tellingsreehari

Detective Ujjwalan is a painful exercise in missed potential. The film lacks a proper script, meaningful dialogues, and any emotional depth. What remains is a string of lifeless scenes stitched together without rhythm or any real flow. The editing is abrupt, the background score is uninspired, and the visual storytelling is severely limited.

The idea of setting the story in a village is nice. But the film offers little more than close-up shots and dull faces, failing to create any charm or appeal. It tries to pass off as an old-school adventure, but it ends up being a below-par, boring piece of pointless fluff. And unlike what some say, this is not quirky like Scooby Doo. It's boring as hell.

Dhyan Sreenivasan, in the lead, gives a performance so dull it feels unfair to the audience and the story alike. He brings no spark to Ujjwalan, a protagonist who is neither heroic nor remotely interesting. Siju Wilson starts off well as a police officer, but his sudden devotion to Ujjwalan makes no sense.

There's nothing that holds the viewer. No emotions to connect with, no solid plot to follow, and no reason to care. The storytelling is stale, and the whole thing feels empty. Maybe Vineeth Sreenivasan could have played Ujjwalan better. Someone with the hidden humour and flair, like his Adv. Mukundan Unni? Just a thought.

Ultimately, it is a dull, boring affair. It's supposed to be a mystery, but you're too bored to want answers. That should say it all.

The Rookie is that rare blend of lighthearted charm and gripping intensity. It's a show that surprises you with just how binge-worthy a cop drama can be. Seasons 1 and 2? Absolutely brilliant. Every episode pulls you in with a perfect mix of suspense, emotion, and well-crafted drama. It stays entertaining without ever dumbing things down.

Nathan Fillion as John Nolan brings a grounded warmth and easy charisma that makes him instantly likable. Eric Winter as Tim Bradford? Stoic, layered, and compelling - A total standout. Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen delivers consistently strong performances too. Honestly, the entire main cast brings something valuable to the table (except for Mekia Cox, who seems miscast and comes across as a fake actor), making the early seasons feel like a full, satisfying package.

But here's the thing...

Season 3 is a disaster. An utter nosedive. The storytelling, once sharp and character-driven, becomes heavy-handed and nearly unwatchable. The writing? A shadow of what it once was. It's clear the show tried to incorporate real-world issues like BLM, which is important, but the execution feels more like a forced lecture than thoughtful narrative. The shift is abrupt, overwhelming, and painfully disappointing.

So if you're just starting The Rookie, enjoy the first two seasons. They're genuinely worth your time. Just brace yourself for the mess that follows.

I really did enjoy the first season of Kerala Crime Files. It is a solid show with good attention to detail. This time around, it starts off with a really strong pilot episode. The plot is intriguing, filled with layers, connections, and complications that hint at a gripping investigation.

However, the most essential part of a thriller, which is the suspense, starts fading by the time we reach episode 3. What begins with promise turns into a slow-moving stretch. On one side, that might be how real investigations unfold, but on the other, it does not exactly keep you hooked.

There is never really a point where you are biting your nails trying to figure out who did it. There are no surprises, no sharp turns, and no real highs. Maybe if it had been cut down to five episodes and included a few unexpected twists, it could have worked better.

I felt the background score could have leaned into something darker and grittier. It felt too filmy in many places and did not quite match the tone.

The cast, though, is spot on. Everyone brings the right energy to their character and fits into their role effortlessly. But the pacing is what brings the show down. It moves very slowly through the middle episodes and then rushes to wrap things up.

One thing I did like is how it avoids spelling everything out. It lets you fill in the blanks and imagine how the crime actually happened.

Overall, it is definitely binge-worthy and has its moments. It is good, just not great.