Aspirants Season 2 Review: Sequel continues to explore friendship dynamics and the challenges of transitioning into professional life
Aspirants Season 2 Web Series Rating: 3 stars
Just watched Aspirants Season 2 web series on Prime Video. So, let’s analyze the cast, release date, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this web series.
Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sunny Hinduja, Namita Dubey and Tengam Celine
Director: Apoorv Singh Karki
Release Date: 25th October 2023 (Prime Video)
Duration: 5 Episodes/ 35 Minutes
Story: Season 2 continues to explore a dual-timeline narrative, akin to its first season. The past features Abhilash (Naveen Kasturia), SK (Abhilash Thapiyal) and Guri (Shivankit Parihar) hurtling towards yet another civil service exam attempts at Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi. Abhilash returns for the 5th attempt and no longer in touch with his friends. He has a new friend Deepa (Tengam Celine) who belongs to Arunachal Pradesh.
In Present, Abhilash first posting as DM is Rampur where Sandeep Bhaiya (Sunny Hinduja), his old mentor, is an Assistant Labour Commissioner. SK is a teacher at an institute and Guri is a successful entrepreneur who’s married to Dhairya (Namita Dubey), Abhilash’s Ex.
Abhilash administrative skills are put to the test as he is faced with some tough decisions. However, some of his decisions put him at odds with Sandeep Bhaiya, the person he idolized for many years. Guri and SK have made up with Abhilash but aren’t entirely convinced that he has changed for the better. Guri is worried about his business, and SK is also struggling professionally and doesn’t know who to turn to.
The three friends’ lives intersect, and they have to put their egos aside and figure out what is best for each of them individually as well as for their friendship. There are a number of personal struggles that the protagonists are dealing with in both the timelines.
Positives
1. Excellent performances
2. Story
3. Dialogues
4. Direction
Negatives
1. Climax
2. Length
3. Screenplay
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer planned to watch this series on premiere day as trailers looks excellent and loved the first part. Also, I am a big fan of TVF creations.
New season follows Abhilash on his first posting as the DM of Rampur where Sandeep Bhaiya is ALC, Guri’s financial troubles and his constant attempts to gain government contracts, and SK’s struggles in between the two.
Aspirants 2 is created by TVF and this season builds on the success of the first, offering a deeper dive into the characters’ present lives and the changes that come with adulthood. The most noticeable transformation is the shift in the camaraderie of the ‘tripod’ as they transition from close friends to acquaintances. This transition is shown candidly, echoing the problems many people face in keeping friendships when their priorities shift in life. However, the series retains the relatable and compelling flavor that made the first season a success. The portrayal of the day-to-day realities of an administrative job appears genuine, making it relatable to viewers. The series deftly blends the past and present, tracing Abhilash’s rise from aspirant to working official. The show leaves room for anticipation of the next season, promising more interesting narratives. The performances by the cast are commendable. The story very honestly showcases the struggle of 3 friends to enjoy the deep bond that they once used to share, after taking up different career paths and having different growth trajectories. While it may not match the heights of its predecessor, it is a valuable addition to the web series landscape, offering a relatable and authentic portrayal of personal growth and evolving friendships.
On the flipside, series is not as engaging and invective as the promos suggested. The show is tonally simple with not many conflicts. The slow burn treatment is unable to create the desired impact. The non-linear structure of the narrative makes things a bit confusing to follow at times, and there is never a clear indicator of what period the scene is set in. The 5-episode arc may have suited the first season but this time around the story feels a little incomplete. It maintains a relatively straightforward and uncomplicated tone, offering fewer pronounced conflicts, and the slow-burning narrative, while genuine, may not deliver the anticipated impact. The tone of the series is relatively simple, lacking in significant conflicts. The episode ends with a frame that depicts Abhilash has achieved something. No one talks of caste, class, corruption, inequality, and lack of infrastructure in government offices. A character from the northern part of India is introduced but never really given screen space to explain what she must have gone through in Delhi easily a decade ago from now.
Overall, Season 2 might not be a home run like its predecessor but is still a worthy entry into being one of the better shows on the web. TVF rarely gets it wrong, and that doesn’t happen this time either. The series continues to offer valuable insights into the lives of individuals pursuing their dreams and navigating the intricate complexities of life, making it a commendable and realistic storytelling effort. My view on this web-series Recommended for series fans
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