Summary
Aranyak throws more plot swerves than it can handle, demising itself to a circus of combative scenes that feel jigsawed together in the editing room.
This review of Netflix’s Aranyak season 1 does not contain spoilers.
We are all accustomed to a murder mystery. We have been treated too many. Perhaps that is why Aranyak has an overwhelming issue. From a writing perspective, surprising an audience is a challenging feat in the present day. First of all, social media drum up theories like wildfires, and secondly, we’ve seen every conceivable twist possible when it comes to a “whodunnit.” By definition, the more creative a murder mystery, the better. Or at least by most standards.
Aranyak becomes a danger to itself. By trying to be intrinsic as possible with many story strands, the Netflix series trips over. It ends up dragging its feet, with the audience having to dig deep in the mud with it. It’s transparent that the story has an end goal. The writers had the “end in mind.” But by focusing on that, the journey becomes convoluted and messy.
The story follows Inspector Kasturi Dogra, a high-ranking officer for the police. She decides to take a year out so she can be more present for her family and her failing marriage. In her place arrives Angad Malik, who immediately takes charge in all her cases. However, it becomes apparent early on that Kasturi cannot stay away from her work, especially when Julie, a mother, barges into the police station and explains that her daughter is missing.
Intertwining with this premise is this lurking serial — Leopard-Man, that has terrorized the village for two decades. The question is immediately raised — is the Leopard-Man linked to the disappearance of Aimee?
And that’s a worthy question of a brilliant premise. The writers had a lot to work with, but the potential was there. Unfortunately, Aranyak throws more plot swerves than it can handle, demising itself to a circus of combative scenes that feel jigsawed together in the editing room.
There’s undoubtedly a murkiness to the scene-setting. I can’t deny that my interest was peaked from the offset, but when audiences reach the finale, I have a lot of doubt that the excitement and curiosity will have sustained. And for a mystery surrounding a murder and s serial killer, that’s bad news.
What did you think of Netflix’s Aranyak season 1? Comment below.
