After a binge-worthy first season, Sacred Games came out with the much-anticipated second season on Independence Day, making many of us thank our lucky stars for a mid-week holiday.
While the memes by early viewers panning the second season might make you rethink cancelling plans this weekend, Season 2 is better if not equally interesting. Here are 5 things we absolutely LOVED about the latest season:
1. Mythological overlay
Like Season 1, the second season has most episodes titled either with mythological figures or mythological concepts. But unlike the latter where mythology mainly runs as an undercurrent to the entire cop-and-thief thriller, it takes centre stage now. Whether it’s the story of Matsya — the fish avatar of Vishnu, or that of Vikarna — the only Kaurava said to have stood against the humiliation of Draupadi, the mythological significance is not just hinted at, but actualised and even hinged on a few times. So you get many Easter eggs to bite into.
2. Osho 2.0
As expected, Gaitonde looms large. But it’s interesting to see who’s the puppetmaster behind the puppetmaster. Enter Guruji (Pankaj Tripathi), an Osho-like nihilistic cult figure who not only takes Gaitonde away from the gang violence that shaped much of the previous season, but also tries to woo the viewer to his side. His message of being subservient to oneself and working towards the greater theme of annihilation reminds one of Wild Wild Country.
3. Gaitonde’s pansexuality
While Kukoo’s (Kubra Sait) character and the way it was treated one of the best things about season one, things are taken a step ahead this season. Gaitonde is not just shown having sex with men and women alike, but he does it without conflict and without struggling with his identity. Gaitonde’s character makes the case that sexuality is fluid. Much wow!
4. Pills and philosophy
While I would love to know what drugs they offer in Guruji’s ashrams, it’s the journey after popping the pill that makes the season even more interesting. The high of the drugs is secondary, it’s about what the person thinks back to is what creates (and resolves) conflicts and drives the story ahead. The Roshomon-esque bent to flashbacks gives you pause from the violence and suspense and lets you dive into the characters and their conflicts.
5. The cliffhangers
They are seemingly unending, but also not too frivolous. While the season tells the story at a slower pace, what propels it forward is the story of nuclear terrorism and the many twists and turns that mostly happen just before episodes are about to end. And by episodes, I mean ALL episodes.
