Panchayat Season 3: The third season of the popular series Panchayat is streaming on Prime Video. The series, with a stellar cast including Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, and Neena Gupta, is being loved by the audience once again. The third season has taken a turn venturing into a more serious territory compared to its light-hearted predecessors. While the second season had given a hint of how things will change in Phulera, the third season has fully embraced it. Though the third season is an enjoyable and heartwarming watch, it lacks certain signature elements that made Panchayat a beloved series, leaving audiences yearning for the simpler Phulera they fell in love with.
Diversion from the mundane
When Panchayat was released it offered a refreshing change in a landscape saturated with high-octane web series. One of the key strengths of Panchayat's first two seasons was their embrace of the mundane which provided viewers an escape to the simple life of Phulera. The show functioned almost as an anthology, with each episode tackling an everyday issue faced by the villagers, leading to humorous situations and heartwarming moments.
From the episode with "Do bacche hain meethi kheer" dialogue to the trio accepting Abhishek into their inner circle, from haunted tree, the Phakauli bazaar brawl, or the missing chappals – it captured the essence of Panchayat – a show that reveled in the simple problems of everyday life.
With the exception of the episode focusing on the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, this season lacks these self-contained subplots. The storyline focuses more on the antagonist, the local MLA, leaving little room for relatable situations that endeared audiences to the first two seasons.
Lost laughter
The second season’s plot twist led to a somber start of the third season with Prahlad Cha drowning in the grief of his son’s death. However, even as the plot shifted gears, the witty dialogue and sharp comedic timing fans adored felt noticeably absent. While Panchayat has evolved beyond a pure comedy, its entertainment value has always been heavily reliant on funny one-liners, humorous situations, and relatable comic elements, season 3 lacked this with few genuine laugh-out-loud moments. This dearth of humour, at times, made the show feel slow and even boring.
Sluggish storyline
The central storyline this season was the ongoing fight with the local MLA. The narrative unfolds slowly, lacking the momentum and surprise twists. Also, with the absence of sub-plots the story with its singular focus on the MLA, feels predictable. The ‘good guys vs. bad guy’ trope becomes repetitive, lacking the familiar and charming situations that endeared audiences in the previous seasons. The first two seasons excelled at weaving self-contained stories within each episode, tackling relatable village problems. These subplots added variety, humour, and an element of surprise. The sluggish storyline failed to create magic this season.
No high point
While season 1 of Panchayat charmed audiences with its novelty and heartwarming subplots, season 2 delivered a gut punch with Prahlad's son's death. This unexpected twist added emotional depth alongside the show's signature humour and village charm. However, season 3 struggles to find similar peaks.
The season, while retaining its core essence and offering some memorable moments, lacks a defining highlight. There's no great climax, no laugh-out-loud moment, or unexpected plot twist to leave a lasting impression. This absence of a high point contributes to the feeling that 'Panchayat Season 3' doesn't quite capture the magic of its predecessors.
Here's hoping a future trip to Phulera unfolds as beautifully as the first two seasons.
Also Read: Panchayat Season 3 Review: Jitendra Kumar’s Show Is Still Heartwarming But Falters As Compared To Previous Seasons