Review 42 - Taaza Khabar Season 2 (2024), Dir. Himank Gaur
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Inconsistent But Watchable — The Phrase That Defines This Season.
I want to go on the record and say that I absolutely loved Season 1. In fact, I’ve re-watched it multiple times, even giving it another look before Season 2 dropped. So, this isn’t just mindless criticism. The main issue with Season 2, as I've observed, is its inconsistency; it seems unsure of what it wants to be. Is it a feel-good redemption arc? A villain-to-hero transformation? A story about a hero hiding his actions for self-preservation? Or perhaps a setup for an even bigger season ahead?
While Season 2 is enjoyable to some extent, it simply doesn’t match the consistency or thrill of the first season. The inaugural season had a clear trajectory, even when dealing with random elements like Vasya’s spontaneous trust issues and changing relationships. There was a cohesive idea behind it: the characters striving to escape poverty. In contrast, Season 2 feels turbulent and scattered.
Plot review
This season tries to juggle too many plot lines at once. One moment, the characters are selling goods on the dark web; the next, they suddenly develop a conscience, refusing to sell medicine because the reward isn’t high enough. They justify this by claiming the supply is abundant, but the price is too steep for anyone to afford, which is understandable. However, they could still sell it at a lower price and make a profit. Then, they want to kill the bad guy, but shortly after, they decide to keep him alive. This chaotic approach undermines their portrayal as intelligent characters capable of devising a well-thought-out strategy. While the plot twists and reveals are intriguing, such clever moments feel infrequent rather than consistent throughout the season.
The absence of a solid plan is painfully obvious. They jump from paying off debts through small wins to hastily thrown-together schemes. Even their small victories feel meaningless. The underlying theme seems to be that they're trying to build something significant from small gains, but when their lives and families are at stake, they need to think bigger or face dire consequences.
A glaring issue arises during the negotiation for the painting: the stakes are high, yet the characters shockingly fail to get it appraised or verify its authenticity beforehand. It would have made more sense for them to ask for stable assets like diamonds or cars—something less volatile. Additionally, the ending of the final fight scene, where a building falls on Vasya but he survives, feels like a significant oversight in the writing. While it could have been plausible if he jumped onto something hard, surviving a collapsing building is simply unrealistic.
The good aspects
On the technical front, the show excels in several areas—lighting, cinematography, audio, Clothing and even the app design. The action sequence in the final episode is particularly well-choreographed.
The first episode sets the stage well by explaining the characters' current circumstances and the events that led them there, The twists and turns were very intriguing and got me hooked. The update of the app and there being a search feature but only being useful in certain circumstances is good thinking. It would be dumb if you could search up anything. Yusuf's backstory was well told. His motivation and the lengths he will go to get revenge on someone who wronged him was what give his character edge.
The performances from the cast are exceptional. Before the story-line faltered, the character development was brilliantly crafted. While some characters didn’t resonate with me, that’s part of storytelling; not every character needs to be likable. The evolving relationship between Vasya and his father, both realizing their mistakes and understanding it’s not too late to fix things, is impactful.
Bhuvan Bam’s acting stands out as a major highlight. He fully immersed himself in the role, and his dedication was evident throughout. Jaaved Jaaferi also delivered an outstanding performance, bringing a distinctive and refreshing take to a villainous role, blending intelligence and patience, making the character compelling to watch.
Suggestions for Improvement
It’s easy to sit back and criticize, so let me offer some constructive feedback:
- Merge all the scenes about Yusuf's past into one cohesive segment. I struggled to connect with the fact that he kills Swati's husband, who was his old boss and is now his new boss, only through a short conversation.
- While the painting serves as a turning point for Vasya after his father's death, consider making it so that they succeed in paying it back. Perhaps his father attacks Yusuf, leading Yusuf to kill him, which bruises his ego and ignites his desire for more.
- Introduce a high-stakes heist with significant risks that ultimately goes awry, this could be part of a larger plan. Think of something akin to the climax of Ocean's 11, allowing them to settle all debts while escaping that life.
- Alternatively, consider ending Yusuf early and exploring where the domino effect leads, creating a sense of thrill and uncertainty.
Conclusion
Despite its shortcomings, this season represents a praiseworthy effort to try something new. Creating a strong follow-up to a successful Season 1 is challenging, but this certainly wasn’t the worst Season 2 in TV history. Credit is due where it’s deserved; innovative ideas like this are rare these days, and I'm glad Bhuvan and the team believed in the project and pursued it. I hope for another season that improves upon this one.
In conclusion, while Season 2 falls short of expectations, it’s still worth watching if you enjoyed the first season. It may be annoying at times, but it’s certainly not unwatchable.
5/10.
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