HOMELAND SERIES REVIEW

Where do I start?

It’s intimidating to even attempt reviewing what I think is one of the best shows ever made. It’s hard to articulate my admiration for Homeland. 

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, the next season presents itself to upend that notion and serve you with the same bold writing, a myriad of colorful characters, gritty direction and utterly convincing performances if not more. Thanks to the pitch-perfect casting, not a single actor looks out of place. Some seasons, of course, are a little weaker than the others, but even when the show doesn’t appear to be at its biting best, it still remains way above the standards set by ‘regular’ shows. When we talk of great shows, I’ve heard a lot of Breaking Bad, Succession, Game of Thrones, etc. But not once did I hear Homeland being counted among the best. For a show whose filmmaking not only touched the epitome of excellence but also handsomely sustained it for 8 seasons, it’s an absolute shame. 

Each season follows a different primary storyline with multiple interconnecting threads. You cannot and should not make the mistake of skipping a season. The action keeps shifting between US, Berlin, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Israel and multiple other regions rocked by the instability perpetuated by warring extremist groups. Amidst the thicket of all the drama, espionage, double crossings and negotiations, what truly stands out is that the show never shies away from laying bare the moral dilemmas faced by the key decision makers in the government who only act under the pretext of serving one’s nation: an entity born out of our collective imagined reality.

As extolled before, the show boasts of phenomenal actors. Yet, it can’t be said enough how much the show rests on the able shoulders of the two protagonists: Carrie Mathison (played by Claire Danes) and Saul Berenson (played by Mandy Patinkin). Their majestic performances matches up to the solid storytelling and even towers above the weaker episodes to keep the proceedings consistently engaging. 

I’m going with a perfect 5/5. After consuming about 100 hours of the show, there’s a big Homeland-shaped void in my life. 

YOU (Netflix show) REVIEW

Chilling, disturbing, misogynistic and yet somehow deliciously thrilling, YOU is a must-watch for anyone in search of a frequently engaging edge of a seat drama riddled with volatile twists. 

The reason I used the phrase ‘frequently engaging’ is because it is, in fact, far from perfect. The show spanning 5 seasons, much like its characters, goes through waves of highs & lows and mood swings during which many episodes deviate from the main plot and become occasionally tiring to watch. Each episode in each season is roughly around the same time (50 min per episode and 10 episodes per season), and I wish the makers didn’t feel the need to stick to the same length for those episodes which could easily have been wrapped up in around 30 minutes.

Still, if there’s one reason why I insist you watch YOU, it is for lead actor Penn Badgley. Joe Goldberg (the main protagonist played by Penn) is one of the most complex written characters with multiple facades of fear, believability, vulnerability, creepy romance among others, and yet Penn portrays the role with a dignified comfort that’s so rare to find. Although the show boasts of countless unforgettable characters played by extremely competent actors, Penn’s omnipresence through his voiceovers and impeccable acting makes it quite hard to associate the show with anyone or anything else but him.

It’s impossible not to be mesmerized by the plot development, intelligent twists and the sheer unpredictability of the actions of the principal characters. It’s a show which you’re willing to wholeheartedly accept with all its flaws. In all the hoo ha of the double crossings, scheming partners and waterfall murders (meaning one murder leading to the other), the central and recurring theme is to question if it’s ultimately wrong to judge the actions of an adult in isolation from the hardships and neglect they face in their childhoods.

I’m going with an average of 4/5 for all the seasons combined. Although each season has its own merits and drawbacks (the details of which I chose not to discuss in this review), I felt it’s more fitting to think of it and review it as one homogenous entity. 

PAATAL LOK SEASON 2 REVIEW

What a great way to begin 2025! First Black Warrant and now season 2 of Paatal Lok. While the tone of Black Warrant was deliberately more indie and hence more palatable only to a discerning audience, Pataal Lok emerges as a solid entertaining thriller painstakingly spun out of a complex web of scheming politicians, drug dealers, unstoppable police officers and much more. All this in a backdrop of the tense and sensitive sociopolitical environment of Nagaland, where violence and protests are just around the corner waiting to erupt.

Without giving away anything about the juicy narrative in which no character (however small) exists without a reason, all you need to know is this show is a must watch. Season 1 had already raised the bar mighty high, but season 2 is riveting in its own distinct way. The makers (the genius combo of writer-creator Sudeep Sharma and director Avinash Arun) have thankfully not tried to emulate the story or style of first season merely for the sake of legacy. The only repetition they could be accused of is that of harnessing their collective storytelling prowess to craft a binge-worthy show yet again riddled with shocking twists and turns that merit repeat viewing just to fully absorb the multiple facets of the dense plot. 

Perhaps what Sudeep and team can pride themselves the most on are the indelible impressions left behind in the form of the colorful and utterly relatable characters and the actors that inhabit these roles. Hathiram Chaudhary, in my opinion, is one of the best fictional characters created for screen. Jaideep Ahlawat (easily the baap of all actors by a handsome margin) practically lives the character and, in a way, does become its permanent nivasi. I know it sounds creepy, but there’s a kind of sensory delight in watching him bash up the bad guys topped with the flamboyant use of gaalis that hit the ears like a soothing melody. Although Ishwak Singh and Tillotama Shome also deserve special mention it can’t be said enough that each and every character neatly and well deservedly fits into this jigsaw puzzle.

I’m going with 4/5 for season 2 of Paatal Lok. Notwithstanding the minor issues of pacing in some episodes, the show will be (and should be) regarded worldwide as one of the best thrillers produced by India. If you haven’t watched season 1, I hope this review compels you to set foot into the netherworld.