Posted:
Fantastic episode again tonight.
The writers are on a roll. That's for sure. Consistent episodes with character development and flow and sequences played out to their full potential -- it's what makes me feel like I'd gotten something out of watching the show. Thank you, writers, for returning to your usual style in story-telling and for working so hard to execute fantastic scripts.
I just really hope the writers keep moving in this direction, because they're doing great. For three months, I have felt hollow at the end of an episode. For the past week, I have felt so excited and delighted after every episode.
I'd like to point out that it seems to me the show is going through a transition phase and I have a feeling that the TRPs will kick up once people realize that the crap shown for the past three months is no more. I do wish that the channel promoted their show better and promoted it with focus on Good as the superior game player.
Kher. Moving on...
>> Pros:
1) Raghav and his lawyer talk about evidence
Logical scene. Most shows usually skip the "lawyer meets with client and discuss" scene. But it was nice to see it brought in here. Something that I enjoyed about the whole scene was the nuances that Harshad brought to Raghav. He added something new to him. For instance when Mr. Agarwal told him about the phone call, you'll notice that Harshed used hand gestures more to make the character more lively.
You'll notice that he cocked his head a bit to the side when he asked whether it had been a male or female on the phone. Those minor details become character traits of Raghav -- they make him more vivid to me, add more life to his character and the scene overall. I'm quite enjoying how Harshad is exploring his character, improving here, enhancing there. I feel like I'm exploring Raghav with him. There's constantly something new to discover.
One other thing that I appreciated about Raghav tonight was his manner of speech when he addressed the lawyer. Usually, people in his situation are shown cocky, arrogant, or at times even desperate -- but Raghav was shown levelheaded, rational, and respectful. We saw how Raghav values a good man who is trying to help him -- even when he's agitated.
2) Sia behaves like a roothi huyi biwi
First, I loved Raghav's instant concern for her well-being. The way that he strode over to meet her told me that he was this close to pulling her aside and full-on examining her for bruises/wounds. You'll notice it in the way that his hands raised, withdrew, helpless, and then the urgency in his voice. It was sweet.
Second, I enjoyed Sia's comfort level and confidence in his presence. There wasn't even a second's discomfort or hesitation in her body language and on her face. It was such an incredibly sweet to see Raghav apologizing to her. The way that he asked "naraz ho?", innocently, like a husband would tentatively test his wife's mood. And Sia's answer cracked me up. She was playing it coy without even realizing it. She actually wanted him to apologize, and she kind of liked that he did.
Her refusing him, even when he joined his hands in "Sia mata" and then held his ears and bent his head, just really made me smile, because this moment between them conveyed a lot of interesting facts about their relationship. For one thing, there were elements about the scene that set them widely apart from Jahnvi and V. She refused Raghav's apology with right. She scolded him with right. He apologized with right. And notice that he bent down for her and not the other way around -- even if it was his mistake. V would've never done this. This shows us that Raghav has no arrogance in him. He's willing to sidestep manly pride and whatnot to surrender to the woman he loves. Which is just as powerful as him reprimanding her for being weak. Balance, people.
Third, Sia called Raghav without the ji again and that has now altered their relationship. Growth, progress, call it what you will. But some apnapan is definitely there now. Plus, it was interesting to see how she wasn't scared of scolding him either. She would've done just that if it hadn't been for the blood stain on his shirt.
Which brings me to the third point. FINALLY someone noticed that he'd been beaten.
3) V romances his stick and decides to punish Sia
I have to compliment KB for his performance in this scene. Tonight, there was something just a touch of distinctive about it. There was a slight change to his usual mannerism. For instance, the stick stomping on the table -- it's becoming rhythmic, ritualistic in a way. His connecting with the skull on the stick [which made me think of the Death Mask he wears] and honestly, I'm relieved that the Double V has been removed for good. Because V's scenes when he's talking to himself, to the mirror, are much more impactful and disturbing. Plus it is much more in character for him.
Double V made him seem schizophrenic. All the world's disorders can't be inside of him.
I was severely disturbed by the kiss that he planted on the skull. I mean, really disturbed. This was a slight change to his character, but one that connects better with the V that we know since December 2011 rather than the one we've been seeing for three months. It's the V that I recognize. Disturbing how he smelled the air, like an animal, a predator.
V was back to his original ideas. That fear breeds respect and love. He seemed scarier to me in tonight's episode than he has seemed for the past three months since he headed to Gurgaon in search for Jahnvi. I'm liking the gradual build-up to his dark transformation. He won't kill Sia, because it's about proving that he's her master.
If you noticed it, his problem with Sia is that she's not afraid of him. And since he's a predator, he won't enjoy the hunt unless his prey fears him.
4) Sia brings a doctor for Raghav's wounds
Fantastically logical detail once again -- Sia bringing a doctor to examine Raghav. It does show how she is selfless in her care for him, just like he is selfless in his love for her. This also gives the right balance in their relationship. It's equal.
I liked the frustration/irritation on Raghav's face when the doctor examined him. It was so funny, hilarious, the way that he got annoyed with him for commenting loudly about every wound, making Sia even more emotional. That just made me laugh. Especially when Sia started crying and Raghav, out of frustration, commented that there's salt in tears and so she's hurting him. It was both sweet, beautiful, and funny. If Harshad had voiced it in any other way, it wouldn't have had the same impact. He did it flawlessly.
Something else I liked was how she had her back turned during his examination. Now, I know that a lot of people would've loved to see her catch a glimpse of Raghav shirtless. But this small gesture on her part really made me smile.
Finally, my most favorited part was when he gave her that peptalk about how V had lost, not him. That him beating Raghav was a symbol of V's frustration. That in Raghav's pain, there was V's lost fight. You see, all of Sia's strength -- every ounce of it -- comes from Raghav. Notice the way that his words imprint on her brain, in her memory. Notice how she absorbs what he says and then uses it. When he said the part about how taking the pain would make V lose out, she went back home and did what Raghav had done.
She took the pain V gave her and he lost again.
5) Sia places her feet in boiling water and V is shocked
This was an awesome scene. For one thing, Sriti's performance was frigging mindblowing and another thing was the entire execution of the scene.
First, V mocked her for running away. And then what did she do? She locked the door. It threw him off balance. I loved how he got all insecure and stuttered out "wh-what are you doing?" What a coward.
Second, I loved the confidence with which Sia took her shoes off and stepped into the hot water. You could see the strain on her face, her hands fisted in pain, but she focused on what Raghav had said and held on to it throughout the painful minutes. Something that it tells us is that you can actually endure heat/cold to a large extent if you distract your mind and, as Raghav once said, pain is inside the head. You can control it to an extent. Which we saw Sia do tonight. What a performance.
And her most powerline line was when she told V that in order to feel pain, you must first understand it, which V does not. This, again, showed how well she has come to know, to understand the inner workings of V's mind, his nature.
I loved the confidence in her voice when she responded to Komal, and I really loved how she refused to stumble on her way out of the room, refusing to show weakness in front of V. Yet we, the audience, saw the pain on her face. We got to see her curl her toes in pain and whimper in pain. She wouldn't have been human if she hadn't given into it eventually.
Nicely executed.
6) Komal and Taashu observe strange happenings b/w V and Sia
I'm glad for this piece of logic. It's about time that people notice something going on. And especially Komal is clever and observative.
7) Raghav hears Sia in pain and is frustrated with himself
Fantastic scene. Raghav was so frustrated with himself. Loved the way that he tossed the phone, furious, and I liked the process of his emotions. He went from frustrated to furious to helpless and back to furious, because he realized that shedding tears wouldn't help her now. His own words ringing in his head.
I enjoyed the confrontation with the corrupted cop. They're all intimidated by Raghav. And one thing that I loved was how Raghav placed his hands on the desk and leaned down. I swear, it's epic when he does that. Majorly hot. I'm also a girl here, so bear with me.
8) V in a bewildered mood
Interesting symbolism with the feet -- it formed a V again, just like the burning roses last night. It was also interesting to see V's confusion [why wasn't Sia in pain?] and to watch him reach his conclusion [I have to do something worse].
You see, V has lost all control now. Either he will regain it, or he will lose his sanity. Well, completely.
>> Cons:
1) Taashu's reaction was strangely edited
It was kind of just squeezed in between two other shots -- Komal/Sia and V.
2) Raghav twisting the gun from the cop's grip
Couldn't they have given him a cooler move to make? Like, slamming his palm under the cop's hand and making the gun fly up, and then have him snatch it midair and point it at the cop. See? I'm no action lover, but even I can come up with something smoother than twisting it out of someone's grip like kids fighting over a toy in kindergarten -_-
He's Raghav, for crap's sake. Smooth is his middle name. Don't ruin it, please -_-
3) Give Sia another hairstyle that shows off her neck
I liked it when she had it pinned away from her face. I don't like it when it's all lose. I want to see an actual change in her hairstyle. Maybe a braid now and then, or a high ponytail. Something. Anything.
4) New montage, please
Please. Please. One that has Raghav-Sia rivalling V in size. I'm tired of seeing their tiny faces against V's large frame.
That's all for tonight, peeps. Hope you'll watch the episode. It rocked big time. And Raghav in his cop avatar was smoking.
