458. Web-series Reviews – 255

More web-series reviews…

Critical: Between Life and Death – Came in 2025. From critical emergencies to the operating room, this documentary series follows London's trauma centres as they treat the most severely injured.

A review from IMDB...

Let me preface: I have spent a lot of time in EDs and in the hospital (in the US) for critical and severe medical issues. When you are laying in a bed in either, you don't know what is happening on the other side of the curtain. Often you feel like no one is paying attention to you. You feel alone beyond anything imaginable. You feel abandoned.

I suspect that's wrong.

And this series helps one to realize exactly what is going on (you're not alone) and, incredibly, how the doctors feel about their patients.

From out of nowhere a stranger comes into your life and saves it. That's what it comes down to. In fact, many strangers walk into your life. They are pivotal to your existence for a time. And if you survive, eventually you move on and so do they. This is the way.

So this series shows this and so much more. I found the interviews with the surgeons and other medical professionals (such as the EMTs) riveting. My experience is the more highly trained they are, the spookier they get. Surgeons just amaze me. They hold our hearts, our brains, our whatever (and often our lives) in their hands. They are brave beyond belief.

So this series lets them talk. It lets the patients' families talk, and to some extent lets the patients themselves talk (when they can).

As already mentioned in other reviews this is an incredibly visceral series with scenes not for the squeamish. Even I (not squeamish at all) realized that I should not watch it while eating dinner.

MOST IMPORTANTLY. In this country as we are banishing people from other countries and making it impossible for them to come here to go to school, this series should make us feel ashamed. Pay attention to the medical professionals presented to us in this series. In the U. S. we are moving toward becoming a 3rd world country in many aspects, but particularly in our medical establishment.

Finally I can't address the NHS. This series certainly makes every single medical professional we meet a hero and the NHS simply incredible. Is this true? I don't know.

Full recommendation here. Ten stars.

My Take – An excellent documentary series.

 

Bakaiti – Came in 2025. Somewhere in old Ghaziabad, when the middle-class Kataria family of 5 is faced with an acute financial crunch, the elder daughter NAINA (21) is asked by PAPAJI (SANJAY) to give up her room and move into her younger brother BHARAT (17)'s room, so the family can get a tenant and extra income. The ambitious and emotional Naina is disappointed in giving up her room while cricket loving street-smart Bharat is extremely unhappy sharing his room as well. The siblings are poles apart. While this crisis is taking shape, Papaji and Mummy are faced with their own massive problem - the sudden death of Dadaji has led to the Chacha (younger brother of Sanjay) persuading them to sell the ancestral house that is their home right now. As tensions mount between the two families and a new interesting tenant comes in, will the elder siblings (PAPAJI and CHACHAJI) resolve their differences and will the younger siblings (NAINA and BHARAT) begin to understand each other - are the questions we answer in this heartwarming story of the Kataria Parivar.

A review from IMDB...

Bakaiti is a refreshing family drama that manages to balance humor, warmth, and relatability. What makes it stand out is the writing - the characters feel lived-in, and the cast really brings them to life. Rajesh Tailang, Sheeba Chaddha, and Tanya Sharma are an absolute delight every time they appear, adding real heart and depth to the show.

That said, not every character landed for me. Bunty's role felt unnecessarily abrasive - the rudeness and arrogance stood out in a series otherwise filled with emotional warmth and family charm. It's not a dealbreaker, but it did feel out of sync with the rest of the storytelling.

Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The show has an easy flow, a grounded middle-class setup, and a knack for finding humor in everyday situations without trying too hard. It's the kind of series you can watch with the whole family, share a few laughs, and still come away with something heartfelt.

Overall, Bakaiti is a strong first season. Not flawless, but definitely worth watching. If there's a second season, I'll be curious to see how the creators refine it further.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Salaakar – Came in 2025. A young Indian spy's covert mission interweaves with a veteran spymaster's past, revealing national secrets and hidden truths. Through intelligence and determination, they protect India's security amid sacrifice and generational burdens.

A review from IMDB...

Review of Salakaar

Salakaar is a gripping story with a well-paced narrative, and I feel every actor has done justice to their role. The central character, young Adhir, played by Naveen Kasturia, delivers a steady performance, though in a few frames his straight-faced expression feels a bit too restrained. Mouni Roy looks glamours although her dressing in series is more like Bengali rather Pakistani. Surya Sharma is under-utilised as he has fire in him.

The highlight of the show is undoubtedly veteran actor Mukesh Rishi as General Zia-ul-Haq. He leaves a strong impression whenever he appears on screen, commanding attention and lending authenticity to the role.

That said, the screenplay has a few noticeable flaws. For example, the Sarpanch of a village is shown openly consuming alcohol-something quite unrealistic given that during Zia's regime, alcohol was completely banned in Pakistan. Similarly, the ease with which characters gain entry into a high-security nuclear power plant-simply by having a villager disguise himself as a sepoy-feels overly simplified.

The final airport sequence is tight, engaging, and easy to follow, though it also stretches believability in parts. Still, these minor lapses are forgivable because overall, this is an entertaining spy thriller that keeps you hooked.

I enjoyed watching Salakaar and am looking forward to the next segment-hopefully with even higher stakes.

My Take – An ok series.

Adios till next time😊!!