Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 6

Gen V Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Gender Bender Vs Blood Bender

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Well, well, well… nothing good ever comes from pissing off powerful people in The Boys’ universe, right? It’s no different in Gen V. After Jordan (played alternately by London Thor and Derek Li) claims the number one spot at God-U, their moment in the sun quickly crumbles when they ‘expose’ the university and defend Starlight supporters, earning boos and villainization instead. In a hilarious twist, Dean Cipher (Hamish Linklater) cooks up a wild idea: pit Jordan against Marie (Jaz Sinclair) in a public showdown, marketed as “The Gender Bender vs. The Blood Bender.”

Quick Recap of Gen V Season 2 Episodes 1-3:

After escaping Vought’s lab, Emma, Jordan, and Marie are back at Godolkin University, but their freedom comes with strings attached. With Cipher installed as the new dean and Cate firmly in his corner, the trio dig into a secret 1960s program while Sam struggles to control his violent impulses.

Campus life swings between parties and gore, but the bigger storm is the rising “humans versus supes” conflict, leaving the group unsure how long their fragile freedom will last. Episode three of ‘Gen V’ ends with Jordan giving a public speech exposing Godolkin University, while also confessing that Jordan and friends attacked Cate Dunlap, not Starlighters.  

Titled “Bags”, Episode 4 of Gen V Season Two comically kicks off with the TV segment Truthbomb with Firecracker, where the Supe host accuses Jordan of chasing clout with lies. The chyron flashes funny shit like “A Woke Plague at God-U” and “Pronouns: He/She/Liar.” In her brief appearances as Firecracker, Valorie Curry is pure comical/satirical chaos, spouting right-wing conspiracies while decked out in spandex.

Most of the episode zeroes in on Jordan, Marie, and Emma as they reel from the fallout. To spin the scandal, the university plots to paint Jordan as a duplicitous, attention-seeker, while propping up Marie as one of the “good ones.” The negative buzz around Jordan’s confessions gets milked into a made-for-TV showdown for the number one spot, with Marie set up to win.

With no interest in fighting each other, Marie and squad scramble to dig up dirt on Cypher, so that they can stop the showdown. Marie suggests they turn to Cate Dunlap (Maddie Phillips) for help, even though they nearly almost killed her a few days ago. He he. With no allies, and little powers left, Cate readily agrees to assist her former friends, although of course there is a lot of tension and resentment between them all.

Hamish Linklater’s Dean Cipher is shaping up to be the most fascinating new face in ‘Gen V‘, portraying the character with the right amount of sly menace. The first three episodes teased his secrets, and Episode 4 finally offers a glimpse into what he’s hiding, just enough to deepen the mystery. The real eyebrow-raiser is his attention to Marie Moreau, inviting her into a personal combat training class.

Not too surprisingly, the most fun bits were once again the scenes with Lizze Broadway’s Emma, who’s joined a secret pro-starlight group by Harper (Jessica Clement) and Ally (Georgie Murphy). Emma volunteers to spy on Cypher with the help of her new friends, and their plan doesn’t go as smoothly as anticipated, delivering some humorous moments.

Packed with minor and major twists, but surprisingly light on gore, this ‘Gen V’ chapter leans more on dialogue than action, especially in the first half. Some of the character exchanges feel oddly stiff in a few sequences, as if the cast’s energy dipped just for this round. But of well, you’ll be adequately distracted by the ‘bags’ of blood Marie trains with.

The episode closes with a big reveal about Dean Cipher, setting the stage for even greater villainy ahead.

Stream ‘Gen V’ on Prime Video.

Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Series Review (Audio Version Below)

‘Wait Till Helen Comes’ Review: Family Drama Devours Horror

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

How spooky is the cover art for this graphic novel version of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’? I’ll have to admit, it made expect some serious creepy stuff from the story, but most of it turned out to be disappointing family drama. A patchwork family of five move in to a new place in the outskirts, with no neighbors for at least a mile, and the youngest kid starts to creep the oldest one out by claiming she’s made a ghostly friend at the graveyard close to their new home.

Siblings Molly and Michael are forced to look out for their little stepsister Heather when their mother remarries. And even though Molly is the eldest child, it turns out she is also the most easily scared. So when Heather starts spending more and more time talking to herself in the nearby graveyard, Molly is convinced she is speaking to a suspicious spirit called Helen, whereas the practical Michael is sure no such thing exists. To make things worse, a manipulative Heather keeps accusing the siblings of mistreating her, which adds to the tension and negative atmosphere in their remote new house.

While I haven’t read the original gothic novel by Mary Downing Hahn, the ‘gothic’ element is largely limited to living by a graveyard and tall talks about a ghost. Maybe the novel is more nuanced in exploring the fraught dynamics in the family, but this illustrated version of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’ is packed with unlikable characters. Both parents are frustratingly bad in the way they deal with the problems between the children, and the 12-year-old Molly often behaves like a paranoid superstitious old lady on the verge of losing her sanity.

Molly’s mother Jean keeps advising the kids to be kinder to Heather, rarely taking their side, and step-dad Dave obviously coddles his bratty daughter. The parents simply expect the older kids to take care of Heather, while secluding themselves in their work-spaces for most of the day. I wish there had been some healthy interactions between the two generations, but there barely any. Molly & Michael are almost always made to feel guilty for making things tough for Molly, while Heather has dad Dave wrapped around her fingers.

Since this is a graphic novel adaptation of ‘Wait Till Helen Comes’, let’s talk about the artwork. The visuals are lively, with colors that pop, yet the storytelling feels weighed down by words. Every panel is either crammed with dialogue or narration, leaving little room for the art to breathe. Ironically, the artwork on the cover is the spookiest part of this book.

Now, as far as Helen the ghost is concerned, the book does provide an interesting backstory to the malevolent spirit, which siblings Molly and Dave uncover through some amateur detective work. However, Helen’s role is so minimal that she comes across more like a little girl throwing a tantrum than a figure meant to send chills down a reader’s spine, at least not an adult’s. With its heavy-handed themes of family strife, guilt, and death, this isn’t a story I’d ever hand to a child.

My expectation were probably too high from this horror story, and I’m glad I got myself the eBook instead of the more expensive paperback.

Rating: 2.5 on 5.

Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Series Review (Audio Version Below)

‘10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ Series Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Japanese series ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ follows a 39-year-old shy lonely office worker Tojo Suzume, single for almost ten years, in the closet, and armed with a little list of things he wishes he could do before his next birthday, hopefully with a new boyfriend.

Directed by Ikeda Chihiro, Kosuge Noriyoshi, the 12 episode series is based on the manga series”40 Made ni Shitai 10 no Koto” (40までにしたい10のこと) by Mamita. The show stars Kazama Shunsuke as primary protagonist Tojo Suzume, while Shoji Kohei plays Tanaka Keishi, a younger co-worker who discovers Tojo’s list and offers to help him out with it. As the two set out to tackle the bucket list, romance ends up being the very first item Tanaka ticks off.

So, ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ is a lot like the Japanese series ‘Old Fashioned Cupcake’, but seven episodes longer. A runtime that’s overdrawn and needed to be chopped down by at least 4 episodes. Sadly, the chemistry between lead actors Kazama and Shoji never really clicks, hovering between “awkward” and “very awkward” right until the finale. Their dynamic is akin to two colleagues exploring a new city together and trying to become friends.

Maybe some viewers might manage to find ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ to be a quiet comfort show, watching shy Tojo slowly open up under Tanaka’s brighter energy. But the glacial pacing makes it a slog, and without comedic touches, it lacks the spark it desperately needs. Worse still, the second half keeps shifting focus to side characters, time that would’ve been better spent developing the central romance.

The cinematography is cozy-cute, and most of the things on Tojo’s list are simple, doable, and sweet, like eating ice-cream with lots of topping at a popular store, or getting himself a custom-made pillow. Tojo’s personality is ‘cute but annoyingly self-conscious’, with his house filled with adorable stuffed toys. Honestly, if ’10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40′ was just a buddy-comedy, where the boring Tojo finally gets a charming new friend, maybe this show would’ve been more endearing.

If you’re looking for slow-burn Japanese romances, I’d recommend ‘My Love Mix-Up’ or ‘Cherry Magic’, although they’re both romantic-comedies. For some more recent 2025 J-dramas, you could check out ‘Hishakai Shindo (Depth of Field)’, or ‘When It Rains, It Pours’, they’re more sombre in their tone and themes.

Read Next: Kill to Love Review: Zhang Zhe Xu, Mi Jin Burn in Doomed Love

Also Read: The Thursday Murder Club Review (Audio Version Below)

Haq Teaser Trailer: Yami Battles Emraan in Tense Courtroom Drama

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“I’m fighting for my haq, my rights.”

The teaser for Yami Gautam Dhar and Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film ‘Haq’ is finally here, and it wastes no time in pulling you into the emotional storm at its center. Just a little over a minute long, the teaser is a mix of retro-styled glimpses of Shazia’s (Yami) happier times with her husband Ahmed Khan (Emraan) : laughter, shared moments, the kind of everyday intimacy that paints a picture of warmth. But those smiles quickly fade when the scene shifts to the courtroom, where the same couple now stands as bitter opponents.

The film is directed by Directed by Suparn Varma, best known for dramas like Rana Naidu, and The Trial. Yami Gautam plays Shazia Bano, a character inspired by the landmark (and highly controversial) Shah Bano case of 1985. The teaser opens with Yami reflected in a car’s rear-view mirror, perhaps a subtle metaphor for how her identity is filtered through the gaze of others.

Emraan Hashmi gets to fire the first shot in the teaser, patronizing Shazia on what it means to be a ‘good Muslim’. “Had you been a true and righteous Muslim, a loyal and dutiful wife, you wouldn’t have never said such things,” he charges. But as the seconds unfold, Yami as Shazia brings fire to the screen, standing tall and proclaiming she is fighting for her ‘haq’, her rights’.

Her courtroom stand makes it clear: she isn’t defined solely as a “Muslim woman” or a “wife,” but as an Indian citizen who expects the law to treat her equally. It’s a line that sets the tone for what promises to be an emotionally charged legal drama about justice, faith, and identity. The talented Sheeba Chaddha is seen playing Shazia’s lawyer in the teaser.

‘Haq’ is set for a November 7 release in theaters. On the career front, Yami Gautam was last seen earlier this year in ‘Dhoom Dham‘, while Emraan Hashmi has been keeping busy too, with a fun cameo in Netflix series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’, which had the internet talking. With both actors stepping into meaty roles, the film looks set to deliver a story that’s not only socially relevant but also emotionally gripping.

Watch the teaser-trailer for ‘Haq’ on YouTube, it’s also embedded below.

Neighborhood Watch Review: Crazy Neighbors, Fake Detectives, Real Trouble

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“I know who you are. You’re the batshit loon that lives next door”

Director Duncan Skiles and writer Sean Farley deliver an offbeat thriller in ‘Neighborhood Watch’, where two wacky neighbors team up to solve a case that might not even be real.

Jack Quaid (‘The Boys’, ‘Novocaine’, ‘Heads of States’) plays protagonist Simon McNally, a young man fresh out of a mental health center, who witnesses a woman being beaten and kidnapped, but the cops don’t believe him. So he turns to neighbor Ed Deerman (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a former security guard, for help. To his surprise, the old man agrees, though it seems to be more out of boredom than faith in Simon’s account.

It’s an oddly entertaining mismatched duo: Ed, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, is a smug, overconfident curmudgeon, while Jack Quaid’s Simon stumbles through life haunted by cruel voices in his head. There’s a bit of The show cleverly makes viewers as doubtful as the cops: was there really a crime, or just Simon’s imagination?

An ironical parallel sub-plot in ‘Neighborhood Watch’ shows Detective Glover (Cecile Cubiló) choosing to investigate what Simon is up to, instead of taking his ‘missing girl’ complaint seriously. The film thus takes a jab at the way authorities dismiss people with troubled pasts. Simon’s credibility is constantly questioned, not just because of his shaky mental health and time in an institution, but also because of his criminal record. The cops barely entertain his pleas, writing him off as unstable or unreliable, which makes his fight to be believed just as gripping as the mystery itself.

Malin Akerman plays Deedee McNally, Simon’s older sister, studying to be a nurse and looking after her brother, but their relationship is clearly strained, owing to traumatic childhood experiences. Though the sibling interactions are brief, they provide crucial insights to why Simon is the way he is.

Thankfully, ‘Neighborhood Watch’ doesn’t end on an open-ended cliffhanger. By the finale, we get concrete answers as Ed and Simon slip into private-detective mode, chasing down the case through a crucial lead: Simon remembers the license plate of the van the girl was allegedly kidnapped in. Whether it’s bluffing as cops or getting smacked around by local goons, Simon and Ed land themselves in plenty of trouble while poking around for clues.

With a tight 90 minute runtime, ‘Neighborhood Watch’ moves at a crisp pace, borrowing from the familiar buddy-comedy setup but twisting it into something darker and moodier, with a touch of subtle humor. Simon constantly teeters on the edge of a breakdown, spouting frantic word salads, while Ed gradually learns to temper his grumpiness with a surprising tolerance for the young man’s chaos.

Rating: 7.5 on 10. ‘Neighborhood Watch’ is on Prime Video.

Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Series Review (Audio Version Below)

Sakamoto Days Episode 22 Review: Bloodshed Ends, New Missions Begin

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

And finally the JCC exams comes to an end in Sakamoto Days. But only because the administrators are exhausted by the bloodshed and can’t afford any more losses. Only a handful make the final cut, which means Shin and Sakamoto can now shift their focus to the real mission: infiltrating the JCC to gather clues on Slur.

Also Read: Sakamoto Days Episode 21 Review

Titled “Each One’s Mission”, episode 22 of ‘Sakamoto Days’ begins with Shinaya finally coming to his senses after taking a beating from protagonist Sakamoto. Remember, he had been remote-controlled by Gaku until the connection was broken.

Gaku’s motive was to scout new recruits for Slur’s criminal organization, and while he seemed bent on slaughtering every student in the JCC exam, in a surprising twist, he does choose two candidates to bring over to the dark side.

While the last few episodes stayed locked into the exam mayhem, this chapter finally gives us a peek at what ORDER members Nagumo, Osaragi, and Shishiba are up to. The trio are handed new missions by their organization, though the nefarious Slur remains at the center of their pursuit.

Exams wrapped? Check. Bloodshed paused? Sort of. So this edition isn’t as action-packed or blood laden as the before. But since it gives a glimpse into what almost every major character is up to, things get over in a blink.

Sakamoto and Shin return to the convenience store before the school session starts, so viewers get to the see the whole gang together after a long time: Sakamoto with wife, kid, Shin, Lu, and Heisuke. The school buzz is real, although an unexpected piece of news hits Sakamoto, complicating their plans for the JCC.

There are at least two fun twists in the edition, one of which is incredibly hilarious and over the top, but don’t worry, no spoilers here. The closing minutes turn to Assassin Academy, where survival itself is the first lesson, and graduation is far from guaranteed.

Watch ‘Sakamoto Days’ on Netflix.

Read Next: Lord of Mysteries Review: Beyonders & a ‘Beyond-My-Brain’ Pace (Audio Version Below)

Alienated #6 Review: A ‘Save The World’ Climax

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Plot overview of ‘Alienated’: Earth is deluged with the bodies of dead aliens, but one family finds a survivor and attempts to understand what happened to his species.

Wow, okay, I wasn’t expecting such a dark climax to this weird, weird, sci-fi comic-book series by Taki Soma and John Broglia. Although the ‘save the world’ twist was not surprising.

Issue #6 of ‘Alienated’ opens at the Pentagon, where two staffers discuss a strange development: human corpses have stopped decomposing ever since alien bodies began appearing across the globe. Meanwhile, with TJ and the kids, the lone surviving alien echoes the same observation, a sign that Earth itself has changed in ways that may not bode well for humanity.

While Frank, the old man from TJ’s retirement community, presses on with his mission to expose the surviving alien, the main group focuses on finding a way to prevent humanity from meeting the same fate as the aliens. The plan they devise carries a heavy, unforeseen cost. Frank steps up to execute a high risk plan, but his grandchildren Lily and Winter aren’t ready to let their gramps play hero by himself.

There’s an odd scene in this issue where Winter delivers a romantic monologue to his crush from behind the wheel of his car, leaving the latter visibly baffled. The moment feels out of place, almost comical, and makes little sense, until the final twist clicks it into place.

In just 24 pages, the creators deliver a whirlwind finale for ‘Alienated’, which feels a wee bit underwhelming, but considering the choppy pace of the tale so far… it’s a decent climax. And the artwork remains consistently engaging throughout.

I would only recommend this if you’re in the mood for some quick, low-stakes sci-fi comic-book series, with colorful, cartoon-y artwork.

Rating: 3 on 5. Alienated is also on Kindle Unlimited.

Read Next: The Village of Eight Graves Review: Wickedly Rich (Audio Version Below)

Secret Lover Review: Wang Jyun Hao Is ‘Kawaii’ in Manga-Inspired Romance

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Taiwanese series ‘Secret Lover’ is for fans of ‘friends to lovers’ trope, where the leads comically rely on ‘rock, paper, scissors’ to make most of their decisions. But well, it’s based on a manga series by Komeoka Shigu, so exaggerations are to be expected.

Directed by Chiang Ping Chen (‘See Your Love’, ‘Plus & Minus’), the ten-episode series follows childhood friends Lu Jun Xi (Wang Jyun Hao) and Han Tuo (Chance) as they navigate the challenges of steering their platonic bond into the trickier waters of romance.

Forget slow-burn, ‘Secret Lover’ dives straight in with episode 1’s surprise kiss between Jun Xi and Han Tuo at the movies. Jun Xi is left questioning how things escalated, especially since he’d only been taking Han Tuo’s “flirting tips” to impress his crush Lin Xiao Yang (Lin Yen Tzu). But Han Tuo’s real agenda quickly becomes clear: he wants Jun Xi for himself, and Yang doesn’t stand a chance. Although he also faces some competition from gamer-girl He You Mei (Julie Yuan), who likes Jun Xi.

Set against the final year of University life, by episode two, ‘Secret Lover’ already rushes the leads into a secret romance, something most series would drag out over 10 chapters. From there, the story turns on Han Tuo’s problematic mix of jealousy and insecurity, and Jun Xi’s awkward attempts to survive a relationship that’s moving faster than he can handle. At times, it feels like Han Tuo is steamrolling Jun Xi into the relationship, but Han Tuo gets lucky: Jun Xi’s feelings are genuine.

The central conflict in the story revolves around Jun Xi’s insistence on keeping their relationship a secret. This “secret lover” situation often frustrates Han Tuo, who longs to go public with their romance. Adding to the tension, new friend You Mei stirs the pot in a few mildly comical scenes, warning that nothing good ever comes from couples hiding their love. The couple’s struggles deepen when separate, grueling internships leave them with little time together.

Honestly, I stuck with ‘Secret Lover’ until the end because Wang Jyun Hao is ridiculously cute as Jun Xi. His sunny, cheery personality makes him feel like an affectionate little Shih Tzu: playful, warm, and hard not to love. Chance, meanwhile, is a mixed bag as the more reserved Han Tuo. The character is flat and one-dimensional, leaving you unsure if the problem is the writing or Chance’s limited range. Even so, the second half proves he can rise to the occasion, with a handful of emotional scenes where his performance lands.

Lin Yen Tzu is endearing as Xiao Yang, the lead couple’s childhood friend in ‘Secret Lover’. Rather than being reduced to a clichéd third wheel or a vampy antagonist, she is a reliable, supportive presence, who cheers them on quietly. The show also weaves in childhood flashbacks of the trio, showing how Jun Xi always stood by Han Tuo during the painful aftermath of his mother abandoning him after his parents get a divorce. This also serves as an interesting contrast between their families, while Jun Xi has loving parents, Han Tuo has a fraught relationship with his workaholic father.

Overall, ‘Secret Lover’ is a standard friends-to-lovers romance that could’ve been far more entertaining with a lighter, more comedic tone. Instead, the series leans into drama and angst. A few tweaks, sharper writing for laughs and a more upbeat soundtrack, might have transformed it. Think ‘My Love Mix-Up’ or ‘Cherry Magic’, especially since this too is adapted from a Japanese manga.

‘Secret Lover’ is available on YouTube, iQIYI and WeTV.

Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Review: Kuch Kuch Meta Hai (Audio Version Below)

‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 11 Review: Indo’s Sin Uncovered

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

“Hikaru… was like the main character of a manga. He could talk to anybody…”

Yoshiki goes down the memory lane in ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’, recalling how the human Hikaru different from the entity inhabiting his body now. Interestingly, these flashbacks are prompted by the entity’s question about whether Yoshiki misses the “real Hikaru.”

Quick Recap of The Summer Hikaru Died’ Episode 10

Determined to keep digging into the mysterious Nonuki-sama legend, Yoshiki and Hikaru visit the village temple, which turns out to be a chilling shrine lined with wooden heads. As Hikaru’s locked-away memories resurface, he reveals the village’s grisly past of sacrificing human heads to appease a deity and ward off disasters like famine or crop failure. “This place is a freaking murder village?” – that’s Yoshiki’s blunt summary of the dark secret.

Titled “Indo’s Sin,” episode 11 of The Summer Hikaru Died finally reveals the extent of Hikaru Indo’s family’s connection to the curse plaguing Kubitachi village. After pressing his father, a former close friend of Hikaru’s late father, Yoshiki learns of a sinister tradition passed down through the Indo family for generations.

It was old man Takeda who in episode 9 of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ violently reprimanded the boys for being ignorant about Indo’s history. But learning more about the Nonuki-sama or the ‘Indo’s Sin’, does little to solve Yoshiki’s existential crisis and confusion over what he should do about the bizarre situation he is in.

This ‘Summer Hikaru Died’ chapter brims with revelations, unsettling events, and raw emotion, but for once, it isn’t Yoshiki falling apart. Instead, it is Hikaru who is overwhelmed with his inner chaos, torn between his alien nature and human attachments, grappling with his connection to Yoshiki and his strange desire for a place to call ‘home’.

Perhaps the most surprising element of this chapter is Hikaru turning to the matronly Rie for advice. Until now, his serious interactions were limited to Yoshiki, with the rest of his time spent goofing off with classmates. But his exchange with Rie highlights how unnervingly human he seems, even if tinged with immaturity. And seeing someone other than Yoshiki respond to him with genuine concern underscores that it isn’t just Yoshiki clinging to his dead best friend, this entity has a hold of its own on people.

With only one more episode of ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ left this season, I’m as unwilling to let go of Hikaru as Yoshiki is. The animation could certainly be sharper, with backgrounds that often lack detail. Yet the sheer intensity of the story, blending emotion and the supernatural, keeps the anime gritty, engaging, and riveting at every turn.

Watch ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’ on Netflix.

Read Next: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle Movie Review

Read Next: The Ba***ds of Bollywood Review: Kuch Kuch Meta Hai (Audio Version Below)

Katabasis Review: Takes 2 to Make Hell Boring

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

R. F. Kuang’s ‘Katabasis’ severely underestimates the number of people who’d be willing to go to hell if all it took was giving up half their lifespan, especially if the trip meant saving somebody who’d guarantee them a job. The novel’s plot is on point for the 2020s: two desperate Cambridge post-grad scholars studying ‘Magick’, journey to the underworld to retrieve their brilliant but dead thesis advisor, as they think he is their only ticket to a bright academic future. The premise is darkly comical. But the execution is very very questionable.

By the end of the first chapter of ‘Katabasis’, which is just 16 pages long, Alice the protagonist was already sounding a like Rin re-hashed, the heroine from R.F Kuang’s ‘Poppy War’ trilogy. Alice says something about how she’d sacrifice her first-born for a job, which is such an odd thing to say, since she is single, unmarried and nowhere near having a baby, and because Rin from Poppy War has her uterus removed so it wouldn’t distract her from her ‘warrior goals’.

In-fact, even Peter, the secondary protagonist, sounded like a mash of Kitay and Nezha, a solid nerd and a charmer. Peter is positioned as Alice’s rival, even though they have a love-hate relationship, much like Rin and Nezha. I hoped these differences would start to fade over the course of the novel, but Alice remains a slightly rehashed version of Rin through the course of the novel, without the crazy supernatural powers.

What R. F. Kuang does in ‘Katabasis’ is take all sorts of accounts of hell from around the world, from Italian philosopher Dante’s texts to Chinese mythology, and gives us a weirdly boring underworld, which appears as a Cambridge campus to Alice and Peter. ‘Hell is a campus’. Of course. At first, the concept sounded interesting, that hell appears to people as whatever they’re most comfortable with, so that their transition from life to death is easier. However, it’s ridiculously annoying that Alice and Peter would constantly run into academics like them.

I get that this is dark academia, but does that mean 80% of the novel has to read like the author is constantly quoting philosophers? Alice and Peter are supposed to be searching for Professor Grimes, their strict, brilliant, manipulative mentor. And after some bickering, they decide to trek through the eight courts of hell to find his soul and bargain with Yama, Hades, or whoever’s in charge down there, to bring Grimes back.

The first court they enter (Pride) turns out to be a library, which feels like a blatant attempt to woo readers with bookish imagery. When the protagonists run into trouble, they’re granted refuge on a boat on the legendary River Styx by a young shade, who just so happens to be a Cambridge alumnus. Later, one of the courts is a city where souls spend eternity writing theses to justify their vile acts.

In Katabasis, the dark academia theme is stretched thin, with an overreliance on everything scholarly. At this point, it’s almost surprising the final boss of Hell isn’t Professor Charles Xavier or J.R.R. Tolkien himself (he was a professor at Oxford). You know, just stretch the academia blanket all the way.

The First Court is a fancy library with statues, perhaps something like this (Representational Image)

‘Katabasis’ was more entertaining in flashbacks, when it would show readers what life was like at the Cambridge campus for Alice, especially in the first year. And that’s not a compliment, because why is hell more blander than campus life? The heart of Alice’s arc lies in her toxic bond with Professor Grimes, a mentor whose brilliance is paired with cruelty. He’s manipulative, controlling, and takes pleasure in cutting his students down, yet Alice excuses it all, as if intellectual genius gives him the license to be abusive. But is he even a genius? We learn the truth over the course of the novel.

Alice’s journey to hell is an elaborate metaphor for how academia is worse than literal hell, which author R.F. Kuang demonstrates well through the pages of ‘Katabasis’. Clearly Cambridge is so awful, a trip to hell seems worth it. But this novel should’ve been half its length and definitely needed to be a lot more imaginative.

The climactic events of ‘Katabasis’ give Alice a far too convenient solution to her problems, it’s almost romantic, maybe even ‘cute’. That’s really not what I had signed up for when I ordered my copy.

Rating for ‘Katabasis’: 2 on 5 stars.

Read Next: The Village of Eight Graves Review: Wickedly Rich (Audio Version Below)