Mismatched Season 3 sees the return of Dimple (Prajakta Koli) and Rishi (Rohit Saraf) as they navigate the complexities of a long-distance relationship, new job opportunities, and personal loss. The show, which originally revolved around tech and young adult life, now delves deeper into virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the evolving landscape of the digital world. However, despite these ambitious themes, Mismatched feels as though it has grown older without growing up.
A Digital Future: The Mismatch Between Reality and Virtuality
In Season 3, the show introduces Betterverse, a virtual world created by Nandini Nahata’s (Dipannita Sharma) tech institute, where Rishi and his friends work. This new reality serves as a backdrop for the couple’s long-distance relationship, as their once-physical bond becomes increasingly virtual. The series explores the growing disconnection between digital and physical worlds, with Dimple and Rishi questioning their intimacy and connection in the face of modern technology.
The season also tackles deeper societal issues like grief and identity, with characters grappling with the loss of loved ones or exploring their gender identity in the context of the Betterverse. One standout subplot features Rith (Lauren Robinson), a queer hacker who uses the virtual world to see themselves as they wish to be seen – a powerful reflection on gender dysphoria.
Mature Themes, Yet Immature Treatment
Season 3 also introduces fresh themes, tackling body positivity, childhood trauma, loss, and woke culture. While the writers, including Gazal Dhaliwal, Aarsh Vora, and Sunayana Kumari, delve into these serious issues, they do so at a surface level. While the narratives are rich with potential, they lack the depth needed to fully engage with these complex topics. The show touches on these subjects but doesn’t dive into them with the intensity they deserve.
Despite the intellectual material at hand, the show often feels stuck in its coming-of-age formula, with characters struggling to mature both emotionally and intellectually. The performances from the cast, including Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli, leave much to be desired. While they show potential, they often fail to provide the nuance necessary for such complex themes. The lack of a strong directorial vision undercuts the material, leaving the show feeling underdeveloped.
A Shift in Setting and Relationships
The season also shifts focus to the characters’ growth outside the college setting, with Rannvijay Singha’s Siddharth and Vidya Malvade’s Zeenat navigating their more mature relationship. The absence of a bustling campus environment allows them to explore their desires and challenges more deeply, reflecting the experience of growing older in the real world. This subplot feels more grounded and natural, in contrast to the often scattered energy of the main storyline.
Similarly, Kshitee Jog’s performance as Dimple’s mother adds emotional weight to the narrative, bringing maturity and depth to her character’s role.
The Road Ahead for Mismatched
As the characters age, Mismatched feels caught between adolescence and adulthood. The show’s reluctance to fully embrace adult themes, particularly the act of sex, mirrors the characters’ hesitations to mature. Ultimately, Mismatched Season 3 is a show that is trying to tackle mature themes but doesn’t quite have the right tools to do so convincingly. The series needs to evolve, not just in terms of themes but in its treatment and execution, to truly match the complexity of the issues it attempts to address.
The show leaves audiences with a familiar sense of mismatch – a desire to grow, but a struggle to truly mature, both within its characters and its storytelling. As Dimple sums up the season, “Love is when what you want is what you need,” and perhaps that’s exactly what Mismatched needs – a more mature approach to its material, one that doesn’t hesitate to face the complexities of adulthood head-on.
Sources By Agencies
