Showtime Part 2 review: Emraan Hashmi-led series continues with shallow plots and overblown reactions

2/5

The entertainment industry offers it all: breathtaking fame, intense hardships, producer wars, and the acceptance of one's authentic self. The ability to overcome adversity and continue shining is what makes an actor famous, and Raghu Khanna (Emraan Hashmi) exemplifies this trait. The king of show business is back and ready to reign supreme.

It's been four months since the first four episodes of Showtime dropped on Disney+ Hotstar. Just as the drama reached its peak in the final moments, there was no sign of the next episode. Now, after a long wait, all seven episodes are streaming, and we know why there was a long gap. Well, the lower the expectations, the better! However, let's dive deeper into the shallow series called Showtime.

ALSO READ: Showtime review - Emraan Hashmi and Mahima Makwana's series goes on a stereotypical stroll through Bollywood's glitz without the grit

In the first four episodes, we watched as his father (Naseeruddin Shah) took Raghu Khanna's (Emraan Hashmi) studio away from him and gave it to Mahika Nandy (Mahima Makwana) as a nobody. We also saw how Armaan (Rajeev Khandelwal), the superstar, values no one and takes his stardom for granted, while his wife Mandira (Shriya Saran) is looking forward to making a comeback to movies after being on a sabbatical. Furthermore, she is angered when her husband's infidelity becomes public knowledge. On the other hand, there's Yasmin (Mouni Roy), a starlet who is also Raghu's ladylove, waiting for her big break, but in the end, we see her pregnant and in turmoil after he refuses to accept her and the baby.

The drama is poised to unfold in the final three episodes, but the attempt to enhance the storyline is excessively superficial, leaving little room for a compelling drama or even arousing excitement. The writers appear to have lost their understanding of how to conclude the already flawed series, leaving viewers perplexed even after its conclusion. As the last episode's final scene unfolded, I began to speculate about the possibility of additional episodes in the future. However, that marked the culmination of the season! The predictable plot and drama will require another wait.

Let's quickly dive into an overview of the remaining episodes. We see Armaan and Mandira's marriage hitting a roadblock, and both capitalise on it very well to get the right publicity. The series of press conferences sets the stage for the events. I wonder how many times an artist has gone live on Instagram or a news channel to clarify their stance when things have gone awry for them? But on Showtime, that seemed to be the coping mechanism for all the characters to prove themselves right. 

When was the last time we saw reports of an actor getting an abortion or a photo from a clinic while she was lying on the bed making its way to the Internet? So, what level of drama is necessary to propel the story forward and add depth to the effect?

Meanwhile, Mahika faces numerous challenges as she strives to fulfil her responsibilities and maintain Viktory Studios' reputation. However, politics enter the picture, revealing how a random child of an influential figure becomes a movie star—a situation that producers must accept with grace. Furthermore, we witness Armaan betray Mahika and halt production of their ambitious project, "1857." In the end, I couldn't help but wonder why, despite the stories focusing on specific actors and producers, other so-called "stars" seem to disappear without warning. We don't see anyone crossing paths, and all that's happening is within and around five people. That's quite insignificant compared to the vast scope of the film industry.

The next two episodes will delve into the hot topic of real-life raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Well, what happened to the era of income tax raids in Bollywood? Have we raised the bar because of real-life incidents? Seems like. 

Showtime lacks closure, as every action elicits an extreme reaction, and all the characters are eager to take revenge. Not only that, but the pursuit of a common goal transforms enemies into friends, further highlighting the superficial nature of the film industry. Investing in this series necessitates a new level of patience, similar to what you may have experienced when watching the previous 100 episodes of the Ekta Kapoor series. Even now, someone watching it might find it easy to follow.

Showtime Part 2, much like a movie set's flimsy façade, promises glitter but delivers glitter dust. The star-studded cast can't save this superficial saga from its script's melodramatic missteps. With its convoluted plot twists and overblown reactions, it's more soap than substance.

ALSO READ: Showtime: More A Blind Item Than Bollywood Exposé