Mismatched 3 Review: Rohit Saraf, Prajakta Koli Show Is As Clichéd As It Gets

Not surprisingly, Mismatched, which captivated fans in 2020, receives a sequel. The romance between tech-geek "Dimple-No-Damsel" Dimple (played by Prajakta Koli) and "pretty old school" Rishi (played by Rohit Saraf) was first presented in the adorable, endearing love story that was available on Netflix. However, as fans of romantic comedies know, no love tale is simple. That is a new record for Rishi and Dimple as they have been together for that long. However, relationships and love (including situationships) can change suddenly. For two seasons, this was all entertaining and captivating, but now that everyone seems to be changing without progressing, it gets a bit tiresome to watch.

Plot of the series

As they deal with romantic difficulties, personal development, and career goals, the season keeps examining Dimple and Rishi's developing long-distance relationship. They reunite in rival tech institutes after a three-year break, overcoming many new challenges. This is while her long-distance boyfriend Rishi (Rohit Saraf, dressed in sharp formal wear) balances his responsibilities as a boyfriend with treating a metaverse. 

Betterverse, a metaverse that lets users explore its many worlds with a virtual reality headset, is being built by Nandini, Krish (Abhinav Sharma), and a committed group of tech experts. Anmol (Taaruk Raina), whose relationship with Vinny (Ahsaas Channa) experiences a difficult moment, assists Nandini and Rishi in this enormous task. In the meantime, Rith, a trans student battling body dysmorphia, makes friends with Celina (Musskkan Jaferi). Rith wants to get into Betterverse so they can fully explore their trans identity. They therefore apply to be admitted to the Lady Lovelace Institute of Technology (LLIT), which Sid (Rannvijay Singha) founded.

In numerous respects, Sid and Nandini approach education in completely different ways. Sid gives his students leeway to make mistakes, but Nandini follows the rules and is more stringent with deliverables.

Lack of character depth in the storyline

In contrast to its predecessors, this season lacks the narrative coherence to support many threads. Everything I'm attempting to accomplish, even its well-meaning messaging, ends up being too superficial as a result. The narrative leaps from one scene to the next without giving the viewer time to process any of it. Mismatched has always had the vigour of a Y/A book; a big part of its appeal was its lightheartedness, which also contributed to its relatability. But this season lacks that appeal.

Anmol is attempting to overcome his insecurities regarding his relationship with his girlfriend (Ahsaas Channa) and dispel the perception of him as a "troll".

For Nandini Nahata's research into creating an alternate reality known as the "Betterverse," Rishi and a few of his friends are essential. Rith (Lauren Robinson), a trans man, finds refuge in this virtual world, which serves as a necessary escape for him. Meanwhile, the brazen Krish (Abhinav Sharma) and Celina develop an odd bond. Speaking of new relationships, Zeenat (Vidya Malavade) and Sid are attempting to establish their own lives. 

Mismatched Season 3 revolves around these relationships and their varied dynamics, but they also serve as the show's downfall. For the relatability and comfort that permeated the first two seasons, this season feels is too unstable. Characters are portrayed as black and white despite the obvious intention to create grey ones, even though this is one of the few shows that tries to have a diverse cast of characters.

Delving into the nuances of portrayal of gender identities and trauma

There are hints of something more profound, mostly in the examination of Rith's gender identity and interactions with others. The show also examines how their identity is the first target of attack, and how their sense of safety is jeopardized due to the environment they live in. It begins to make more sense why they rely on technology. However, there are aspects of their personality that almost make them an antagonist, which would be acceptable if the narrative had enough time to strike a balance between the two.

The metaverse, which is at the heart of the season, is expertly woven into all of the story arcs by writer Gazal Dhaliwal. The showrunners have done a commendable job of giving each character a backstory.  It does a good job of depicting the various obstacles that disabled people face.

The cast does a fantastic job of maintaining the audience's empathy throughout the show's captivating moments. The authors are adept at using the interactions of the characters' identities to generate thought-provoking and compelling discussions on a variety of topics, including gender dysphoria, grief, childhood trauma, toxic relationships, and activism. Even though the clichés may still make you feel something, the predictability makes you long for a better era (think "Mismatched" season 2).

Views expressed by the author are their own.