Review: 'Minus One: New Chapter' is a compelling outlook on love and loss

Minus One Season 2

Amidst all the many projects coming along, with Valentine's approaching in less than 24 hours, there is one show that has managed to attain a lot of attention already. Minus One, a show that attained immense love with its first season almost three years ago has now made a return with Season 2. The second season of Minus One will once more centre on Ria and Varun and their yearning for one another. This one approaches a prologue wherein it tells us what went wrong with these lovers to bring them to this place. This is my view of the show after having watched it beforehand.

The Plot

The second season of "Minus One" transports us back to the period of time when Ria (Aisha Ahmed) and Varun (Ayush Mehra) were deeply in love and explains how and why they split up.

This time around, the story of the show seem to be significantly more well-rounded, emotionally profound, and nuanced. The delivery is surprisingly different as the grounds for Varun and Ria's breakup are slowly revealed. The episodes will surely make you drown in emotions as you would the character's love and longing. 

A few new characters are introduced this season, but the two primary stars always remain the focus of attention.

What Works?

Although the episodes are lengthier this time, they are still chock full of relevant romance, joy, and heartache moments.

Aisha Ahmed and Ayush Mehra surely exude a sizzling chemistry; the passionate and intense liplocks adding up to that. Some scenes actually gets you being deeply affecting and impactful. The duo's performance feels like it has practically advanced  making it the series's crowning achievement.

In light of this, their first point of disagreement doesn't seem to be particularly solid. The authors, however, skilfully expand on it and make sure that the viewer continues to be interested in their lives.

What Doesn't Work

While the plot generally moves forward very smoothly, it is impossible to ignore how fortunate these characters' lives and issues are. After a point it will get so easy to determine who is actually to blame for in light of Ria and Varun's breakup. It will almost make you feel how easily this could have been spared when things went a bit deeper. 

The Verdict

In a nutshell, Minus One Season 2 is a fresh concept that will make you immerse in the idea of love but will also keep the reality and it's throwbacks lamenting on your head. 

Rating: *** stars (3/5)