UPDATE: downgraded the rating as it's clearly a series copied from the Hulu series "Casual".
As usual Indian "entertainment" can't do anything original - sigh.
I watched the series a couple of weeks ago and gathered my thoughts:
Initially I liked the different (for an Indian production) and boundary breaking series. I thought it certainly pushed themes far and shed an eye opening light on modern India.
But as I finished the 1st season it just didn't feel genuine and major & minor issues bothered me.
The series is clearly meant to emulate an American series which would make it edgy for India. There are so many problems with the show.
For one the excessive swearing, I don't mind swear words but it became too repetitive and in your face stupid. A lot of this show feels like it's made for shock value and forcing the plot ti look 'cool' & edgy - it's not cool or edgy. Don't get me started on the idea of making smoking look cool - that's so 1980's - the world has moved on from smoking cigarettes, it's really NOT cool at all.
Secondly the hookups. They really threw in every kind of scenario they could think of in the first season: the one nighters, casual sex, group sex, lesbian intimacy, the gay references but no men actually kissing, the open relationships, the bizarre Mother & Daughter liking the same teacher. I haven't a problem with any of it but it's so forced again to make it like an American series trying to be edgy.
Thirdly, India has almost 1.4 billion people, the series shows a very sparse city with empty bars, restaurants, public spaces, work places.
Fourthly, the so called respective work places the siblings work in. Lara initially works at a place and she has NO laptop or desktop at her desk but works from a notebook diary? The brother keeps mentioning coding algorithms but we see none of him actually working. The art gallery night has so few people, also we get a lame non-conclusion to the art not selling - we spent a couple of episodes chasing that artists masterpieces and NOTHING gets sold from that artist?
Take a page from the numerous Korean series being made. Their attention to detail is fantastic and their productions promote their country, cities, food & way of life whilst having modern themes.
Fifthly, the daughter whose acting is subpar (sorry) studies at university yet no actual books or courses are mentioned or acted out.
I could go on but the ATTENTION TO DETAIL is so haphazard, it's laughable and brings down the entire show.
The shining moments are the overbearing parents and the cook maid, they are good actors and play their parts very well, pity very little shown of them.
If there is a season 2, by gosh there is a lot that should be changed, more emphasis on attention to detail and yes dialling down the shock value for the sake of it.
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