She Season 2: A Disjointed, Uninspired, and Ultimately Unnecessary Journey
Imtiaz Ali’s She, a series that aimed to explore the empowering nature of female sexuality, has stumbled into a narrative labyrinth in its second season. While season 1 sparked debate surrounding its exploration of sex and empowerment, season 2 departs from this theme, instead opting for a convoluted tale of an undercover cop who descends into a morally murky world. Sadly, the result is a disjointed and uninspired experience that feels desperately familiar and ultimately unnecessary.
A Tale Told a Thousand Times Better Elsewhere
She season 2 borrows heavily from the tropes of crime thrillers like Narcos and Breaking Bad, but fails to craft a compelling narrative of its own. It grapples with a lack of scale, creating a disconnect between its grand ambitions and the execution on screen. The villain’s supposed power and the protagonist’s supposed significance are constantly emphasized through dialogue, but the world feels small and characters lack depth. Their motivations and transformations are often dictated through the words of other characters rather than conveyed through their actions.
A Script With Dissociative Identity Disorder
Ali’s script, brought to life by director Arif Ali, struggles to establish a clear narrative direction. The series jumps abruptly between seemingly unconnected storylines, leaving the audience lost in a disjointed narrative that lacks cohesion. This lack of momentum is further aggravated by the inclusion of unnecessary tangents and redundant scenes, resulting in a meandering experience that feels like it’s going nowhere.
A Finale Without Direction
The final episode, driven by a cryptic voiceover, suggests an abrupt end to the series, leaving viewers bewildered after a season that hinted at a much larger story for the protagonist. This rushed conclusion, squeezed into a finale flashforward, contradicts the earlier episodes’ hints of a more expansive future for the character. It’s a surprising turn of events, especially considering Netflix India hasn’t marketed the season as the final chapter.
A Familiar Cast, A Lackluster Performance
Aaditi Pohankar continues her portrayal of Bhumi, with an accent that remains unconvincing and an overall performance that feels hammy. Kishore Kumar G, however, has a more prominent role this season, spending much of his time in a Tom Cruise-inspired Minority Report setup, interacting with monitors. While he delivers a muted performance, he struggles to convey emotion when more dramatic delivery is required. The lack of chemistry between the two actors further detracts from the supposed passion between their characters, highlighting the limitations of the writing.
A Crime Show Without Convincing Crime
The police work in She season 2 remains a source of humor, not in the intended way. ACP Jason Fernandez, played by Vishwas Kini, inexplicably condones police brutality, despite his supposed intelligence and experience. The series also presents a laughably exaggerated reality, with news reports claiming that drug consumption has skyrocketed in Mumbai due to the actions of one relatively small-time criminal. This disconnect between the series’ claims and the believability of the world it creates further weakens the narrative.
The Question of She’s Existence
The success of She season 2 has raised questions about why the series was granted a second season when other Indian Netflix originals have been canceled after less than stellar showings. Despite the series’ lack of critical acclaim and fan base, Netflix India seems determined to support Imtiaz Ali, perhaps hoping to land his next film project.
However, this reliance on relationships seems inconsistent with Netflix India’s previous actions. Series like Selection Day, which received mixed reviews, were canceled after two seasons. Similarly, despite the critical failings of Bard of Blood, Netflix continues to work with Red Chillies, including on upcoming projects.
Who is She for?
The ultimate question remains: who is She season 2 for? Is it truly a creative endeavor or merely a favor to a prominent filmmaker? With little critical or audience support, She season 2 sadly feels like a wasted opportunity, a testament to a confused artistic vision and a lack of compelling narrative.
