Mirzapur Season 3 review: More madness, more mayhem

A season finale that ended with the craziest of cliffhangers for a show as expansive in its interwoven histories of crime deserves as lengthy a recap as it gets ahead of the events of the first episode. The battle for power, territory and survival continues. Whether you are new to the series or a returning addict, you will appreciate that it is stirring in action and rich in characters. With its ruthless lust for power, Mirzapur is a thirst trap for an audience that seeks kills and thrills.

More contenders for the Mirzapur throne

In Season 3, with the absence of Akhandanand Tripathi aka Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi), the throne of Mirzapur—while occupied by Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal) with Golu Gupta (Shweta Tripathi Sharma) as his shadow—still stands on shaky legs. The foundation laid by the series for ambition, greed, rivalry and the need for revenge continues in Season 3 with the emergence of more contenders to the (iron?) throne. What unfolds in this generational gangster saga is absurdly complicated and absolutely thrilling.

They say, power, much like nature, abhors a vacuum. The bahubalis of Purvanchal, egged on by Sharad Shukla (Anjumm Shharma), play out their wiles at the right intermissions at this season’s beginning. Kaleen takes a backseat as Sharad and Guddu play mind games with each other with the occasional piping in of the Tyagi twin that survives.

A season of tension, betrayal and treachery

There’s tension, betrayal, and treachery. And make no mistake when I say that while this is a largely testosterone-fuelled guns-and-goons free-for-all, the men come across as largely impotent in their decisions. It is the dead-eyed women with everything to lose who play their cards in secret while moving the show forward. Though never dull, or predictable, by Season 3, the viewer knows most characters are raw and morally corrupt. Even so, one Game-of-Thrones-level-violence in the first episode was too gruesome for my taste.

The occasional “aapda” gets turned into an avatar with the body-count piling as high as expected. The idea of family and the loyalties thereof finds itself at sea. Mirzapur isn’t afraid of change. It’s the lifeblood of the series. We saw the death of main characters in Season 1. And the bloodbath was seen again in the finale of Season 2. All episodes of Season 3 have dropped and so the question really is: who will be the last man standing?

Revenge-rigged action in every episode

Is there blood and gore? Aplenty. Are there unexpected twists? In every episode. Is there enough political intrigue and revenge-rigged action? You have to see the intense fight choreography and the general camerawork to see the growth of the series with your own eyes.

Yes, the characters are familiar enough to play out their acts as if by rote. But it is the proverbial pull of the kaleen from under your feet that will sweep you away yet again this season. Once you get back in the rhythm of this lusty and blood-soaked saga, it’s impossible not to pick a team and cheer for the players.

Mirzapur Season 3: strong in sound and fury

And for God’s sake don’t step away from the screen while binge-watching this show. It actually is THAT good despite the highs and ebbs. The dialogues are meme-worthy. The writing is sharp, the world seems real, the costumes are authentic, the casting is bang-on, the actors superlative. All departments—including music, camera work, direction and editing—excel. Few shows manage to hold attention in Season 3 but this one shines extra. Mirzapur 3 is strong in sound and fury. It will grab you and won’t let you go for nearly ten hours.