are missteps, too, not least Abi Morgan's attempt to give ALL of the main characters some emotional storyline, even the nerdy bespectacled comic relief guy. There's just not room for it, and bringing in a typically hissy Peter Capaldi doesn't work either; his sub-plot with Anna Chancellor just left me cold, getting in the way of the REAL story.

Still, these flaws aren't enough to ruin the enjoyment of this series, which just seems to get better and better with each episode. As with series one, it culminates in a remarkably tense and gripping final episode that leaves me hoping for third outing.

My Take – A very good series!

 

Paatal Lok – Season 2 came in 2025. A down-and-out police officer lands the case of a lifetime when four suspects are nabbed in the assassination attempt of a prime time journalist. The case turns out to be a devious maze where nothing is what it looks like. The pursuit of it leads him to the dark netherworld: the 'Paatal Lok', and to shocking discoveries in the pasts of the four suspects.

A review from IMDB...

Most Indian shows, web series etc suck. Most have a bad plot. Bad unrealistic story lines. Bad script. Even Mirzapur, one of the most hyped Indian TV show us really a nothing show. All hype. Just vulgarity, swear words and almost no real plot.

Paatal Lok is a good show. Better than most. The lead actor has really done justice with his role. Great actor and probably he's the reason this show is what it is. Else it might have failed even with everything else this show has.

I'd say it's a very interesting TV show that keeps you interested and you wanna binge watch it. But both seasons have a little too complicated plots. Just a little too much. Specially in the 2nd season, writers over did it.

Plus a little too much touch of patriotism and honesty. Bollywood touch. The lead left 2 Carores of money in the end and only took 5 lacs from the black money that won't be claimed by anyone if he didn't take it and went to give it to the child. Bhai, aap kuch unrealistic level k honest ho toh chalo is bachay k guardians ko 20-30 lac day do. No. Bhai is a Hollywood over dramatic over honest over patriot banda left all the cash and just took 5 lacs. It was totally okay if he had taken it all gave a good amount to the child's family and give it all away to other good causes.. Instead of leaving it behind.. Illogical, unrealistic end.

Plus is seems quite illogical the lead actor the inspector getting criticized in the first season and even after he solved the case almost singlehandedly and nobody else in the police department could do anything, he didn't get any promotion. Hell, he didn't even get the respect of his seniors.. Quite unrealistic. Even solving the case in the 2nd season didn't give him any appreciation or promotion. Didn't make much sense.

Over all, still a good show with a good cast very good direction aur choreography. However, hope they hired a foreign choreographer to show Nagaland's beautiful landscape so the world could see what an amazing place it is. Could increase tourism.

My Take – An excellent series!

 

The Roshans – Came in 2025. The trials and triumphs of Bollywood's iconic Roshan family musician Roshan Lal Nagrath, Rajesh, Rakesh and Hrithik.

A review from IMDB...

Off late, Netflix has been churning out many underwhelming documentaries on Indian celebs. I had minimal expectations from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This docu-series consists of four episodes, each focusing on one of the Roshans. It largely revolves around their professional lives, with little insight into their personal stories, which is a bit of a letdown. However, several industry stalwarts shared their personal opinions and anecdotes, adding authenticity to the series. 

Episode 1: This episode is about the most senior Roshan-the veteran music director who cemented his place in the industry by delivering timeless classics that we still hum today. It was an enlightening episode, as I had very little prior knowledge about him and his contributions to music. It shed light on something new and noteworthy. Also, how his name was adopted by the next generation as their surname, replacing Nagrath.

Episode 2: This episode focuses on Rajesh Roshan and his musical journey. While most people are familiar with him, the insights into his work ethic and enviable discography made it a compelling watch.

Episode 3: The third episode centers on Rakesh Roshan. It reveals many facets of his life, from his challenging start as an actor to becoming a producer and eventually a successful director. The episode also delves into the attack on him and his hardships, packing a lot of information into one segment.

Episode 4: The most awaited yet most disappointing episode, supposedly about Hrithik Roshan. It barely touches upon his work or personal controversies. Instead, a few people gushed about his looks, acting, and dancing skills. Unfortunately, the focus shifted back to Rakesh Roshan rather than staying on Hrithik, which was a letdown.

Overall, the series does unveil some lesser-known chapters about the Roshans, but it lacks soul due to its weak screenplay. If it had delved more into their personal lives, it could have been much more engaging. That said, it's still a decent watch and worth your time.

My Take – Worth a watch!

Adios till next time😊!!