What Is the Story About?
Asur Season 2, on Jio Cinema, picks up the threads of the mythology-driven crime drama, from the ending of the first season. Forensic expert Dhananjay Rajput (Arshad Warsi) has retreated to a monastery in Dharamshala, to grieve over past sins. CBI forensic specialist Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) is mourning the loss of his daughter Rhea, and is on the verge of a divorce with coder wife, Naina (Anupriya Goenka). However, as demonic antagonist Shubh unleashes a fresh spate of murders and mayhem, the team, including Nusrat (Ridhi Dogra) and new entrant Paul (Meiyang Chang), must re-mobilise, in order to stop the Asur.
Performances?
Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti hold the series together commendably, despite its tedious length and complex storyline. Anupriya Goenka brings the required gravitas to her role. Meiyang Chang is dynamic as CBI officer Paul. His presence compensates somewhat for the absence of Sharib Hashmi, one of the most compelling actors in the debut season of the show.
Vishesh Bansal and Abhishek Chauhan are decent in their roles. Atharva Vishwakarma, as Anant, is impressive. Amey Wagh overstays his welcome in the second season, and appears caricaturish at best. The rest of the cast is average.
Analysis
Asur Season 2 starts off really slow, and tediously so. The first few episodes are devoid of any spark or vitality. Despite the busy narrative and things unfolding constantly, the first few episodes lack that coveted edge-of-the-seat quality. Instead, repetitive sequences bog down the pace and storytelling, infusing the story with a weird dullness.
The actors too seem to be just going through the motions, with none displaying any charisma or energy. The extra long one-hour episodes don’t help matters much by any means. Unlike the first season, Asur Season 2 also lacks the breathtaking twists and turns that made Asur Season 1 such a compelling watch. Twists, when they do appear in the story, are so uninspiring and unexciting that they leave the viewer completely dissatisfied and disappointed with the season on the whole.
It’s only in the last few episodes, out of a total of eight, that the story of Asur 2 gathers steam and momentum. As we hurtle towards the end of the series, the humdrum-until-now narrative acquires a breakneck quality, something that is sorely missing in the first half of the plot. The script meshes together several genres at this point in the storytelling, weaving a fine blend of science fiction, mythology and psychological thrill into the plot.
As the protagonists race against time to immobilise the sinister plans of the devil incarnate, the viewer gets a re-taste of the thrill that made Asur Season 1 such a hit. However, it’s a case of too little, too late. If only the makers had imbued the entire series with the same urgent quality, the new season of Asur would be a worthy successor to its hit precursor.
The latter episodes of the series also give us our first glimpse of a grown up Shubh Joshi, played until now by the teenaged Vishesh Bansal. The reveal is not earth-shattering by any standard. The subplot involving the monk kid Anant (Atharva Vishwakarma) is a nice touch. It lends much-needed elements of suspense and mystery to the narrative, both of which are missing in this season of Asur.
The series finishes on an open-ended note, thereby leaving the doors open for Asur Season 3, if it is greenlit, which we suspect it will be. The combination of mythology, science fiction and crime in the flagship series is too potent for rising streaming platform Jio Cinema to let it go easily, without milking it to the last drop.
To sum it up, Asur Season 2 is slow and tedious in the beginning but picks up pace in the second half. It is still a disappointing watch, without any thrills and chills. It will remind you of Sacred Games, not just in story, but also in the mediocrity of the sequel to a compelling debut season.
Music And Other Departments?
Dharmaraj Bhatt’s background score is erratic and inconsistent. It elevates the storytelling in some parts, while totally dulling it in others. Charu Takkar’s editing is competent.
Highlights?
None
Drawbacks?
Tedious length
Slow and boring narrative
Lacks spark, excitement or drama
Did I Enjoy It?
Not much
Will You Recommend It?
Only for die-hard fans of Asur, otherwise not
Asur Season 2 Series Review by Binged Bureau
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