Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 125
December 29, 2023
‘Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare’ Documentary Review
“Matthew would have been in juvenile detention or dead if we had not continued to try to do something,” a mother says during her interview in ‘Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare.’ It’s a Netflix documentary that traces the origins, rise, and fall of the “Challenger Foundation,” a wilderness program founded by Steve Cartisano, which promised parents to transform their rebellious, troubled teenagers. But soon, the program was mired in controversy, after several participants complained of inhuman conditions and abuse.
Directed by Liza Williams, the ‘Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare’ starts with the interview of a woman who was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night in 1989 and flown to a desert in the middle of nowhere to take part in a two month long camp meant for delinquent kids. Her parents had paid good money to have their own child kidnapped, taken to the middle of nowhere (in the burning trails of Utah to be precise), to be trained in a survival camp which didn’t seem to have adequate safety measures in place for the children. “It was like ‘Lord of the Flies’ out there,” says the woman who was scarred by the experience.
The documentary includes several photos and video recordings from the camp. One clip features an 18-year-old breaking down into harrowing sobs of relief when his father comes to pay him a visit. Based on the experiences of the teens who attended the camp, it sounds like a juvenile detention experience out in the wild. However, there are other participants who admit their time at the camp helped them and perhaps even changed the course of their lives for the better. Sixty days in the harsh sun, with little food and water, should scare most average teens into a spiritual awakening, making them extra thankful when they get back to a life of easy food and comforts.
What stands out in the documentary is the evident fact that Steve Cartisano’s “Challenger Foundation” was a haphazard program that met with considerable success but became “too big, too fast,” and he didn’t know how to run it in an organized manner anymore. So, what started as perhaps a genuine attempt to reform problem teens eventually turned into just another money-making enterprise, where the well-being of the participants was the least of anybody’s concern. This meant some kids ended up getting hurt, abused, hospitalized, or, in one tragic case, dead.
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare’ might be an interesting look at extreme summer camps meant to reform teens, but it’s also very selectively subjective, with close to no real figures about such camps or even just “Challenger Foundation.” In an old clip, Steve Cartisano says his camps had over 700 participants during its run. But how many official police cases were filed against him? How many kids leveled allegations of physical abuse or torture? How many had to be hospitalized? How many went back to a life of drugs? How many went on to become convicted criminals? There are no numbers or answers.
The documentary has about seven interviewees who had been sent by their parents to these camps, and their ordeals were traumatic, to say the least. But seven out of 700 is just about one percent. Some of the parents also tell their side of the story, and one father still insists he should’ve just left his son at the camp for the rest of his life. Steve Cartisano’s own son David struggled with drugs as a teen and was serving jail time when this documentary was being shot, while his daughter Catherine, who agreed to come on camera, admits to battling serious addiction and overdosing multiple times. This, even after David attended one of his father’s camps when he was younger. And that’s all there is you need to know as viewers: two months of camp is not going to change much if one is failing to fulfill their duty as parents for the rest of the year.
Stream the documentary on Netflix.
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My Top 11 Series From 2023
So I’ve seen over 100 live-action series in the year 2023. This is a list of titles I enjoyed the most through the year and gave them a rating of four stars or more (out of 5). They are in no particular order, but the 4.5/5 stars are listed first, followed by the 4-star titles. If your favorite show didn’t make it to my list, I probably am yet to see it!
Click on the images for full reviews.
1. The Fall of the House of Usher – Horror/Thriller.
Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s famous gothic short story, the eight-episode limited series created by Mike Flanagan follows the downfall of a wealthy billionaire family, with each of their members dying a brutal death, one by one.
What I loved about it – This has all the horror elements you expect from a horror classic and more! Flanagan and team set the story in the 2020s, and yet make all the supernatural happenings very relevant to the present. It’s not like other modern horror tales, where even if the story is set in the times of advanced technology, the creators put the characters in an isolated place to make it scary.
Where to stream – Netflix
The Fall of the House of Usher Review – Ode to Poe
2. Beef – Black Comedy
Directed by Lee Sung Jin, the series follows the rivalry between the two Asian-Americans who lock horns in a road-rage incident and let the event consume their lives.
What I loved about it – The unhinged anger and frustrations portrayed by its lead characters is far too relatable for anybody who has ever said or done things they regretted. That should cover a lot of people!
Where to stream: Netflix
Beef Review – Deliciously Deranged!
3. Eighth Sense – College Romance
Directed by Werner du Plessis and Inu Baek, the ten-episode series follows Jae Won after he returns to his Seoul campus after completing his mandatory military service and begins to fall for a freshman.
What I loved about it – In a year that saw a deluge of gay Asian romances, most of which were filled with done to death tropes, “Eighth Sense” stood out due to its cinematography, music and protagonists who are honest about their feelings.
Where to stream: Viki
The Eighth Sense – Surfs Through Love, Trauma & Campus Conflicts
4. Heartstopper Season 2 – High School Romance
Based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, “Heartstopper” follows the love story of rugby lad Nick with his shy classmate Charlie.
What I loved about it – Almost everything about this show is too cute and sweet! In a time where most teen shows are about sex, drugs, betrayal and violence, “Heartstopper” focuses on the joys of first love.
Where to stream: Netflix
Heartstopper Season 2 – Brings Back Butterflies!
5. Gen V – Action/Superheroes
Set in the same universe as “The Boys”, this show follows the blood-laden adventures of a new generation of super-heroes who are yet to learn the ways of the world.
What I loved about it – It’s weird to list “Gen V” after “Heartstopper”, but ahem, while I love fluffy-cute romances, I also love blood, gore, and violence. And “Gen V” has lots of it!
Where to stream: Prime Video
Gen V Season One Review – A Bloody Good Mess
6. Kaala Paani – Dystopian drama/thriller
Directed by Sameer Saxena and Amit Golani, “Kaala Paani” spans seven episodes and follows the spread of a mysterious deadly disease on the Andaman islands in India.
What I loved about it – This is a rare Indian title that’s focused on a epidemic and unfolds like a post-apocalyptic tale of death, desperation, and survival. It’s atmospheric, with a gritty pace and morally grey characters.
Where to stream: Netflix
Kaala Paani Review – Dystopian Getaway
7. One Piece Season One – Action Fantasy
Monkey D. Luffy wants to become king of the pirates! And he goes on a wild adventure to find a crew who will fight for his dreams.
What I loved about it – I haven’t read the manga or seen the anime, so as far as a fantasy series goes, this was a super-fun live-action series filled with larger-than-life characters. The loyal friendships between the characters stood out best.
Where to stream: Netflix
One Piece Episode 1, 2 Review
8. Class of 07 – Survival comedy
Directed by Kacie Anning, the eight episode show follows a group of former classmates who are stranded in their school after a reunion party. And it might just be the end of the world.
What I loved about it – This was like “Lord of the Flies” (a classic still!), but with grown-up bitchy women, most of whom don’t even like each other. It’s hilarious.
Where to stream: Prime Video
Class of ’07 – Lord of Flies’ Fun-Farcical Version
9. Trial By Fire – Drama based on real incidents
Created by Kevin Luperchio and Prashant Nair, ‘Trial by Fire’ follows a couple fighting for justice for their two kids who perished in the 1997 Uphaar cinema blaze.
What I loved about it – The cast is fantastic and the story astutely exposes a flawed system that is rigged in favor of the rich.
Where to stream: Netflix
‘Trial by Fire’ Review – Fiery No-Frills Series
10. My School President – High-School Romance/Musical
Directed by Au Kornprom Niyomsil, this Thai romance follows a nerdy school president’s efforts to woo his crush – the lead singer of his school’s music club.
What I loved about it – This series is consistently sweet, silly, cheesy and comedic, and has a bubbly soundtrack. And all the cheesiness works well since the protagonists are high-school students.
Where to stream: YouTube
‘My School President’ Review – Wholesome!
11. Scoop – Drama/Thriller based on real incidents
Created by Hansal Mehta, the six-episode limited series follows the trials of an ambitious crime reporter who is falsely accused of having links to the underworld.
What I loved about it – It’s almost pitch-perfect in pace. And despite it’s primary focus of a headline hungry reporter who gets caught up in the web of Mumbai’s mafia, the series doesn’t succumb to usual Bollywood theatrics or sensationalism.
Where to stream: Netflix
Scoop Review – Karishma Tanna’s Go-Getter Act Is A Winner
December 28, 2023
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 23 Review
Hope you are here after Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 22. Minor spoilers ahead.
Twists, twists, twists… some chaos… a whole lot of dizzying updates on how the rest of the Japan is processing the black-out in Shibuya… two more twists and the season 2 finale of Jujutsu Kaisen is over!
Titled “Shibuya Incident – Gate Close,” episode 23 of Season 2 opens with Yuki Tsukumo coming to Yuji’s rescue, which was essentially the end twist in the last edition. Yuki tries to buy some time by engaging Pseudo Geto in a debate about their clashing world views and gets him to explain what he is trying to achieve at Shibuya. In short, Pseudo Geto wants the revival of the Heian era, the period when Ryomen Sukuna was at the height of his power, and Jujutsu sorcerers wielded a lot more clout.
“Are you listening, Sukuna? It is starting. The height of sorcery… The Heian period is about to return,” Geto smiles at Yuji while cruelly teasing him with the glimpse of the prison realm. At which point, Yuji lets out a harrowing scream, calling out for his “Gojo sensei”, which marks the biggest emotional high-point of this closing chapter. Junya Enoki has been consistently affecting in giving voice to Yuji’s varied emotions through the series, especially at his lowest points. The animation style also peaks in the scene, it’s more 3D in nature, markedly different from the more 2D shift in character designs that dominated the few minutes. For example, Yuki literally appears like a paper cut-out (pictured below) during one of her interactions with Geto. But these 2D sequences also help provide some comic-relief in the otherwise dark segment.
Honestly, for someone who hasn’t been following Gege Akutami’s manga series, quite a few parts of this episode were confusing. So, I had to watch some parts again. And then it all sort of fell into place. Pretty sure many fans would’ve been appreciated if the anime creators had done voice-over narrations to explain a few things, like they did in some of the older episodes. Instead, the middle section of the episode is filled with rapid stills and a quick collage of civilians watching the news about Shibuya and politicians scrambling to figure out how they’d explain the situation to commoners. These updates don’t have any direct bearing on the plot, except for making the viewer anxious about what is really happening at the epicenter.
The last five minutes however make-up for the slowing down of pace in between. Yuta Okkotso, who was one of the primary characters in the “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” film, finally makes his much anticipated appearance. Also, a slew of surprising/shocking decrees are issued by the higher-ups, the least surprising of which is the rescinding of the stay order on Yuji Itadori’s execution. C’mon, it’s barely a spoiler, not after all the Sukuna sized fingers he ingested in the earlier episodes.
While this season finale of Jujutsu Kaisen felt like a filler between this season and the next (whenever that comes out), it doesn’t change the fact that the Shibuya Arc was monumental in terms of scale, action, and fights. To ensure fans don’t feel too underwhelmed, the creators cleverly close the curtains with an exciting/confusing/dramatic scene featuring Yuji. “There you go, there’s your favorite character, now goodbye, sayonara, until next time,” the creators seem to be telling fans at the end. Besides, if a friend who’s up to date with the manga series is to be believed, the next arc is “five times wackier.” So there’s that to look forward to!
You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix or CrunchyRoll.
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A Good Day to be a Dog Episode 12 Review
Plot overview: The protagonist, Han Hae-na (Park Gyuyoung), accidentally kisses her colleague Jin Seo-won (Cha Eun-Woo), triggering a curse that transforms her into a dog from 12 am to 6 am every day. The only way to break the curse is for the same person to kiss her while she’s in her dog form. Han Hae-na and Seo-won fall in love during her mission to end the curse, but the mysterious history teacher Lee Bo-kyeom (Lee Hyun-Woo) has some other plans for the pair. A mountain deity living in the guise of an ordinary teacher, Lee holds a grudge against the couple for an act of betrayal in their past lives.
Episode 11 of “A Good Day to be a Dog Episode 11” ended with Lee Bo-Kyeom threatening to erase Jin Seo-won’s memories so Han Hae-na can understand what it means to lose someone she loves. Titled “The Lost Memories”, episode 12 begins with a good twist – it’s Han Hae-na who doesn’t remember anything, so she goes back to treating Seo-won like a stranger. To add to Seo-won’s heartbreak, her crush on Seo-won is renewed. Will he be able to win her back again? Well, that’s the primary conflict and question in this edition.
This was an entertaining edition, with the disheartened Seo-won doing his best to reignite his romance with Han Hae-na. Cha Eun-Woo is super cute as Seo-won in his attempts to woo Hae-na in the same way as she had tried to befriend him in the past. Although it seems like not only did Lee wipe out Hae-na’s memory, but he also somehow managed to make her less friendly than before! Her cold reactions to Seo-won’s efforts to get close to her are quite unlike the sweet, kind literature teacher we know her as. To make things worse, Lee actively encourages Hae-na’s feelings towards him, unlike earlier when he deliberately pushed her the other way to orchestrate his elaborate revenge plan.
In a parallel sub-plot, the shamanic student Min Ji Ah (Kim Yi Kyung) begins to investigate why Lee is targeting Seo-won and Han Hae-na after her attempts to get direct answers from him fail. She is assisted by Seo-won’s nephew Choi Yul (Yoon Hyun-Soo) to corner Lee’s sidekick Ttaeng Pal (Yoo Seung Mok) into giving her clues that would lead to the whole truth. Every time Kim Yi Kyung and Lee Hyun-Woo share the screen together as Min Ji Ah and Lee Bo-kyeom, there’s an electric tension in the air, heightened by the dramatic music which plays in the background.
Amid all the mystery, grudges and heartaches, there’s also the comical sub-plot involving Han Hae-na’s sister Han Yoo-na (Ryu Abel) and Song Woo Taek (Cho Jin Se). The two childhood best-friend have an awkward but sweet “friends to lovers” story unfolding, while everybody else is knee deep in problems. But it’s a fun distraction between all the serious stuff going on.
At this point, all those who know Lee are confused about what he really wants and how he envisions things coming to an end. While Lee Hyun-Woo’s portrayal of the antagonist is fantastic, his character’s double standards in not acknowledging Min Ji Ah’s reincarnation, even though she actually remembers her past life, while hurting Hae-na, who doesn’t even have a clue about her past life, are getting tiresome. While
“A Good Day to be a Dog” has been an entertaining blend of drama, comedy, and fantasy so far, with just one episode left to go, it might pose a challenge for the creators to wrap up everything in the finale.
You can stream A Good Day to be a Dog on Viki.
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December 27, 2023
Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 13 Review
Ron and Toto waste no time getting down to business in the season finale of the anime series “Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions.” The two of them, along with Spitz Feier, are in the remote village of Yada, where a government official is found murdered under mysterious circumstances. Episode 13 begins with Toto explaining what really happened with the victim, with the help of Ron. Obviously.
Plot overview – Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions Episode 1 Review
The Yada village chapter is wrapped up quickly, and in a convenient twist, Spitz Feier’s missing brother practically walks up to him. So not only does Ron help solve yet another murder case, but he also achieves what they had come to Yada village for in the first place. Now, Spitz must return the favor and steal the secret files pertaining to Ron’s case that are at the BLUE academy.
While most episodes usually rely on the comical interactions between Ron and Toto to keep things entertaining, episode 13 had a lot of events unfolding, so the plot itself keeps viewers engaged. As revealed during the Nandan Island case, we now know that it’s the prominent crime family of Moriarty that is messing with Ron Kamonohashi. However, the Moriarty siblings seem to be divided over Ron’s fate, since he is a descendant of both James Moriarty and Sherlock Holmes, so he is equal parts enemy and family for them. The edition doesn’t just give a more concrete picture of who the antagonists are, but also introduces a new ally who is willing to help Ron clear his name.
Packed with twists, turns, and intrigue, season one of “Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions” ends by promising a whole new chapter in the detective’s life.
You can stream the series (Kamonohashi Ron no Kindan Suiri) on Netflix.
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Dragons of Wonderhatch Episodes 3-4 Review
Disney’s action-fantasy series “Dragons of Wonderhatch” (Wandahatchi: Soratobu Ryu no Shima), which mashes anime with live-action, soars in episode 3. The energetic dragon-rider Tyme (Okudaira Daiken) from the animated alternate world of Upananta, flies into Japan to find his hero Akuta (Mackenyu) and take him back. So, episode 2 ended with the big cliffhanger – Tyme and his little dragon Guphin crashing into teen Nagi’s (Nakajima Sena) home out of thin air.
Titled “The Boy who came to Yokusuka”, episode three begins with a bittersweet flashback of how Nagi became friends with Son. In the present timeline, Nagi is shocked to see two weirdos appearing into her mother’s room, as if they popped out of the book-shelf. She freaks out and runs to Son, and the two best-friends finally figure out what is happening and decide to help Tyme in his quest to find Akuta. It’s an exciting, fast-paced episode, where the first half focuses on this new friendship and the trio’s effort to trace Akuta. Meanwhile, back in Upananta, another of Tyme’s comrades approaches the wise Saira (Sumire) to find a way to save their world.
The cinematography of “Dragons of Wonderhatch” is an absolute visual treat. By demarcating the animated world from the regular human world, the creators are able to avoid the tricky usage of special effects for most parts. From the simple close-up shots of Nagi to more elaborate scenes of a hippie-like communal utopia built by Akuta on an island, the visual world-building of the series is delightfully refreshing. I am honestly tired of complaining about excessive poorly lit shots (when they can be avoided) in other works, and coincidentally, that’s my major gripe with “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” another Disney fantasy series that came out at the same time as “Dragons of Wonderhatch.”
Creators usually use dark scenes to cover up CGI flaws, and it doesn’t always work. So, one has to applaud “Dragons of Wonderhatch” for giving us a daylight scene of Tyme and Nagi riding their little dragon in episode 4. It’s a pretty mediocre scene in terms of special effects, and instead of low light, clouds are used to cover up some of the awkwardness. However, it’s about the moment—Nagi enjoying the sheer magic of flying in the air—and viewers being able to see what’s happening, even if it’s not perfect.
Okudaira Daiken who plays Tyme, infuses the live-action part of the series with a new energy, which was much needed, because most the other human characters aren’t as cheery or enthusiastic as him. Tyme’s aura also rubs off on Nagi and Son, with the three of them making a fun onscreen squad. Mackenyu’s portrayal of the cynical Akuta, who is jaded from living in the real world, offers a great contrast to the hopeful Tyme.
Titled “A New Nation,” episode 4 follows Tyme’s desperate fight against Akuta to get him to Upananta with him. However, the latter, who has built his own little island village with his lawyer friend Ayana (Riko Narumi), claims he hasn’t just given up on his old life but plans on building a new nation. “Has he gone nuts?” Nagi hilariously asks when she hears him say that. It soon becomes clear to Tyme that he will have to figure out his fight without his idol.
Meanwhile, the episode also focuses on Space (Morita Go), another of Upananta’s inhabitants stuck in Japan for far longer, and he seems to have some sinister motives. He is seen surreptitiously stalking Tyme’s moves, adding an element of mystery to the tale. Episode four ends with an exciting cliffhanger – someone new crashes into Nagi’s home from the other side! So, things might just get more crazy in the next few episodes.
You can stream “Dragons of Wonderhatch” on Disney Plus.
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians Episode 3 Review
So, Percy Jackson now knows he is the son of Poseidon and must embark on a question to retrieve Zeus’ bolt from the underworld to help stop an impeding war between the Gods.
Titled “We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium,” episode three of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” starts with Percy having to pick two people to go on the quest with him. Before that he receives a troubling prophesy by the oracle – that he might face betrayal. Percy (Walker Scobell) chooses Annabeth Chase (Leah Jeffries) and Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri) to join him on his perilous mission and the trio must fight monsters and beasts along the way.
After the first two episodes, this edition was a letdown, primarily in terms of cinematography. A significant portion of the action unfolds in dimly lit settings, making it challenging for viewers in terms of visual engagement. Additionally, the mood of the story is rather tense, with few fun moments to entertain the audience. Despite “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” being a PG-rated show targeting a young audience, it feels overly serious and tense for school kids to enjoy.
Annabeth Chase, who is likely just 13 or 14, behaves as though she is a retired soldier or someone burdened with numerous issues, primarily stemming from having a God for a mother who ignores her. Similarly, Percy is troubled by the absence of his father, who was never around to care for him. Meanwhile, Grover may not have mommy and daddy issues, but he does have an uncle to mope over.
If the creators were aiming for a dark and depressing fantasy series, they should have fully committed with script tweaks and made an adult show about young demi-gods fighting for glory. So far, this Percy Jackson reboot doesn’t seem gritty enough for adults but is far too morose for kids. Hopefully, the next few episodes will improve the overall experience.
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Doggy Bank Review – A Quirky Comedy in Six Acts
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“I am sorry, but there was a dog on the road and instead of killing a dog, I’d rather hurt a bitch”
Thales Corrêa plays Rubian, a dim-witted, near-broke Uber driver, who has his moments of witticism, especially when dealing with nasty passengers. However, his life of hellish rides take a backseat when Rubian befriends an eccentric wealthy man named Borba and his pet pooch.
Written and directed by Thales Corrêa, the six-episode series “Doggy Bank” is based on a novel by Machado de Assis. The show is an easy-to-follow, quirky comedy centered around the young, goofy Rubian’s budding friendship with the philosophical, worldly-wise Borba (Anthony Moore). The central theme of this story revolves around the transformative power of small acts of kindness, even if motivated by personal gain. It underscores how such actions can significantly influence one’s fate, only to be jeopardized by a single impulsive decision.
Titled “Who is Borba?”, episode one first introduces Rubian, who gets a call to meet his half-sister Prana (Andrea Flowers) because she is sick. That’s how he finds out she is dating a rich old dude who is a famous YouTube ‘life coach’. But Borba doesn’t live on YouTube ad revenues; he comes from old money and has a massive inheritance. “The only thing you need to know is that he’s loaded,” Rubian is informed by his sister. However, Rubian gets to know the man first-hand when both of them are forced to quarantine themselves at Borba’s swanky residence as Prana passes them on whatever she was sick from. So, the only major anomaly in the rest of the series was how Borba’s staff doesn’t wear masks while working.
From the moment one lays their eyes on Borba, it’s pretty evident that a younger actor is buried in prosthetics; however, Anthony Moore is oddly charming in the role. Moore has a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and a comic flair, which is slightly reminiscent of Jim Carrey’s portrayal of oddball characters, and Mr. Borba would’ve been right up the actor’s alley. Moore also plays Rubian’s stoner friend, who keeps giving him absurd ideas that would probably lead to no good. Thales Corrêa is low-key flamboyant and highly endearing as the simple-minded Rubian, and it’s his antics and body language that heighten the hilarity in many comic scenes.
The cinematography mixes a lot of different kinds of camera angles and shots, but since most of the story unfolds in Borba’s mansion, there’s a very stage-play-like quality to “Doggy Bank.” In fact, with a few tweaks to the tale, this would make a great comedic play. Episode two has a sequence where Rubian and Borba are talking to each other across different rooms, and it feels like it’s unfolding on a stage with a screen-divider between them. The background music in the series has some distinct Brazilian sounds, with some Choro-like pieces that were cheery and upbeat, complementing the funny scenes.
While “Doggy Bank” is swiftly paced, with a generous amount of little twists, the story ends too abruptly – it feels like Thales Corrêa wraps up the show just when things get interesting. Just one more episode with Rubian’s shenanigans would’ve been a lot more satisfactory than the way things end in episode six. Regardless, the series is a fun watch for those looking for offbeat character-driven comedies.
You can stream Doggy Bank on Prime Video.
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December 26, 2023
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Review – Dates, Dosti Aur Finsta
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Created by Arjun Varain, Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, and Yash Sahai, “Kho Gaye Hum” follows the lives of three Gen Z best friends living in Mumbai and starts off with a fun montage of their childhood pictures, vacation clicks, smiling selfies, and beach escapades. Most of these photos are social-media posts, setting a promising tone for a tale of love, friendship, and work in a digitally saturated age.
Siddhant Chaturvedi is Imaad, a stand-up comedian who often uses his best friends’ lives as material for his jokes. So, before the opening montage rolls in, “Kho Gaye Hum” starts with a mildly funny set of Imaad taking a dig at his childhood bud Neil (Adarsh Gaurav), a gym trainer, for looking at his phone instead of laughing at his jokes. Next, he takes a shot at BFF/flatmate Ahana (Ananya Panday), who is in a serious relationship, so he talks about how he is hoping for the boyfriend to move in with them so they could have a free full-time maid.
Over the course of two hours, the three friends navigate the complicated waters of love and dating while also deciding to start a new business together. “Never do business with friends,” Neil’s father wisely warns him, but the words are ignored, and problems do arise quickly in the professional partnership. Meanwhile, the trio also drowns in personal battles. Ahana battles low self-esteem after being dumped by beau Rohan (Rohan Gurbaxani) for no good reason and tries to gain his attention by posting fake “happy” posts online. Neil also struggles with being in a hush-hush relationship with a popular “influencer” called Lala (Anya Singh). Imaad, on the other hand, is in therapy, which he doesn’t take too seriously, and swims through one-night stands, indicating an issue with intimacy. However, Imaad begins to fall for an older woman called Simran (Kalki), who he meets on Tinder, but breaking his usual “nail and bail” cycle is hard.
For a film largely about young love and friendship, it’s hard to understand why the cinematography looks like the makers were shooting “Batman.” There are too many dimly lit settings, with sepia tones dominating many scenes, as if you are watching a psychological thriller (like “Jaane Man,” if you need a Bollywood example). It’s not even as if the protagonists are poor kids living in slums or chawls – filmmakers often drench shots in sepia tones to symbolize poverty. Heck, even “Gully Boy,” which was about slum kids rapping, didn’t look this dull.
So, while the cinematography doesn’t complement the themes and mood of the plot, “Kho Gaye Hum” does have a great groovy soundtrack. From the nostalgic but upbeat “Hone Do Jo Hota Hai” track which plays over the opening collage, to the catchy dance number “I Wanna See You Dance” which is a fun ode to 80s disco era, the film boasts a great album. Although there are moments when the background music overpowers the events unfolding in the story or just doesn’t match the tempo. Like the track “Isqh Nachawe”, which is an excellent moody mujra-like sad love song (with some rap stuffed in) but didn’t seem to belong to this movie.
Siddhant Chaturvedi usually eats up his roles but didn’t really stand out as the comedian/playboy Imaad, who uses humour as a coping mechanism. Adarsh Gaurav’s portrayal of Neil is relatable – a young man from a middle-class family trying to make it big in an unconventional career. While his friends are richer, he symbolizes the young aspirational class, with twisted ideas about what it means to be ‘happy’; for example, he thinks traveling in trains is ‘downmarket’, even though he doesn’t use the term. Ananya Panday, on the other hand, seems to be picking the right roles for her; she was charming, cute, and vulnerable as Ahana, a hard-working corporate professional who is at a loss with herself when her boyfriend dumps her. Ahana’s character might be the most relatable of all; she is a young person stuck in a thankless job, and going through heartbreak only makes things worse. So Ahana sets up a fake account to stalk her ex and also resorts to dressing up only for Instagram posts, lying about having a good time, and thriving on the attention her staged (and filtered) photos get. The character searching for quotes online to put up with the posts was hilarious.
The writing for “Kho Gaye Hum” shines best when the makers depict how we’ve all become slaves to our phones, especially younger generations who grew up with the internet and weigh their worth in terms of the “likes” and “followers” they rack up on social media. The climax comes full circle – it ends with a stand-up comedy set by Imaad (just like it opened with his set too). However, Imaad’s content was way too personal and heavy for a comedy set, and the scene might look uplifting at first glance but sums up the problem with those who distance themselves from reality – they would rather talk to strangers about their problems than confide in their own friends or family. But well, each to their own.
Imaad and Neil’s platonic, protective affection for Ahana was the best part of the film; it subverts the “ek ladka aur ek ladki kabhi dost nahi ho saktey hai” (translation: a boy and a girl cannot be friends) trope effectively. If you are looking for a “modern love” kind of story set in Mumbai, “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” might be worth your time.
You can stream “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan” on Netflix.
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Migi to Dali Episode 13 Review
There are regular foodies who go to restaurants to try new food or visit their favorite stall/joint repeatedly to eat a beloved dish. And then there is Migi, who, even when the house is burning down — not even metaphorically but literally, with fire and smoke everywhere around him, and a chance they might die (in “Migi to Dali” episode 12) — all he can think of is cherry pie. So, episode 13 opens with him heartily eating the dessert with the Sonoyamas to celebrate the end of a mess.
Episode 13 is the season finale of the mystery-thriller “Migi to Dali,” based on the manga series of the same name by Nami Samo. The edition focuses on the aftermath of all the horror that transpires in the Ichijo mansion. Eiji Ichijo takes the blame for everything, including Micchan’s murder, for which Migi and Dali were prime suspects. In another twist, Dali suffers a scar on his face, which means it will no longer be possible for the twins to pass off as one person. Eiji is remanded to juvenile custody for his crimes and the rest of his friends struggle to move on with their lives after the fire.
Set against Christmas, the first half of the finale is emotional as Dali’s self-esteem takes a hit due to the scar, and he no longer wants their adoptive parents to know there are two of them. However, in a very Christmas miracle twist, the gregarious Sonoyomas reveal they recently figured out that the twins were pretending to be Hitori and invite both of them to join them for a festive meal at the table. This is one of the rarer chapters where Dali finally breaks down into the vulnerable little boy he is and things end on a happy note for the twins – they all eat cherry pie together. Migi’s favorite.
After all the creepy, twisty depiction of the parasitic co-dependence the twins shared, the finale gives the kids the chance to realize and accept that they are two different individuals and will eventually have to pursue their own paths in the future. Viewers also get a post-credit scene, set in 1993, where the twins are now seventeen and have come into full bloom, embracing their own individual personalities. Now, anybody could tell them apart, even if Dali didn’t have the scar.
Migi and Dali thus come full circle, starting off as a story about twins living as if they are one person and evolving into distinctly unique individuals. It’s been a weird, offbeat, quirky mystery-thriller series for fans looking for something that’s not the usual mix of action, jokes, blood, and gore.
You can watch “Migi to Dali” on Crunchyroll.
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