What Is the Story About?
Netflix’s ‘She’ Season 2 is a continuation of the debut season of the show. It centres on a lower middle class female police constable, Bhumi Pardeshi (Aaditi Pohankar), who is groomed to act as an undercover agent and infiltrate the criminal operations of mythical drug-lord, Nayak (Kishore Kumar G.). She play-acts as the typical Mumbai prostitute in order to ingratiate herself into Nayak’s affections. But Bhoomi has to first deal with her own burgeoning sexuality, which leaves her fighting for survival at the point of no return.
‘She’ is written by Imtiaz Ali, and directed by Arif Ali.
Performances?
‘She’, both seasons of it, is Aaditi Pohankar‘s show all the way. The actress has gained in confidence this season, and simply owns the role she plays; much like how Bhoomi flaunts a newfound confidence and a chutzpah that is all her own.
Kishore Kumar G. is suitably menacing in his ruthless drug lord character. His character’s tender moments with Bhoomi are curiously captivating. It is a measured, compelling performance from the actor.
The rest of the cast is average, mostly owing to the underwritten roles they’re saddled with.
Analysis
She Season 2 starts off really well. The first episode of the new season hooks the viewer instantly. The opening montage of death and devastation is fascinating. It is the back story of drug kingpin Nayak, who was introduced towards the end of last season, and is the primary antagonist this season. The episode is infused with a palpable tension, as Bhumi struts around the disreputable streets of Mumbai, waiting to be picked up by Nayak.
The tension doesn’t let off even when Nayak finally does pick up Bhumi – on the contrary, it does just the opposite. It escalates to dizzying heights, as you perceive the perilous danger Bhumi could land herself in if her deception in leading the life of a double agent became known to all.
Sadly, however, the narrative fails to build on the exciting initial premise. Instead, it settles into a repetitive, draggy cycle of sex, sleaze and deceit, punctuated by Bhumi’s increasing deviousness in her interactions with her superior officers, as well as with Nayak.
All along, the only thing that keeps the viewer engaged in the far-fetched plot is Aaditi Pohankar’s performance as the irreverent Bhumi. It is a kickass character, brought superbly to life by a kickass performance from Aaditi Pohankar. The fantastical nature of the plot and character does rankle. The once-upon-a-time timid Bhumi fools her superiors with laughable ease, keeps elite intelligence agencies guessing, and even manages to hoodwink Nayak. It is all a bit much to swallow.
At one point in the story, Bhumi likens herself to a player in a video game who must keep running to keep from getting eliminated. By the end of the season, Bhumi’s character becomes as unreal as that video game player she talks about.
Repetitive subplots in the narrative are also a source of irk in She Season 2 – Rupa’s morose, sulking sequences, for instance. They are frankly boring, and only serve to drag down the already draggy plot even further. The part where Bhumi runs a flourishing syndicate of drug-peddlers consisting entirely of aging, out-of-work prostitutes seems silly in the grand scheme of things. It is extremely hard to believe that the business of the most notorious drug kingpin – mover and shaker of the country’s drug trade – rests on Bhumi’s decidedly small network of drug-peddling prostitutes.
Far-fetched plot aside, She Season 2 cannot seem to decide what it wants to be – the erotic coming-of-age of a woman’s latent sexuality; or a crime thriller with typical cat-and-mouse vibes at the heart of it. The series digs its own grave in trying to be both.
Music and Other Departments?
The technical and creative aspects of She Season 2 are good. Mukesh Chhabra’s casting is excellent. The man unerringly plucks the perfect actors from their unacknowledged backgrounds, and plonks them into roles that suit them to the T. Resh Lamba as the eunuch Durga is a case in point. It is terrific casting by any account.
Amit Roy’s camerawork is good throughout, though the sex scenes could have been shot more creatively. Manish Jaitly’s editing is efficient.
Highlights?
Aaditi Pohankar’s performance
The first couple of episodes are solid
Drawbacks?
Narrative gets repetitive and draggy after a solid beginning
Far-fetched plot
Did I Enjoy It?
I found it average
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with reservations
She Season 2 Series Review by Binged Bureau
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