Review: Mirzapur Season 2 (SPOILER-FREE)

Quoting Munna Bhaiya (or Guddu Bhaiya) from Mirzapur – “bhaukaal macha diye ho, bhaukaal” That would in itself be apt to be representing the sheer hype and immense anticipation that Mirzapur Season 2 had. The second season of arguably India’s most popular web show, Mirzapur has finally arrived and while all the fans are already planning on their bingeing plans, this review might help you to get an idea of what to expect. As always, it is SPOILER-FREE. You can also check the review on our channel below-

Picking up right where it ended (almost), we already know how Guddu (Ali Fazal), Dimpy (Harshita Gaur) and Golu (Shweta Tripathi Sharma) are the last survivors of Mirzapur’s version of The Red Wedding. From the trailer, we also already know that there is just one thing on their mind – Revenge. On the other hand, Munna (Divyendu) and Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) are dealing with newer problems in their business with the absence of Guddu and Bablu (Vikrant Massey). Mirzapur is a new world now with fewer characters but the new additions are indeed enough to keep the ball rolling. Loved ones might have exited but new characters have been seamlessly added into the mix. Even a character like Sharad (Anjum Sharma) who barely had two scenes in Season 1 is now in the central focus for Season 2. That is one of the first victories for Season 2 where albeit you will miss your loved characters but you will be engrossed in the new ones as well.

Even though, I have only seen two episodes but Season 2 delivers on its biggest promise – engagement. Apart from that even though the fans already know what intensity of violence is the show capable of but just a reminder – it is as crazy as it has been earlier, and in fact, it gets more gory and graphic this time around.

Coming to the performances -  I don’t know whether it was always intentional but the biggest positive of second season is the women of Mirzapur not only getting more focus but also have intriguing character arcs to work with. For instance, the likes of Dimpy and Golu were important in Season 1 but barely had anything else to do. This time, they are literally in the mix of things and both actors, (Gaur and Tripathi respectively) do a fine job. Especially Tripathi – she gets new nuances to play with Golu and she is brilliant in her attempt.

Even the other women like Beena (Rasika Dugal), Guddu-Bablu’s mother (Sheeba Chadha) and even Zarina (Anagsha Biswas) have so much to play around with. (Imagine how interesting it will be in the further episodes that involve Meghna Malik and Isha Talwar too)

And finally the men of Mirzapur – Pankaj Tripathi, Divyendu and Ali Fazal are fine performers and literally no reminder is needed for that. As the faces of the show and as the complex characters they play, they not only shine again but manage to make you feel that it was only yesterday you finished watching Mirzapur Season 1. There is a scene in which Fazal’s Guddu is struggling to get up and even handle his crutches as he is terribly wounded – and all he is trying to do is walk a meter or so and pick a gun. The entire scene is wordless but Fazal’s expressions of the pain and anguish are so real you forget he is only acting.

Mirzapur Season 2 delivers on its promise – which is living up to the hype and engaging the viewers. The show has had a lot of criticism and divided opinions too. For example, I also wasn’t a total fan of the first season but was still engaged. I am pleasantly surprised by how engaged I am with Season 2 and left willing to see more.

Rating - **** (4/5)