The Allure of Invisibility: 1/11

"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.
Niccol Machiavelli, The Prince

There is something intriguing about a character who is fed to you in bits and pieces. In morsels of such delicious intensity that they end up whetting your appetite further. Each bite leaving a lingering pang in your stomach, each bit turning you more ravenous. I think in Lord of the Rings this is the reason why Sauron has the power to send goosebumps up your spine. He's hardly ever there. In reality there's not much power he has. But in there lies the technique. Not revealing him, letting this air of suspense build, letting you imagine because imagination, of course, is such a powerful thing to have. Because once we're left to our own imagination we let the characters rise into such omnipotent roles with powers to wreak havoc on our brains.

Now I won't compare Ranveer to Sauron for obvious reasons but I find it almost a meticulous, carefully crafted technique to keep him in mystery. Because that's who he is. 3 episodes in and he leaves you with more questions than answers. The answers are nowhere in sight but the steel in his eyes, the calculated stride, that remote callousness in his face, that absolute insensitivity to any emotion. Does he cry? Does he feel fear? Is he ever disappointed? Does he love his family intensely? Does he feel the way we feel? Or is he indifferent to the raw potent allure of emotions that more often than not make us imperfect and impulsive, loveable and crazy.

But you don't know because this is part of his facade. You will never know what he feels. You'll never know what he wants. Because he's just ahead of the curve. Sometimes we cannot look at our own emotional patterns from a logical point of view because we're too attached to the moments. But for someone like Ranveer who doesn't even let a hint escape through the surface, emotions almost feel mechanical. As if they're a specimen he can put under his telescope and analyze and use them as mechanically as possible.


"The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
Niccol Machiavelli, The Prince


He appears to be a man of iron control. A man who never loses his cool. A man who views the world from a lens of indifference enjoying a spectacle. To be that powerful, to be that rich, to reach such a height and to stay at the top you've to become someone else. So what is it that Ranveer loves most? power? Spectacle? Pretenses? What drives the man?
Because perhaps right there is our answer to this very conflict that seems to brew up in the show as a whole.


I don't know whether he'll be good or bad, grey or outright villainous, but I feel as if the more we'll know him the more there will be to know. And that is just straight up fascinating.


"Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.
Niccol Machiavelli, The Prince
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Hooked to the show! I guess I could write like a 1000 words essay more. The key highlights are the pace, the characterization. The sheer contrast between the rawness of Kabir's emotions to the almost mechanical stance of Ranveer. They're different and the difference is stark. And absolutely love how Aanchal isn't straight up white.

These are three people who see the world with three perspectives. Ironically if you could summarize their ideals in one line it'll be the same 'as long as you get to your desired destination, it doesn't matter how you got there'

RIDA.

Rida... 🤗...kameeni... Trust you to make a post, quoting Machiavelli's The Prince nevertheless. I am pleasantly surprised by the show but I am keeping my expectations low.

Originally posted by: Cat.

Rida... 🤗...kameeni... Trust you to make a post, quoting Machiavelli's The Prince nevertheless. I am pleasantly surprised by the show but I am keeping my expectations low.

With Ranveer, you see him hold his emotions back but you can also kind of sense the wheels working in his head, measured, calculated is Ranveer, also he is no goody two-shoes, there is an underlying menace in everything he says, the callous ease at which he laughed about his brother murdering someone, the way he views people beneath the Raichands as the speck of dirt on his shoes, a complete contrast to his brother Kabir, and I wouldn't call Kabir, completely innocent, there is a bit of crazy in Kabir, that his family is very aware of, they are watchful and wary of Kabir, every time he speaks, every time he acts, they are wary. Almost like they are aware of a ticking bomb, though today's episode kind of extrapolated that he is no loaded gun. Both the brothers and Aanchal are all fascinating, especially because they bring the grey with them.

AADHEEERA PAKOREYVISARJAAN! 🤗 THIS FEELS LIKE OLD TIMES I MIGHT JUST GET SENTI NOW!! I think the part I love the most about the show for now is that this is no game for innocents. They're all realistic grey-shaded people. Though obviously how dark is the question. I love grey-shaded characters so much. They send the morality for a spin and the rules completely change and you feel a connect you don't feel with black or white people. There is no conflict there.
Keeping my expectations low too because indian shows. eventual demise is the truth. I want to be surprised but won't wait for it. Right now i'm really loving the pace and the characterization and obviously the tight story.

Machiavelli is so quotable. I've been DYINGGG to see a Machiavellian hero on Indian TV cos desi tvvv for so long but even the bad ones are whitewashed. IDK if either of the two will be one but that'd be so awesome tho.😆 And man Aanchal. she won me with the bribe and lipstick part. looking forward to her scenes with the boys now.

Originally posted by: FleetingWishes.

AADHEEERA PAKOREYVISARJAAN! 🤗 THIS FEELS LIKE OLD TIMES I MIGHT JUST GET SENTI NOW!! I think the part I love the most about the show for now is that this is no game for innocents. They're all realistic grey-shaded people. Though obviously how dark is the question. I love grey-shaded characters so much. They send the morality for a spin and the rules completely change and you feel a connect you don't feel with black or white people. There is no conflict there.
Keeping my expectations low too because indian shows. eventual demise is the truth. I want to be surprised but won't wait for it. Right now i'm really loving the pace and the characterization and obviously the tight story.

Machiavelli is so quotable. I've been DYINGGG to see a Machiavellian hero on Indian TV cos desi tvvv for so long but even the bad ones are whitewashed. IDK if either of the two will be one but that'd be so awesome tho.😆 And man Aanchal. she won me with the bribe and lipstick part. looking forward to her scenes with the boys now.

FLEETINGINCHAAA
f**k
I have been stalking the forum for last three days, but had to pop up when I saw your saadaa hua sa face. 🤣
TELL ME YOU WILL be watching this show. Please. I don't think I can deal with a desi show without having someone to crib about it to.
Psst rants later for when I am not running late for well everything :|
I like the fact that after 3 episodes ( which were pretty fast paced with a lot of things happening ), the things I know about Ranveer Raichand adds up to an absolute zero. Happiness, sadness, anger, relief , I have no idea how he feels. While you can feel a bazillion wheels churning in his head at all times, his face retains its perfect mask . His whole personality is like a damm puzzle, and who doesn't really like puzzles ?
On the other hand, Kabir is someone who wears his emotions on his sleeves, who leaps before he thinks. I love how how he keeps a fidget spinner with him, I have known people like that, people who cant sit still, people who have this need to do something. There is a wildfire in his eyes which can either burn him down or the ones around him.
But honestly Aachal has to be one of my favorite parts of the show. Not a seedhi saadhi idealistic tulsi maata ki parchai. Finally. She has the capability to make lemonade out of the lemons thrown at her, mix some jamalgota in it and make the opposite party drink it.

Black and white characters have always seemed unrealistic to me and I am interested to explore all the different shades of grey presented in this story.

YOUUU LADY YOUUU! 🤗 Damn, I had been craving for so long to read one of your essays that'd totally have me going 'such brilliance' in my mind all over again. Thank you for putting this one up and thank you for providing me with a safe haven where I can just be 'me' and have an actual proper discussion/debate knowing I'll get out from here not feeling exasperated. 😆

Originally posted by: Cat.

Exactly the show at least with 3 of them are about a game among the equals. No one is innocent, everyone has an agenda, everyone bends the rules to get what they want. And that is intriguing isn't it? Does the show have its faults, for sure, for one the setting is over the top, especially the reference to the money and stuff but hey its about the rich and the famous, so I can live with it. Aanchal with the lipstick and bribe was totally fun to watch😆

This exactly is why I'm watching the show too. For a change there's no dramatic girl girring guy pakring damsel in distress moments and my god is it so refreshing. The lack of added dramatic flairs is like a fresh breath of air and I'm hoping for it to continue. Reminds me of the line there's no innocent in this game of two. HECK YEAH! True, the show has its faults but right now the scael's tipping in its favor for me.

Originally posted by: SilentSilver

FLEETINGINCHAAA
f**k
I have been stalking the forum for last three days, but had to pop up when I saw your saadaa hua sa face. 🤣
TELL ME YOU WILL be watching this show. Please. I don't think I can deal with a desi show without having someone to crib about it to.
Psst rants later for when I am not running late for well everything :|
I like the fact that after 3 episodes ( which were pretty fast paced with a lot of things happening ), the things I know about Ranveer Raichand adds up to an absolute zero. Happiness, sadness, anger, relief , I have no idea how he feels. While you can feel a bazillion wheels churning in his head at all times, his face retains its perfect mask . His whole personality is like a damm puzzle, and who doesn't really like puzzles ?
On the other hand, Kabir is someone who wears his emotions on his sleeves, who leaps before he thinks. I love how how he keeps a fidget spinner with him, I have known people like that, people who cant sit still, people who have this need to do something. There is a wildfire in his eyes which can either burn him down or the ones around him.
But honestly Aachal has to be one of my favorite parts of the show. Not a seedhi saadhi idealistic tulsi maata ki parchai. Finally. She has the capability to make lemonade out of the lemons thrown at her, mix some jamalgota in it and make the opposite party drink it.

Black and white characters have always seemed unrealistic to me and I am interested to explore all the different shades of grey presented in this story.

CHANDEEERAAA WHY DO YOU THINK I'D MAKE A POST IF I WON'T WATCH IT🤣🤣 YEESS YESS YESS! I'm so happy YOU GUYS ARE HERE WATCHING IT WITH MY OLD GANG OMG NOSTALGIAA!! and word to everything you said. I've no idea what Ranveer thinks or why he thinks what he thinks or does what he does which is driving me curious as f. I want to sit and strain his brain so I can get it all out but that's part of the appeal. Also Kabir may be an openbook but his volatility itself is enshrouded in such mystery that you've no idea how this is going to turn out and that's intriguing af! Aanchal may be the first indian tv heroine i've been able to relate to and like in the longest of times. She's not whitewashed or a mary sue and thank god for that!! This makes it so so interesting.

I hope noone turns black or white because there goes out the fun then. so looking forward to this .

Originally posted by: .annihilation.

YOUUU LADY YOUUU! 🤗 Damn, I had been craving for so long to read one of your essays that'd totally have me going 'such brilliance' in my mind all over again. Thank you for putting this one up and thank you for providing me with a safe haven where I can just be 'me' and have an actual proper discussion/debate knowing I'll get out from here not feeling exasperated. 😆

I hadn't liked episode 1 at all for all the cliche, over the top and low on good performances reasons but then I did expect it to get better with each episode and turns out, it is indeed getting better. 2nd and 3rd episode have me finally look forward to it all and I think I'm in for at least a short ride. I just need some good story and good acting and I'm sorted.

You always hardly leave anything for anyone to say but like always again, I don't leave a chance at essays forsaken, so let's see where I can go with this. 😆 Just as you brilliantly worded yourself, Ranvir isn't someone you can just have one look at and read the guy for who he is. He's so guarded, so contained, so restrained and so frigid, he'd almost beep an alert saying, 'access to only the authorised' every time someone passed him by. But there's definitely an aura of facade to him. He's not what he seems to be, he's also not what you think he might be, he's just something none of us could imagine him to be. Personally speaking, Zayed hasn't quite impressed me yet but I'm hoping he'll up his game.

Then there's Kabir who is basically being just himself. No pretense, no concealing emotions or thoughts, no nothing. Straight up being the bratty, spoilt and sly younger Raichand. Although, I do doubt the bond that these two brothers appear to share. Is it genuine? Are they really the bade and chote who'd go to any lengths for each other out of their love? No underlying agendas and dark secrets? I think there'd be plenty. I like how Aanchal isn't your typical lawyer who believes in the power of truth and justice and believes that belief itself would be just enough. She knows the system, she knows the rules and she's willingly to bend them because in today's world, the truth doesn't show up by itself, it has to be bought into light and for that to happen, you gotta do what it takes. She's a little too sure of her 'facts' for the moment and isn't quite the idea a thought that some third party is playing both the Raichands and her. Vatsal and Nikita have been doing a decent job though.

So far, it seems to be doing well and let's hope it doesn't die the same death as all other shows on tv.

PS Was quite obvious Kabir didn't kill Menu and I'm doubting Ranvir's involvement in rape or murder too. He wouldn't be that careless if he'd be the killer. Besides, Menu was relaxed upon seeing the murderer which is indication that she knew him, could be a loved one or boyfriend or someone she knew.

HUSNAAA!!! 🤗🤗🤗 AAAH this is so good! I'M SO SO GLAD WE'RE ALL WATCHING A SHOW TOGETHER AGAIN and are looking forward to it given our old experiences with thriller expectations.😆 My essays are back and your uber kindness is too.😭

OMG SO MUCH WORD TO THE BOLD PART!! Ranveer gives you nothing and makes you work hard to know him. That in itself has intrigued me. How he works, how dangerous can he get, what limits is he ready to cross? His callousness about a murder, his cool composure in the face of literally any shitstorm. All of this is intriguing me so much! I've been in two minds about Zayed too, on one hand I kind of had wished he'd be more emotive or some other brilliant actor had done ranveer but now I'm slowly liking that zayed is ranveer partly because someone else might have overdone in emoting. With Ranveer he's supposed to give nothing away and I think the fact that Zayed adds a whole new freshness and ambiguity to the role adds to it. He's making Ranveer so tightly controlled that you're literally asking for more. I guess I'll warm upto the acting once i get onto watching in continuity bar the few weak moments from everyone, it's pretty okay and has improved in the last few episodes.

AGAIN WORD TO THE WHOLE BROTHER EQUATION! There's some sort of enabling and exploitation going there. There's more than meets the eye and i cant wait to find out!!

Aanchal is such a breath of fresh air. Cannot stress enough on that. And I'm so so glad for a heroine leveling the playing field and doing things her way not the whitewashed right way. it makes it so much more interesting!!

definitely. The murder also looks like quite the setup to introduce the characters, and propel the story in its rightful direction. This could go all ways but i'm pretty sure Kabir didn't do it. Ranveer on the other hand would be far more meticulous had he done it but again could he've known about it or not and what's the story is an enitrely different gameball.


P.S. WAITING FOR YOUR POSTS <3

I couldn't agree more with what you've written.. 👏