398. Web-series Reviews – 213

More web-series reviews…

Black Warrant – Came in 2025. Based on a book. A newly appointed jailer at Tihar Prison confronts widespread corruption and injustice within its walls, forcing him to choose between maintaining the status quo or fighting for reform. Starring Shashi Kapoor's grandson.

A review from IMDB...

Black Warrant kicks off 2025 with a firework of tremendous performances, brilliantly directed by a visionary showrunner on the solid base of some terrific writing. This is a show which excels in every aspect as it transports its viewers back to the 80s and right into the middle of Delhi's infamous Tihar Jail. The series follows the transformation of a young and naive Jailer as his principles and identity are challenged by the diverse grey characters and situations that encircle him.

The story feels very realistic and is further grounded in reality by the splattering of real life criminals and incidents through the season. The authors of the original novel have done a great job in capturing the working of Jailers, the operations of the gangs, the divide between the poor, rich and famous behind the walls of Tihar. The social isolation of the Jailers both within and outside Tihar has also been captured really well.

Every actor in the series has done a great job and fit very well into their characters even if they have a small appearance as a Journalist, an accountant, a gang member, a lawyer or Tihar's most infamous prisoners like Ranga, Billa and the one and only Bikini Killer AKA Charles Sobhraj. Siddhant Gupta is just phenomenal as Sobhraj as he charms his way through every scene and showcases how the Serpent exerted his influence over almost everyone who came across his path.

Rahul Bhat is exceptional as the DSP in charge of the 3 new Jailers. His character is very nuanced and well written as he juggles multiple gangs, influential individuals and his family while walking the thin line between right and wrong. Paramvir Cheema and Anurag Thakur do justice to their well sketched out characters as the Jailers who are much better suited for their jobs as compared to the the main protagonist of the series.

However the breakout performance of the series is the completely unexpected and brilliant portrayal of the fragile rookie Jailer Sunil Kumar Gupta by Zahan Kapoor. Sunil Gupta starts the series as a complete misfit in this hostile prison surrounded by an unforgiving mix of grey characters on both sides of the law. Zahan is a Kapoor unlike all the generations of Kapoors that have entertained audiences for almost a century, yet there is something about him that feels a lot like the artistic and experimental side of his grand father Shashi Kapoor during his early collaborations with Merchant Ivory. Zahan doesnt look like the stars Prithviraj, Raj, Shammi, Shashi, Rishi or Ranbir Kapoor but he feels like artists Prithviraj, Raj, Shammi Shashi, Rishi and Ranbir Kapoor.

Zahan channels his character's inner anxiety and lack of confidence so effectively that the audience quickly start to feel for him and come on board on his challenging journey. Zahan masters the accent, his character's mannerisms, his fragility, his innocence, his inner strength, his wisdom, his resolve and desire to make things better.....he becomes his character.....he is Sunil Kumar Gupta. His performance is so good that I wished that Shashi Kapoor was still alive to see his grandson shine in this exceptional role. A really tender, emotional and transparent performance. Loved it. A must watch Series. 9/10.

My Take – An excellent series!

 

The Night Agent – Season 2 came in 2025.  The Night Agent is a sophisticated, character-based action thriller centering on a low-level FBI agent who works in the basement of the White House, manning a phone that never rings - until the night that it does, propelling him into a fast moving and dangerous conspiracy that ultimately leads all the way to the Oval Office.

A review from IMDB...

I agree Season 1 was very interesting.

Season 2 jumped the shark right out of the gate. I wish Rose had stayed in California.

Issues:

Noor works in an embassy of country that treats women with contempt. There is no way the Embasy does not follow and spy on their staff 24-7. I mean Noor was smart enough not to hand over the photos until her family was safe. And yet she blindly goes back when any normal person would know the game is up. Only to flip and try and capture her saviour. As if they would trust her.

Rose and her employer. I cannot believe Rose has morales about her NSA type software. And yet she can make Google find people better than any search I have done. If Google was that good none us would be safe.

Clearly Night Action is not so secret all you need is to bribe the right FBI. CIA or NSA employee. Peter must have failed his training. He doesn't follow orders. He tells civilians way too much about Night Action. Peter does not trust the people he is working for. No wonder Night Actiom is the worst kept secret. Plus Peter is a terribly lair. I mean you are trying to get Noor to produce the photos but Rose tells another lie and gets the drive with password.

Anyway Season 2 is not worth the time watching. Unless you want to yell at the TV at the absurd things being done by Night Action.

My Take – Season 1 was much better. Season 2 is ok for a one-time watch!

 

The Secret of the Shiledars – Came in 2025. A secret society unravels a hidden treasure belonging to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with Rajeev leading the quest to protect it from falling into wrong hands, ultimately becoming the chief of the Shiledars.

A review from IMDB...

It is based on the Marathi novel Pratipashchandra by Dr. Prakash Koyade. The series beautifully fuses fiction with history, making it look like a real tale unfolding in front of you, which may urge you to search whether this was a real story.

Shiledars, who have been the protectors of Shivaji Maharaj's treasures and throne for ages, now have to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

It surely gives you an Indiana Jones vibe as the Shiledar and his accomplices try to find the treasure before the criminals do. What's funny is that if he is the protector, why does he need to find the treasure, which is already protected? And by finding it, doesn't he expose it to people with ill intentions? This major loophole weakens the series. The big suspense reveal in the final episode can be guessed from miles away, killing the impact. The riddles and treasure hunt sequences are neither unique nor creative, making the proceedings merely average.

Rajeev Khandelwal, as the Shiledar, does his part perfectly well and elevates the series. Sai Tamhankar provides solid support, as does Ashish Vidyarthi. Gaurav Amlani is a bit raw in places, but as a supporting act, he passes.

The set design isn't great, which is quite important for a series like this, as the grandeur of the treasure and the entire journey of mystery could have been a visual spectacle. Unfortunately, it fails in that department. The action sequences are amateurish, and the police subplot feels caricaturish since they can't solve anything.

The series had potential, but with a low budget and lack of creativity, it turned out to be merely average. It's not boring, though, and at just under three hours, you can watch it when you want something light.

My Take – Worth a watch!

Adios till next time😊!!