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nidhinagaraj
Reviews
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024)
Beauty without brains
If you are a sucker for visually pleasing set pieces, then this is a treat for your eyes. The set design will definitely be the benchmark for Indian cinema for days to come. Every scene looks like a painting. The costume design is immaculately seductive, feminine and elegant making everyone look so rich in taste.
First half of the show, with a lengthy narrative introduces us to its timeline and courtesan's life beyond the singing , dancing and beds. Themes like betrayal, envy, scheming,revenge, poltical subplots are slowly disclosed which gets you hooked as it builds up immense curiosity to find out how it all pans out. As it is set in the pre independence era, it also sheds light on freedom struggle amongst different strata of the society. The writing is just so clean and detailed. Highly appreciable.
But for some reason, the show makers decide to abandon all of these, all the great characters, the story building they themselves did so spectacularly. They just give up all of this to some lazy writing towards the end and devote the concluding moments in exploring "Patriotism" out of the blue. This immediately makes you unhinged from the screenplay, story and it sets in a strong sense of detachment towards the characters.
The show had everything going right for them since the beginning. The actors did a superb job. The art department blew it out of the park. The story had immense potential. But for some reason the writers were in a hurry to finish and didn't climax smoothly XD
Could've easily been a 9/10 but sadly doesn't hold up its side of the bargain.
Baby Reindeer (2024)
Let's keep the reality aside for a minute
The show takes the "stalker-victim" genre to levels that's never been explored before in recent times. From a technical stand point, it's definitely decent. The acting, sets, screenplay all add up. This level of rawness in story telling and technical prowess is rare in today's "sensitive world".
As this is based on real life incidents and also enacted by the infamous victim/speaker itself, you can call it a biography of sorts. So, it does get difficult to finish the show without your moral compass breaking into pieces, questioning everything you thought you knew.
So try keeping your moral compass and the reality aside and watch the show. If you can't do this, then this is not the show for you.
The show could have easily been an 8 if only the supporting characters had some deapth and screen time. This would've made the narrative have more layers and perspective as it is too one dimensional right now.
Its an extremely strenuous to watch the show without being absolutely disgusted and in constant disbelief, as the show deals with some extremely convoluted feelings and emotions. If you are someone passionate, feeling any empathy for the main characters or rooting for them to win is almost impossible.
So mind you ! It's not for the faint hearted.
The Bear (2022)
Prodigal son returns home !
I was skeptical about this show but the turmoil it caused when it was nominated for the,''Best TV show - Musical/Comedy" on all the major award shows fueled my curiosity and I gave in. And man, it was worth it.
Firstly, the casting is on point. Nobody can fault it. It has 2 seasons each of 8 episodes spanning 35mins average which just hits the right spots. The show doesn't waste time on any pointless sub plots or other kinds of distractions. It is right on your face making progress right from the beginning.
Behind the kitchen drama on the show feels very organic and it's well shot. All the verbal wars is just so chaotic that it makes you smash your head but you are still hooked onto it and hopelessly in love with the chaos so organically formed between the characters.
The writing and direction is the best part of this show as it makes the journey from the very first episode to the last episode of S02 so seamless. The character arcs of literally everyone on the show is brilliant to witness. It makes you hate, emphasize and finally root for them, all in the same order.
The humour is not for everyone. It's 'if you get it, you get it' kind of humor.
Cannot wait for the third season.
Griselda (2024)
"Half baked"
For good or bad, I went in without knowing a thing about this lady, "Griselda Blanco". After finishing the show, I still somehow felt like the character had more to offer than what was portrayed. So after looking up what's left of her on the internet, one realises that this show terribly missed a chance to showcase such a character and its world in it's truest form. The show comes off as an average intern's rendition.
The show gloriously fails at attempting the world building that it clearly requires from the get go. The source material had every element which was essential for a nail biting story telling. Miami-drug lords- politics-internal turmoil- Cops- woman-guns-coke etc. But somehow the writers weren't able to capitalise this into something worthy of our time.
The styling and cars meant to be from the 80's is decent.
I like Sofia Vergara but she definitely is a misfit for pulling off something of this kind. She definitely tries but the writing and direction also fails her which makes it even more difficult to watch her. Griselda Blanco as a character has a lot of layers which had to be carefully dissected, understood and then portrayed but the show barely scratches the surface.
Nobody understands the character arc of the leading lady in order to empathize her. For some reason the show makers were in a hurry to finish the show due to which the timeline in the show just doesn't make any sense.
It's a hammy portrayal of such an intimidating and a ruthless personality. Missed opportunity for sure.