419. Web-series Reviews – 227

More web-series reviews…

Dark Winds – 3rd season came in 2025. Follows Leaphorn and Chee, two Navajo police officers in the 1970s Southwest that are forced to challenge their own spiritual beliefs when they search for clues in a double murder case.

A review from IMDb...

If you're looking for a series that captures the essence of breathtaking storytelling, look no further than "Dark Winds" on AMC. This show truly stands out as a near-perfect adaptation, brilliantly translating the gripping narratives from the page to the screen. The writing is exceptional, skillfully weaving an intricate tapestry of suspense, culture, and emotion that keeps you hooked from the first episode to the last.

The cast delivers an unforgettable performance, breathing life into their characters with an authenticity and depth that's rare in today's television landscape. Each actor embodies their role with precision, adding layers of complexity and nuance that elevate the viewing experience. Zahn McClarnon and the rest of the cast captivate with performances that are both powerful and deeply moving.

Visually, "Dark Winds" is stunning. The show's attention to detail, from the sweeping landscapes to the meticulous set design, paints a vivid picture that immerses the viewer into its unique world. The direction is skillful and deliberate, ensuring that every scene is perfectly crafted to resonate with the audience.

Although the series takes creative liberties and varies from the books, these variations add fresh perspectives and exciting new elements that enhance the overall story. This adaptation strikes a perfect balance, respecting the source material while also standing strong as an independent work of art.

In all aspects-writing, acting, and production quality-"Dark Winds" is a triumph. Whether you're a fan of the original books or new to this universe, the series promises an enthralling experience that is not to be missed. It's a stellar addition to AMC's lineup, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Ayyana Mane – Came in 2025. In a misty mountain estate, three daughters-in-law have died mysteriously. When Jaji marries into the Ayyana Mane family, she faces dark secrets, possible curses, and a deadly threat-supernatural or human.

A review from IMDb...

The backdrop of 90s Chikkamagalur with its lush and misty landscapes creates an eerie and immersive atmosphere that is crucial for a mystery thriller...

The cinematography by Rahul Roy effectively captures the beauty of the region while also highlighting the ominous feel of the ancestral home....

The central idea of a house where daughters-in-law mysteriously die one after another is inherently gripping and raises compelling questions about a family curse or something more sinister...

Kushee Ravi as Jaaji is praised for her portrayal of a character who transitions from a timid newlywed to a determined woman seeking the truth. She effectively conveys the innocence, fear, and courage of her character...

Manasi Sudhir (Kantara frame) as Nagalambike, is noted for her subtle yet convincing and enigmatic performance, maintaining an air of mystery...

The supporting cast, including Akshay Nayak, Hitha Chandrashekar, and others, are generally considered to provide credible support...

The music composed by L. V. Muthu Ganesh is frequently mentioned as a significant strength, contributing effectively to the eerie and suspenseful mood of the series...

With each of the six episodes being around 18-20 minutes long, the series maintains a brisk pace, preventing significant lags in the narrative...

The narrative feels disjointed at times, resembling a film that has been cut into episodes rather than a naturally flowing web series. Transitions between scenes are sometimes abrupt, affecting viewer engagement...

While the series introduces various subplots and hints at multiple suspects through red herrings, these are often not fully explored or convincingly developed...

Although the series touches upon interesting themes like rural superstitions, family gods, and rituals, these aspects are often explored at a superficial level without much depth...

One might find the mystery somewhat predictable, lacking major twists or surprising reveals that are common in gripping murder mysteries...

Overall. "Ayyana Mane" presents a chilling premise with a strong atmospheric setting and commendable performances, particularly from Kushee Ravi and Manasi Sudhir. The haunting music and short episode lengths contribute to its watchability. However, the series is a debut for kannada webseries which has mastered all the expectation undoubtedly making it a worthy of time...

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Gram Chikitsalay – Came in 2025.  The young, idealistic and brilliant Dr. Prabhat, takes charge of a neglected Primary Health Centre in a North India Village hoping to bring about much needed changes only to realize it is he who will have do change before anything else.

A review from IMDb...

TVF's new show Gram Chikitsalay will most definitely give a sense of déjà vu for viewers who love Panchayat. These stories of India's heartland, told with a mix of humour and satire, never hurt. I want to see more of them, told with nuance and heart. However, the problems arise when the same template becomes a bit too visible to the eye of the viewer, which is just the case with the new show Gram Chikitsalay. You know how this going to go even in the first episode. That sense of predictability is the main symptom of this new show created by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Arunabh Kumar. Turns out, it is both a blessing and a curse.

Gram Chikitsalay begins on an ardent note, as the first episode places the viewer in the village of Bhatkandi. People have their own rules here, that our city-bred protagonist Dr. Prabhat (Amol Parashar) will have to learn rather quickly. Dr. Prabhat is here on a mission, driven by the hot-blooded conviction of doing something noble for the people of Bhatkandi by making sure the local healthcare unit runs smoothly. His high hopes mounted on a high pedestal soon crashes when he sees the condition of the unit- where the blood pressure cuff has become a teething toy for rats, the equipment for operation left to rust, and the government-prescribed medicines missing entirely from the registry.

Compounder Phutani (Anandeshwar Dwivedi) and ward boy Govind (Akash Makhija) are Dr. Prabhat's local wing men. They inform Dr Prabhat of his main adversary- Vinay Pathak's Chetak Kumar, the 'jholachap' doctor who confidently runs his medical unit without having any clue of healthcare or medicines. Prabhat will realize that he needs to gain the trust of the villagers first. Only then will they trust a new doctor.

Then there is Dr Gargi (Akansha Ranjan Kapoor), the other resident local doctor who serves as an occasional reminder for Dr Prabhat that there will no end to his problems if all he wants to do is complain about how bad things are here. His dimaag ki batti moment needs that push. Thankfully, the makers don't add an unnecessary romantic angle here and keep the bond strictly professional. The solo voice of reason and duty comes with nurse Indu (Garima Vikrant Singh), but things get complicated when her son Sudhir (a terrific supporting turn from Santoo Kumar) enters the mix.

Gram Chikitsalay is boosted with a winsome sense of tone. The screenplay and dialogues by Vaibhav and Shreya find a specificity for how conversations unfold in a place like Bhatkandi, where solutions are never found in a day. The plot mechanics might feel stretched, but it aptly mirrors the everyday realities of this rural socio-economic fabric, where Dr Prabhat will truly need to shed his inhibitions and prejudices, and try to place himself in the context of these underprivileged people. Girish Kant's lens finds the right distance in placing Prabhat amid these distant surroundings, while Chandrashekhar Prajapati's editing never betrays the unhurried tone of the show.

Amol Parashar is unsurprisingly sincere and wonderful as the man trying to accommodate his sense of ambition with his status as an outsider. He injects life into a role that is slightly underwritten, which becomes an issue for the show's overall impact. Vinay Pathak is given too less to make a mark, while Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor's supporting turn solely exists to show Prabhat how unprepared he is to face the reality of his situation.

The missteps arise in the meandering subplots, one involving rival local politicians, and another in the search of a missing box of vaccines. The show seems to have been envisioned in a compartmentalised fashion, where one episode deals with one issue and then moves on to the next episode with another thread. Gram Chikitsalay suffers from a case of narrative inertia, where the show thinks through every detail but rarely acts upon it with a stricter gaze. Why hurry, then? Good intentions alone cannot suffice for a show like this. This is a diagnosis the makers need to take into account if Gram Chikitsalay aims to make a second run at prescribing good, wholesome television for viewers.

My Take – Worth a watch!

Adios till next time😊!!