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Fourth night in a row with a consistently great episode. I don't want to jinx it. But I have to admit that the current episodes are frigging awesome. Tonight's a bit quick review though, because I have somewhere to be. Anyway...
Once again, no rushed sequences even combined with suspense. No sudden cuts in the middle of scenes -- they were all allowed to play out to their full potential. There was flow, connected sequences, minimum suspense, and character consistency.
Overall, I love the mood/feel of the episodes for the past four days. Hoping the writers will keep it up in the future as well. One other positive thing about the current track is that the three leads are balanced out with focus on the power of good.
Finally, RaghaVi's story has kickstarted. It was about damn time. Waited three months to see it happen. Without further procrastination...
>> Pros:
1) Raghav remembers to remove the transmitter and laptop
I appreciate a hero who is rational and remembers to remove all traces of his plans. And I can tell you that Raghav did just that. He made sure to make an excuse and head back to headquarters where he removed the transmitter, laptop, and any other sign that he'd been there -- this piece of logic is appreciated and, also, it adds flow and leaves the viewer very much satisfied with the hero.
I loved how, upon realizing that Sia was missing, Raghav shouted her name. Desperation and concern was clear in his voice, and the force in it had me jaw-dropping. Harshad has such a soft and intense voice, usually. Low. But, man, the guy can yell. Hands down.
It was frigging awesome.
2) Raghav cares for Sia
This was another awesome scene tonight. First, I loved Sriti's performance as she walked the streets, oblivious to passing cars and people honking at her. Raghav saved her once again from an oncoming car, and I loved how he flipped out because his heart had almost stopped seeing her get almost hit. There was so much frustration in his voice, anger, and fear for her life. That was something that made me smile, even in such a serious scene.
He realized that she wasn't responding and drew her over to a dhaba where he paid for a glass of water -- notice that he paid for it. This is a small detail about his character, but it's noticable from the day of his entry on the show. He always remembers to pay right away.
He was worried sick. She still wasn't responding. Finally, he made her drink by holding it to her lips [the glass]. This was a beautiful and simple shot that conveyed so much about the character of Raghav and the bond between Raghav and Sia in the future. In fact, the scene was symbolic in itself.
Something that I especially enjoyed about the scene was Harshad's fumbling. You see, it worried Raghav sick that she wasn't reacting to his voice, so his hands were everywhere. In his hair, here and there, helpless. Then when he'd finally gotten her water and she had reacted, he was about to wipe her face, but his hand stalled, hesitated, withdrew. I loved the entire shot of this. His eyes were widened in worry, watching her intently for any sign of life. Brilliant.
3) Sia blabbers and Raghav can't make her stop
This was one of my favorite scenes tonight. It just cracked me up. I absolutely loved Sriti's performance here. She was cute. The way that she started rambling about V and Manali and her parents and how she had to go back. She didn't even stop to breathe. Then there was Raghav's expression to her rambling. It was something like "oh, shit, how do I make her stop and listen?" He seemed thrown by her rambling for a minute, nodding, trying to get a word in -- and then finally yelled to make her stop from panicking.
Brilliant scene. Sweet. Funny. Adding lightness to an otherwise serious moment.
Something that I specifically noticed was HarshSri's sync in this scene. They complement each other so well. They were playing to each other, not falling out of character for even a second. It was intense, in a way. I'm loving how they manage to take a simple scene and just add so much depth to it with their combined performances -- their sync and somehow a connect to each other as actors as well as characters. Beautiful job. Well done.
4) Gayatri's concern for Raghav and Sia
I really liked that we were shown Gayatri's genuine concern for Sia and how she came to realize that she'd started caring for the girl as family. Gayatri, despite of her Ice Queen exterior, has a very warm and open heart -- like her son. This is such a nice detail to the character of Gayatri.
Plus I love how Gayatri always confides in Komal.
I found Komal's expression mysterious again tonight. I feel like she's holding on to some kind of secret or something that weighs down on her. Because Gayatri is always so open and honest with her, yet I sense a wall or distance from Komal's side -- even though she tries not to let it show.
This adds a lot of depth to Komal's character and makes her mysterious. Plus I wondered about the look she gave Krish.
5) Raghav and Sia heading to Manali
I'm glad that Raghav insisted on coming with and Sia allowed it. She does need him there because she's vulnerable right now. She's still processing the psychological pain and only now coming to terms with the fact that she hit rockbottom a long time ago and hasn't been processing/treating her internal wounds. That vulnerability is so visible on her face and it makes you care for her, sympathize with her. Because she's not self-pitying. She's hurting and dealing.
I have to add here that I'm loving this simple Sia -- no makeup, no heavy jewelry. Just the simplicity. Which is apt for her character. She doesn't have the peace of mind to consider dressing up and plus her experiences with V should've turned her off dressing up.
I really liked how Raghav told her that her family was more important to him right now and then he called V to mislead him. Brilliant.
6) V calls Unniyal a pervert
Hilarious. KB's performance was hilarious here. V called Unniyal a pervert, which cracked me up because we all know who's the real pervert: Viraj.
Something that still bothers me is that the writers haven't quite addressed the issue of the marital rape shown on the show. I do hope that it will be addressed in the future, at some point. Because it's not to be treated lightly. There are some who believe that sex without consent isn't rape and that V didn't rape Jahnvi. There are also those who believe that he raped her to protect her rather than exercise his power and possession over her.
I believe that violence turns him on.
7) V blames Jahnvi again, for everything
This was in character for him. Naturally he'd blame Jahnvi for everything. Because that's the only way that he can justify his torture on her -- not that he ever needs justification for it. He believes that he has the right to do it.
His threat disturbed me. He said that he'd make sure she'd never run or walk again.
8) Raghav and Sia hug in the car
What a fantastic scene. There were so many emotions at play here.
Stress, tension, intensity, sweetness, protectiveness, trust, and genuine concern/love, at least from Raghav's side. He thought only to protect her from V and took a chance. And I loved the simple yet damn intense moment when they cheek to cheek. I loved the way he cradled her head -- it was more of a protective gesture than anything else. His one hand was in her hair, at the back of her head, holding her close, and the other hand cupped her cheek. Just beautiful. Unique scene. And damn hot.
Their eye-locks were intense, sparking off the HarshSri chemistry as we know it by now. I loved how her hair got stuck in his shirt and how she was instantly aware of his proximity. She didn't used to be so aware of him before as she is now. I'm liking it. Finally, I feel like she is present mentally when he's around whereas before she constantly seemed distant, even when they had an eye-lock or moment.
Loving this consistent Sia.
Harshad and Sriti, hands down, you rock together. Brilliant performance in this scene.
9) Raghav and V racing each other
First of all, I've never been a fan of car races/chases, but this was one awesome scene. I loved it. There was flow, and the suspense didn't overpower the sequence. There was a lot more focus on the characters rather than shooting the race from all kinds of angles or adding flashy effects. I'll take characters over suspense any day.
Loved how Harshad leapt into the front seat and grabbed the steering wheel. That was so damn smooth, man.
V's angry rant about "who does he think he is?" and his cursing cracked me up. Seriously, I'm glad that they've made V serious again with his usual morbid humor. I couldn't stand it with the Double V drama before. I'm liking that they're focusing back on the blackness of the character rather than swinging him like a pendulum. He's the villain and should not be glorified, but rather explored as a villain and countered by forces of good.
10) Harshad's expressions -- especially in the racing sequence!
Just when I think that he can't do it better than he is, he proves me wrong and stuns me with his performance. Tonight his expressions were full of life again. From the first scene when he pretended that Shekhawat had escaped him to the final scene in the car -- he used his eyes, widening them and narrowing them in all the right places. He did eye-brow lifts, used his facial muscles again and again, making his face come alive. He did these small hand gestures that added so much character to Raghav.
His expressions in the car were mindblowing. I especially loved it during the race when he wore the shawl around his head and you could only see his eyes. He was scary! But in an awesome way! Not in a V Creepwa way. He looked fierce.
11) V drives off the road and freaks out
This was hilarious and well-deserved. It's so nice to see evil losing out now and then. I'm loving Unniyal right now. Need to thank him for this little stunt. Heh. V freaking out was so hilarious. He was furious with Unniyal and Raghav.
12) Dialogues were powerful and scenes were played out, uninterrupted
Self-explanatory. Thanks, CVs.
>> Cons:
1) When Sia knocks into Raghav, the car hadn't even swerved one bit
Um, that was a bit poorly executed. She knocked into him, but the car was still moving all steady and straight. No swerves.
2) Not a fan of dupattas scenes
I'm seriously not a fan of dupatta scenes like the ones where they cover a guy's face and he has to remove it. It's just not cool and it's overused. Harshad did manage to sell it, but that was because of his performance. The scene in itself was badly executed. In fact, the precap version was better.
What I did love about this scene was after he had removed her dupatta from his face and he sat with it in his hands. He looked so lost for a moment. Like he didn't want to let go of it. Ever.
3) The precap from yesterday
I liked the shot of Sia in yesterday's precap better. Her kajal was a bit smeared around the edges, which made her eyes look vulnerable -- especially the way that she stared out the window. I wish they'd used that shot of her tonight. It was stronger somehow.
Kher, these are minor cons that didn't bother me much. I loved, loved, loved the episode and I'm so scared that I'll be disappointed now, because my expectations have gotten high again after getting such fantastically consistent episodes with character depth/growth and balance four nights in a row.
Please don't let me down, CVs. Keep it up!
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