Tanaav Season 2 Review: Interesting Part 1 Has Intriguing Moments

Back with the second season, SonyLIV’s Tanaav is here to get deeper into the issues surrounding Kabir and Junaid as they try to further their respective agendas. Fraught with problems along the way, Tanaav Season 2 brings forth Fareed Mir aka Al-Damishq, whose quest for vengeance makes him a formidable threat for not just Kabir but also the Special Task Group.

The second season has 12 episodes, each with a runtime of around 40 minutes and is created by Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz. The series is a remake of the Israeli series Fauda.

Tanaav Season 2 Review

Going forward with the plot of Kabir trying to get Junaid arrested and facing a new threat in the form of Fareed, Tanaav 2 is gripping and just a bit meandering, following the footsteps of Fauda‘s second season closely. With most of the original cast returning to reprise their roles, the series continues to keep us invested, especially for those first-time viewers.

As I mentioned in the review of the first season as well, Tanaav feels a bit repetitive at this point because it really is a retelling of many different shows that the country has seen over the last couple of years focusing on the Kashmir issue. The series, although made well and gripping in parts, makes you question the point of rewatching something we have already watched and takes away the thrill of opening up Pandora’s box, because, frankly, the box has been open for some time now.

Moving on, I think one of the important points of Tanaav for me has been how the aspirations of the men, whether it be Kabir or Junaid etc, have a colossal effect on their families, especially the women in their lives. In this season as well, we see over and over again the devastating consequences that their partners’ dreams have had on them and that they have had to pick up the slack of those ambitions at their own cost. The intricate details of intertwined families sharing a common thread of fate make Tanaav emotionally charged and you can’t help but relate to those who are not creating a ruckus following their ambitions seemingly without consequences.

It’s devastating watching these women go through these trials and tribulations for no fault of their own, while the men go around following their passions without a second thought. It’s an infuriating and devastating watching and these little moments make you look back at the world around you a little more deeply.

Thus, I think watching Kabir make one irresponsible decision after another is just so grating that you can’t help but wonder whether he understands when to stop. He is clearly a flawed character, one who acts first and thinks later. I think the more I watch him make these silly and irresponsible decisions, the more difficult it becomes for me to relate to him. However, I must say that these irresponsible decisions do make every simple task more thrilling because you never know whether or not he will destroy everything with his selfishness. There’s also the emotional push and pull between him and Dr Farah that will keep you invested as they try to overcome the various obstacles in their path. There’s clear chemistry between the two characters that adds to the intrigue of the series.

Fareed and Junaid form the clashing two parts of the “resistance” and are a dual threat for Kabir and his team to neutralise. Both the antagonists do a great job of creating an aura of fear and chaos around them and although people don’t end up falling dead every few minutes, their brainwashing and manipulation form integral parts of the series that are hard to ignore. I liked both Gaurav Arora and Shashank Arora as the antagonists, both feel like two sides of the same coin and their interactions make a very interesting watch.

Manav Vij returns as Kabir and plays him well. Vij always delivers in whatever show he usually appears in and was charming in Patna Shuklla as well. In Tanaav Season 2, he is a hard-headed and determined officer who won’t stop before bringing the terrorists to justice. I think he brings his brawny character to the screen well and keeps him generally unlikeable thanks to his thoughtless actions. Plus, Kabir’s plot armour is thick enough for him to get away with his shenanigans so, you know.

In the end, the series is a gripping watch that has its slow moments, but part 1 ends up bringing up many questions and leaving the answers to be explored in part 2. Will Fareed go the extra mile and do something so big that will change the history of Kashmir forever? Or will Kabir be able to stop him before it’s too late? Guess we’ll just have to wait and watch!

Tanaav Season 2 Part 2 Review

Tanaav Season 2 Part 2 is an action-packed and thrilling watch that closes out the terror in Kashmir brought forth by Fareed Mir. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of the series until now, I must say that the last 6 episodes of season 2 are more than decent and leave you feeling particularly on edge as situations peak. 

The series goes full-throttle with the mystery, the deaths and the terror, weaving an intricate web of conspiracy and where emotions are constantly on an all-time high. Manav Vij continues to wow us in the second part, bringing forth the vulnerability of his character and the possibility of change, despite being as irresponsible and annoying as ever at other times.

The second part manages to balance these thrilling moments with the emotions that every character goes through, while not overdoing either. The kills are great and the storyline never goes overboard. All in all, a great watch. I wish we had seen this all unfold together with the first part for an optimal viewing experience.

Final Thoughts

Tanaav Season 2 has its moments of mystery and intrigue but this militants in Kashmir wanting independence/revenge arc has been done to death in recent times. Plus, considering this is a remake of Fauda, the viewers who have watched the original will find nothing new to consume. However, the series, on its own, has many twists and turns, plus the good performances carry the load on their backs throughout the runtime. The emotional and thrilling beats go hand in hand, leaving viewers to wait and watch what happens in part 2!

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