Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has a lot to rejoice as She Season 2 has made it to Netflix’s Global Top 10 in 11 countries within two weeks of its release. And there’s enough reason for it too. Conceptualised by Imtiaz and directed by Arif Ali, the second season is definitely an improvement on the first, with the central character of Bhumika slowly coming into her own. While there’s a lot to gush about, a few things here and there could have been tighter in this season.
The plot thickens with mastermind Nayak at the helm
The writers have skillfully kept up with the previous season’s elements in the second season. The characters, their backgrounds and the storyline align with the first season. Additionally, this season deals with drug peddling and follows an intricate criminal network. The head of this criminal network, Nayak (Kishore Kumar G), who was introduced in the last season, is in full action now. As a calm-headed criminal mastermind, Nayak is a standout.
We enter Nayak’s world through stories from his past, and a moral duality underlines this character. With subtle expressions swinging from doubt to dominance, Kishore lends a depth to Nayak that is in tune with the intense plot. There is as much silence as are words in him.
Aaditi Pohankar steals Season 2 too as Bhumika
Aaditi Pohankar stands tall in Season 2 just like last time. As constable Bhumika Pardeshi, she’s even bolder and smarter this season, transitioning into a woman who confidently seizes what is hers. In the process, Bhumika also slips into the other side of the moral order and consequently pays a price for it. Aaditi brilliantly combines all this and gives shape to a new Bhumika in Season 2.
One thing that’s common between all the characters in She is their constant struggle with morality and sexuality. In her mind, Bhumika shakes off the grip of morality that society has imposed on her. This is also a very bold experiment in the script because this transformation in Bhumika makes us question her allegiance to the system. It creates confusion about whether Bhumika would prioritise self-exploration over her duty.
Vishwas Kini, who plays Jason Fernandez, has also done a great job in keeping this confusion alive in the way his character deals with Bhumika. While Nayak is on the side of chaos and destruction, Fernandez represents the system and order. This season shows how constable Bhumika deals with both.
Too many plot points for the viewer to chase
The second season has a lot to offer in its script, but sometimes so many elements become too much to grapple with. The plot progresses on multiple fronts, simultaneously dealing with a criminal network, prostitution, drug cartel and the sexual identity of a woman, among other things. Too much of too many elements tends to drown out the objective of the story – to unravel a crime while exploring the human psyche.
Season 2 of She has yet again attempted to portray how a woman’s sexuality can hold the power to make or break systems, while shedding light on how weaponising sexuality can impact the woman as well.
The thin line between good and evil that Bhumika has been treading on since the first season has blurred. The 7-episode Season 2 keeps the confusion alive, which not only challenges conventional morality but also questions society at large.
Night-time Mumbai is brilliantly recreated
The story demanded a lot of night-time Mumbai scenes, which set the ambience for an exploration of a dangerous and exciting part of the city. The gritty, risky underworld is brilliantly captured in the camerawork by Amit Roy.