The second season of Taaza Khabar picks up from the same point where season one had ended but it is clear that there has been a course correction of completely moving out of the cliffhanger while introducing a solid obstacle in the form of an antagonist (Jaaved Jaafri) who would frequently add roadblocks to the character of Vasya (Bhuvan Bam). And add to this a searing time period of arranging a certain amount, and the excitement levels of the show heighten wonderfully well. The story here from a concept level may not quite be novel but it definitely adds a lot of ingredients to raise the stakes in the drama while maintaining the levels of excitement. The writing also does well in focusing on the emotional aspect of the drama that has such a huge payoff in the middle with a twist that I did not see coming. This, even as the screenplay standing at just 6 episodes of roughly 30 odd minutes each does not let the intensity drop while keeping you on your toes while allowing you multiple opportunities to invest in the protagonist and characters around him.

The reshuffle takes about an episode into the drama to put things to perspective. As a result, there is a lot of focus on the protagonist from a characterization standpoint wherein he is presented as an anti-hero. Previously, you did see much darker shades to his character but here the entire turn of events focus on the repercussions of his previous actions and his road to redemption. As a result, you see the emphasis on the emotional angle with regard to the dynamics that he shares with people around him, and where they find themselves in life. This was a key ingredient given how everyone’s life would change in the times to come. But not before introducing multiple twists as a part of the course correction process that includes the introduction of the antagonist who raises the bar of the drama straight away by eliminating an important character. But once the lines are drawn, the levels of excitement start creeping in.

It was always a risky proposition to introduce an antagonist in the second season who had virtually no presence in the first season. But writers Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal manage to give a little bit of a back story to the antagonist that unfolds at the start of every episode that parallely works in favour of his characterization. In the midst, the scenario that the protagonist and his friends find themselves in is beyond imagination (and so you also need to put a little logic aside) while having to arrange for an amount in a stipulated period of time in exchange for his freedom. And while this is essentially the focal point of the show and the writers remained committed to it, the events are entertaining even while exploring a dark theme that is in stark contrast to the slightly more frothy theme from the first season. The humour here is dark and often blends really well with the surroundings here. This, even as the writers did connect a few dots in the drama seamlessly.

The writing is riddled with twists and turns that completely take you by surprise at a few junctures. There is a massive twist that completely left me shell-shocked while giving me a clear indication that the writers aren’t afraid to raise the stake in the drama. This was heartening considering that I did approach the show as just another safe bet that wouldn’t actually throw me off-guard. That said, there are a few lags in the screenplay that do creep in after the concerned incident wherein I did anticipate that all hell would break loose, something that took a while coming. But in the meanwhile, the politics of the drama did add a different flavour to the proceedings before setting up things for the fiery final act that might be cliched but it did work well in the context of the drama. Overall, the screenplay was a drastic improvement from the first season and although cliched, it did offer plenty of moments of thrill along the way.