Lock Upp Season 2 returns for a second season with a new platform and a bevvy of interesting characters who are adept at creating the biggest ruckus. Replacing Kangana Ranaut as host this season are Ritesh Deshmukh and Farah Khan, who are enjoyable to watch on-screen as they make introductions in the first episode.
Produced by Balaji Telefilms, the series retains the original’s central prison concept, where celebrities battle through tasks, alliances and uncomfortable truths. However, does the move offer something new to the franchise, or is it just the same show wrapped in a shinier wrapper? We’ll have to wait for the episodes to roll out every week.
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Who are the Contestants of Lock Upp Season 2?
Ram Kapoor, Shivangi Joshi, Sunita Ahuja, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Akanksha Chaudhary, Sofi Motiwala, Varun Yadav, Yogesh Rawat, Pamela Sarena, Shreya Kalra, Riyaz Aly, Shresta Iyer, Akanksha Chamola, Madhuri Jain Grover, Harshad Chopda
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Who are the Hosts of Lock Up 2?
Ritesh Deshmukh, Farah Khan
Lock Upp Season 2 Episode 1 has a runtime of 90 minutes. The series will stream on Netflix every day from Saturday to Wednesday at 8 PM IST.
Lock Upp Season 2 Episode 1 Review
A Bigger Platform Brings Bigger Expectations
Episode 1 gives us a rundown on everyone who is going into the house and everything that they have done to get a place in the show. It’s a very interesting introduction that doesn’t hold back from saying absolutely insane things. But then, of course, we already know most of the things that they have done in the public eye.
The format might remain the same, with most of the contestants getting a choice between truth and punishment. The idea is to give away some secret that will dangle over your head, either to your cellmate or the public. The idea is interesting, and the central premise is a hot selling point, but there needs to be something more interesting than people screaming about cheating on Splitsvilla months ago.
However, the first episode doesn’t get into any of it, with the entire episode being dedicated to learning about the contestants and their conversations with one another. However, viewers will definitely realise that most of these people are agents of chaos who are such hypocrites!
Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh Bring a Fresh Dynamic
Khan and Deshmukh are quite serious in the first episode, showcasing how strict they can be, but they definitely set their own rhythm when it comes to how the show will continue henceforth. Khan injects her signature no-nonsense wit and loudness to the series while Deshmukh balances her with a calmer presence. Both are quite interesting to watch, but then, of course, the first episodes are never easy to understand. Hopefully, their contrasting personalities will prevent the hosting segments from feeling repetitive, and there will be more confrontations moving forward.
The Contestants Are the Real Draw
Of course, a reality TV is as good as its contestants, and Lock Upp Season 2 adds some of the most controversial people on the roster to attract viewers’ attention. Personalities from different walks of life, including television, reality shows, social media and entertainment arrive at the jail, creating plenty of opportunities to create drama, conflict and alliances. The show will hopefully lean into these contrasting personalities who already have beef with one another, instead of manufacturing rivalries.
The Familiar Reality TV Formula Still Shows
In the end, Lock Upp Season 2 already feels a bit obvious and repetitive from the first episode itself. From the second episode’s preview, one can understand the tasks that will be performed and the fights that will take place. It follows a familiar reality TV formula that tries to highlight emotional and over-the-top revelations rather than pure task-based fight. While watching unnecessary fights can be enjoyable, it would be more beneficial to see strategies instead of just mindless screaming.
Another aspect, of course, is that viewers should have some amount of background knowledge for these contestants, otherwise it’s easy to feel a bit lost and bored halfway through the runtime. While, of course, a lot of it is said in the episode itself, having an idea previously does help in immersing oneself in the show. Last but not least, viewers will be able to spot the clear similarities with Squid Game from the first minute itself. Whether or not that’s a good thing, time will only tell.
Final Verdict
In the end, Lock Upp Season 2 Episode 1 is an interesting addition that hints at something interesting to come. However, reality TV enthusiasts like me will be able to spot the obvious similarities with other similar shows from a mile away. It remains to be seen how well the show is able to immerse us in the upcoming episodes.
Lock Upp Season 2 is streaming on Netflix from today. Let us know what you thought of the revelations in the first episode in the comments below!