Mismatched S3 Review: Prajakta Koli, Rohit Saraf-Starrer Loses Most of Its Charm
'Mismatched' season 3 is streaming on Netflix.
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Two years after season 2, Mismatched is back on Netflix for a third season with a three-year time jump. Rishi (Rohit Saraf) and Dimple (Prajakta Koli) have been together for that entire time – a new record for them. But love and relationships (and situationships) change at the drop of a hat. This was all fun and engaging for two seasons but now, when everyone seems to be changing but not evolving, it all becomes a little draining to watch.
Taaruk Raina and Rohit Saraf in a still from 'Mismatched' season 3.
(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)
Mismatched has always had the energy of a Y/A novel – its frivolity was a large part of its charm and is also where its relatability came from. While Rishi and Dimple are trying to make long distance work, Anmol (Taaruk Raina) is on a personal journey of his own – trying to shed the image of a ‘troll’ while tackling his insecurities about his relationship with his girlfriend (Ahsaas Channa).
Taaruk Raina and Ahsaas Channa in a still from 'Mismatched' season 3.
(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)
Rishi and a couple of his friends are vital to Nandini Nahata’s (Dipannita Sharma) research – to create an alternate reality called ‘Betterverse’. This virtual reality becomes a safe haven for Rith (Lauren Robinson), a trans man for whom this virtual reality provides a necessary escape.
Meanwhile Celina (Muskkan Jaferi) forms an unlikely bond with the brash Krish (Abhinav Sharma). Speaking of new relationships, Sid sir (Ranvijay Singha) and Zeenat (Vidya Malavade) are trying to navigate building a life of their own. All of these relationships and the varying dynamics are at the heart of Mismatched season 3 but they're also its undoing.
This season, unlike its predecessors, does not have enough of a grip on its storytelling to justify the sheer number of different threads. As a result, everything I’m trying to do, including its well-intentioned messaging, becomes too surface level. The story jumps from one sequence to another without letting the audience soak in any of it.
A still from 'Mismatched' season 3.
(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)
It's too volatile of a story for the relatability and comfort that seeped into the first two seasons. This is one of the few shows that does try to have a diverse host of characters but without a grip on the stories, characters get painted as black and white even though there is a clear intention to create grey ones.
There's glimpses of something deeper – primarily with the exploration of Rith’s gender identity and his relationship with the people around him. The show also explores how his identity becomes the first thing that comes under attack – even the safety he feels is fragile because of the world he lives in. His reliance on technology starts to make more sense. But then again, there are shades to his character that border on making him an antagonist of sorts, which would be okay if the story had time to balance the two.
A still from 'Mismatched' season 3.
(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)
People fall apart over one explosive argument and some things get resolved too easily without addressing the root of the issue. The characters have not grown at all and that's why, Celina and Krish still remain some of the show’s most interesting characters (and some of the best performed). Saraf’s inherent charm and Koli’s effortless screen presence are the only reasons you would stay invested in Rishi and Dimple’s story.
Taaruk Raina is still one of the show’s highlights – he also seems like one of the only characters to have seen some actual growth. Or perhaps it's because his growth feels the most natural. The push-and-pull with Vinny (Channa) rises directly from who they are fundamentally – they are, on paper, mismatched. And that's why they're interesting.
A still from 'Mismatched' season 3.
(Photo Courtesy: YouTube)
There are parts of the show that are engaging and the cast does a brilliant job of keeping the audience empathetic. From discussing gender dysphoria to grief, childhood trauma, toxic relationships, and activism, the writers do understand how to use the interactions of the characters’ identities to create engaging and important conversations.
While the cliches could still tug at your heartstrings, the predictability gets to you, leaving you nostalgic for a better time (aka 'Mismatched’ season 2).