Mirzapur Season 3: Gripping Sequel or ‘Sasta’ Game of Thrones?

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande

Mumbai, 6th July 2024: The much-anticipated third season of the Mirzapur web series was released yesterday, July 5th, on Amazon Prime. Following the first season’s release in November 2018 and the second in October 2020, fans had to wait almost four years for the third season. A slight spoiler is that they will have to wait for the next season in the near future as well.

The first season captivated audiences, garnering immense love for the series, while the second season, though not quite matching the charisma of the first, maintained momentum. The third season’s release was eagerly awaited by fans. It has received a mixed reaction from the audience; some Mirzapur enthusiasts are still enjoying it, while others less attached to the show are criticizing it, even going so far as to liken it to a ‘Sasta’ Game of Thrones.

Mirzapur Season 3: Intrigue, Revenge, and Unexpected Twists

Mirzapur Season 3 picks up where the last season left off, with Guddu and Gajgamini (Golu) now in control of Mirzapur. Meanwhile, Akhandanand Tripathi struggles between life and death, and despite fans’ wild theories, Munna Tripathi, played by Divyendu Sharma, is confirmed dead. CM Madhuri is consumed by revenge, Lala is arrested, and the intriguing character Sharad Shukla plans his next moves, including saving Kaleen Bhaiyya from his perilous state. Chote Tyagi, one of the surviving twins from the previous season’s climax, now impersonates his deceased brother, Bada Tyagi (Bharat Tyagi). Supporting characters like JP Yadav, the Pandit family, and Shabnam make appearances throughout. However, Robin’s underutilization remains a significant disappointment for fans.

With each character driven by personal motives—Guddu and Sharad vying for control of Purvanchal, Tyagi seeking revenge, CM Madhuri seeking justice for her husband, and the Pandits grappling with their challenges—the plot unfolds with numerous twists and turns. While some plot developments stray from established character themes, they effectively surprise and captivate the audience. However, certain twists may feel overly dramatic, maintaining a reminiscent tone of old Hindi daily soaps, while some sequences appear inspired by popular Western web series.

What Goes Right

Continuing the tradition of previous seasons, the acting performances shine brightly. Ali Fazal takes Guddu to new heights of insanity, while Shweta Tripathi’s character development is handled adeptly. Vijay Verma maintains his consistent brilliance. Pankaj Tripathi, until the last 15 minutes, portrays his role with finesse, gracefully allowing the next generation to take centre stage before his character’s pivotal moments unfold. Anjum Sharma impresses as Sharad Shukla, a captivating character who is both calculating and pragmatic, asserting control as one of the leads. Rasika Duggal shines brightly despite having very little screen time.

The interactions between Shukla and Guddu Pandit, resembling a ‘roast’ battle, resonate well with viewers, capturing the essence of their characters—Sharad’s composed demeanour contrasting with Guddu’s volatile nature. The Tyagi storyline introduces a refreshing change of scenery, shifting focus from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar amidst a backdrop of intense drama. The background score is notably effective in key moments, maintaining the series’ established atmosphere, while dialogue writing remains consistent and engaging across seasons.

Directors Gurmeet Singh and Anand Iyer have skillfully utilized locations to enhance the realism of Mirzapur Season 3. They incorporate significant scenes such as the toppling of Kaleen Bhaiya’s statue symbolizing power shifts in Mirzapur, and Madhuri (played by Isha Talwar) solemnly lighting Munna’s funeral pyre. The use of detailed graphics effectively illustrates the expanding geography of the Mirzapur universe, depicting the trail of bloodshed spanning Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Northern Bihar, and even Nepal.

Certain characters, like Meghna Malik’s, are explored in depth, adding richness to the narrative. Strategically leaving some questions unanswered, the show adeptly builds anticipation for its next season, ensuring viewers remain invested in its evolving storyline.

What Goes Wrong

One of the main criticisms that has marred Mirzapur Season 3 for a segment of viewers is its desperate attempt to emulate the famous HBO series Game of Thrones. Whether intentional or not, this emulation has not resonated well. The inclusion of lustful twists, violent events, and battle sequences draws unwelcome comparisons to GOT.

Many Mirzapur enthusiasts eagerly anticipated a showdown between Kaleen Bhaiya and Guddu Bhaiya after a four-year wait. However, this anticipated confrontation was notably absent. Throughout most of the season, except the final 15 minutes, Pankaj Tripathi’s character appears to step back from the criminal underworld, allowing younger characters and new rivalries to dominate the narrative spotlight.

Fans are disappointed by the underutilization of characters like Robin Agarwal and JP Yadav. Additionally, certain scenes involving Zarina are seen as far-fetched, and CM Madhuri’s televised dance for campaigning evokes second-hand embarrassment. While strong acting salvages the show from its weak screenplay, the background score lacks consistency throughout.

Many plot twists are overly predictable, and those that don’t often deviate too far from established character arcs from previous seasons. Scenes set in the jail, where viewers hoped for Ramakant Pandit’s character to shine, ultimately feel meaningless. Rasika Duggal’s character was poised to be the Chanakya of the web series, but the makers did her a great injustice by giving her limited screen time and not utilizing her acting prowess effectively in a storyline that lacked impact. Mirzapur, like several other acclaimed series such as Panchayat, Kota Factory, Stranger Things, House of Cards, and 13 Reasons Why, falls victim to the “third season curse,” where expectations are high, but the season fails to live up to its potential, merely serving to build anticipation for the next installment.

To conclude, Season 3 may be considered the weakest in the Mirzapur web series, but it also holds its ground reasonably well within the web series landscape. While some viewers may find aspects disappointing upon completion, anticipation for Season 4 remains strong. The season maintains high stakes, risks, and drama, though it lacks the spark of earlier seasons. Despite a somewhat predictable storyline, the performances, direction, and chilling moments of violence make it worth watching. Produced by Excel Entertainment, Mirzapur Season 3 is currently available for streaming on Prime Video India.