What Is the Story About?
Prime Video has boarded The Viral Fever’s hit show ‘Aspirants’ for the new Season 2. The story of the three UPSC aspirants turned friends from Rajinder Nagar — Abhilash Sharma (Naveen Kasturia), Guri (Shivankit Singh Parihar), and SK (Abhilash Thapliyal) — resumes six years later. Each has their own struggles, conflicts and personal demons to face.
There’s also the venerated Sandeep Bhaiya (Sunny Hinduja) in the mix. A clash of idealogies between Abhi and Sandeep threatens to derail everything they’ve ever aspired for.
Aspirants Season 2 is created by Arunabh Kumar and Deepesh Sumitra Jagdish, directed by Apoorva Singh Karki, and produced by The Viral Fever.
Performances?
The performances in Aspirants Season 2 are excellent across the board. Naveen Kasturia is terrific as Abhilash Sharma. He brings a vulnerability to a distinctly unlikeable character, along with lending nuance to it. Sunny Hinduja makes you want to like and hate his character of Sandeep Bhaiya equally – an achievement of sorts, considering how outright lovable his character was in Aspirants Season 1.
Shivankit Singh Parihar and Abhilash Thapliyal are superb and eminently watchable in Season 2, lending formidable support to the narrative in their trademark ways. Namita Dubey returns as Dhairya in Season 2, rendering a quiet, efficient performance. Tengam Celine as Deepa Nabam suits her role to the T.
Analysis
Aspirants Season 2 stands up well to its hugely successful debut with Aspirants Season 1. Most second seasons fail to live up to the magic of the debut season. Aspirants Season 2 falls somewhere in between – magical, but with a touch of mundaneness. Of course, if asked to choose between the two, most would have a tough time deciding which is better.
That said, the new season of Aspirants picks up somewhat slowly. The first episode, in particular, is a tad boring and unremarkable. Though not particularly compelling, the episode does help to establish the narrative quickly and efficiently. Stay with the show, and it gets better in the later episodes.
Much water has flown under the bridge by the time the events of Aspirants Season 2 take place. Abhilash is now the District Magistrate (DM) of Rampur, Guri (Shivankit Singh Parihar) is a struggling start-up owner, while SK (Abhilash Thapliyal) teaches in a coaching class, but aspires to launch his own UPSC coaching center. The venerated Sandeep Bhaiya (Sunny Hinduja) is now Assistant Labour Commissioner (ALC) of Rampur, who must report to Abhilash.
If last season was all about the back-breaking grind of UPSC preps, failures, heartbreaks and other young adult problems, this season sets the narrative bang in the middle of the real world — where life is a constant tightrope walk between tough decisions and their tougher consequences; difficult rights and perceived wrongs; harsh reality and rosy idealism.
In short, Aspirants Season 2 is a choice between a rock and a hard place; also an unexpected face-off between Sandeep Bhaiya and Abhilash.
The finale episode of Aspirants Season 2 is a stand-out. It is crisp and invigorating, and brims with moments that kindle hope, conviction, rousing highs and crushing lows. The dialogues are superb, with a wealth of wisdom hidden in their depths. Some, mind you, might find them cringey and preachy.
To sum it up, Aspirants Season 2 is a fitting follow-up to the original — persuasive and engaging. It is written with a deft hand, and directed with a delicate sensibility. The season ends on a cliffhanger, turning a beloved protagonist into a villain of sorts. Give it a watch for sure.
Music and Other Departments?
Sangeet and Siddharth Haldipur’s background music is grave and stark, enhancing the narrative subtly but surely. Prashanth Ramachandran’s camerawork is fluid. Shiv Prakash’s editing is flawless.
Highlights?
Performances
Story and writing
Direction
Drawbacks?
Slow and boring start
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Aspirants S2 Series Review by Binged Bureau
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