What Is the Story About?
Vikrant Dhawan (Vivek Oberoi) is back, and he wants nothing but revenge on Yashwant Patil, aka Bhaisahab (Aamir Bashir). Why does he want vengeance so badly? And the connection between the two is one of the key plots of the third season of Inside Edge.
Zarina Mallik (Richa Chaddha) is caught in the middle of a fixing scandal. She has to choose between the devil and the deep sea to come out of it. Whose side does she take?
And finally, Vayu Raghavan (Tanuj Virwani) has a scandalous past behind him, undercover by none other than his sister, Rohini Raghavan (Sayani Gupta). Vayu, already facing the heat from teammates and series with arch-nemesis Pakistan, has to deal with the googly and come out a winner. Did he manage it?
Besides the above three main plots, many subplots deal with the latest issues in cricket like fixing, legalisation of betting, endorsements, broadcast rights, etc. A combination of all the above forms Inside Edge Season 3.
Performances?
Most of the cast from the previous season reprise their roles for the new one. Vivek Oberoi gets a prominent role again after the first season. He manages the entire season with a couple of expressions that range from happiness to shock. It is the same scene after scene, punctuated with unintentionally hilarious one-liners.
Richa Chaddha has a decent role, but she doesn’t get enough scope to shine. Her character has an inconsistent graph. Sometimes it has all the qualities to make it a powerful one, but other times she makes it look like going through the motions. It is despite an emotional flashback given to her role.
Aamir Bashir and Tanuj Virwani have the best character arcs in the entire season. While the former dominates the proceedings in the first half, the latter gets precedence in the second half of the season. Both have a strong undercurrent of emotional turmoil, which has been portrayed effectively.
Akshay Oberoi is the latest addition to the series. He is a welcome presence but somehow doesn’t get his due. It feels like it is just a start, and there is more to come ahead. Siddhant Gupta starts on an impressive note but gets lacklustre, much like his bowling, as the series progresses. Amit Sial is impressive in his short stint, again. The rest of the cast have bits and pieces roles, and they are adequate.
Analysis
Karan Anshuman, the creator of the series Inside Edge, is back with the show’s third season. Kanishk Varma handles the direction.
The first few episodes of the third season are very repetitive and formulaic. They follow a pattern of flashback and blackmailing back to back, so much so that it becomes very predictable after a point. The one-liners in English add to the cringe levels.
At the same time, multiple subplots are introduced that have shocking revelations, deceit, love and hate, and a dark past in common. They are the emotions that run common among them and are the only reason for some sense of consistency. Otherwise, given the wide range of topics, Inside Edge 3 could have been all over the place.
Again, among the various tracks that work the most are the cricket related nineties and early 2000’s nostalgia that has been dramatized for the season. This time, there is no PPL cricket; instead, it is an India versus Pakistan Test series. The whole narrative is a cooked up version of the events that took place in reality.
The Vayu Raghavan track is next as it offers some intrigue and is neatly mixed with the cricket proceedings. The fixing scandal and other topics are adequately inserted into it.
While still related to cricket, the betting tracks are moving away from the interesting core drama. It is also properly linked (eventually) to Bhaisahab’s demise. The emotional angle is overdone, which adds to the inconsistent character nature.
The revenge is the least interesting track of all. The overacting and routine flashback ruins the proceedings. The former makes it look like an unintentional comedy many times. The board room meeting, the decision making, the dialogues etc., make it look like a spoof of real-life events.
The final few episodes merging the different tracks are alright. Again, the cricket shines despite the cricketing shots’ shoddy execution. The ending sets things up intriguingly for the next season.
Overall, Inside Edge Season 3 essentially feels like a spoof of the recorded cricketing events the cricket lovers would have followed. Still, the ‘cricket’ related track works. Everything else is a dumb and silly guide to various events surrounding cricket. Give Inside Edge 3 a try if you have a lot of time to kill and don’t mind the exaggerated melodrama.
Music and Other Departments?
The music by John Stewart Eduri is okay. While nothing particularly stands out, it serves the purpose. Vivek Shah’s cinematography is less flashy this season, keeping in tune with the darker theme overall. The editing by Umesh Gupta, Anshul R Gupta, and Sanjay Sharma is a mixed bag.
Highlights?
Recreation Of Nineties Test Series
Plot Involving Vayu
Unintentional Fun
Drawbacks?
Inconsistent Tone
Unnecessary Melodrama
Writing
Formulaic Narrative
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, Very Few Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, With Huge Reservations
Inside Edge Season 3 Review by Binged Bureau
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