Minus One: New Chapter (Season 2) is completely different from Minus One. The first season was breezy and comical, but the new chapter is intense, serious, and earnest. It shows how the protagonists, Ria (Aisha Ahmed) and Varun (Ayush Mehra), have evolved after their breakup and face life as they age. It shows the fragility of relationships and the mistakes people commit despite being madly in love.
Directed by Shubham Yogi, the series shifts between two timelines. The first narrative shows all the good times Ria and Varun had when they fell in love. It portrays cleverly and smoothly the downfall of their relationship. The second timeline is them moving on in life after the breakup. The episodes are longer this season but totally worth it because Aisha and Ayush are incredible as Ria and Varun. They shine through every single scene, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on their chemistry.
This is neither a sequel nor a prequel because the timeline keeps jumping pre and post their breakup. The pre-breakup era is them being deeply in love and Varun trying to make it on his own as a pilot. He is ambitious and has high hopes for himself. Ria wants to be a photographer but has to work at a boring job to pay her bills. They decide to rent an apartment together, and watching them move in and let the rush of dopamine course through their characters is utterly romantic.
The second timeline is post-breakup, where Varun did land his dream job for a brief period of time. Now, he is hiding the fact that the airline has sacked him. On the other hand, Ria has quit her job and is now a professional photographer. They are both at different life stages, preventing them from freely opening up to each other. Varun is dating an air hostess, and even she is clueless about his work situation.
The way things unfold from here is absolutely phenomenal. I was glued to my screen for 3 hours, guessing the reason behind their breakup. But, to my surprise, there was more than one concrete reason, and both characters played their cards extremely well to bring their relationship to an inevitable end. However, one of them was at greater fault here.
Their fights start at a minuscule stage where their problems may seem silly to the viewers. But that’s how problems start in every relationship. They start small and become the elephant in the room when left uncontrolled and uncommunicative. One unsolved conflict harbors multiple unresolved feelings and quarrels. Things escalate in relationships when problems aren’t strangled at birth (you would get this pun if you watch the series).
Despite having so many issues at hand, they still look out for each other and wish each other only the best. Ria shows kindness when Varun asks if his mother could stay at her place a few months after their big fallout. Anyone in her place would have rejected this plea, but her character’s maturity is admirable.
Varun struggles to accept the fact that he can’t be a pilot, but after one big rejection, he knows it’s time to let his dreams go. It’s as if his character is lending a shoulder to all those watching the show who couldn’t accomplish their dreams and have had to settle for whatever life handed them.
This season brings in new characters, including Kusha Kapila’s cameo as Nayantara. It’s crazy how she has less screen time yet gives a powerful performance. Her character is layered, and her backstory is truly heartwarming. It shows how sometimes we find comfort in strangers when our loved ones fail to understand and empathize with us.
The plot is well-rounded and ties all the loose ends as it reaches the climax. Varun doesn’t get to fly but teaches aspiring pilots how to. Ria becomes a successful photographer and lives her dream life. A semi-happy ending but a sensible one because that’s how life is. It’s a potpourri of joyous and miserable circumstances.
Minus One: New Chapter doesn’t have a fresh or unique story. However, the way the events unravel is quite original and portrayed delicately. One big takeaway from this series is that any house can be made into a home when you are with the right person.
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