Crushed Season 1 Ep 1-3 review: Mini-series has interesting concept but tells the usual story of high school drama

3.5/5

Story:

Crushed is the story of a complicated yet engaging high school romance of two sidekicks in high school, who navigate through the confusion and insecurities that come with experiencing their first love. The story is set in Lucknow.

Review:

The first three episodes of Season 1 of the mini-series Crushed are out on Amazon miniTV. The review is based on these episodes. 

The idea of role reversal in the story by telling the tales of sidekicks is exciting as any drama hardly explores their lives. But another spin to the story could have probably added more fun to it. It could have instead explored how these sidekicks feel insecure or inferior when they are forced to listen to what the popular student says and roam around them just to get their faces known on the school campus. But the series Crushed tells the usual story of first love, complications and crushes during high school. 

The trailer did set hopes and expectations high and so did the opening scene and dialogue of the drama. The series fails to meet with it. However, it does not disappoint either. Though it tells the regular tale, it has a certain feel-good factor to it which makes it a decent watch. It makes you nostalgic about your school days, crushes and all mischief you and your gang are known for.

The mini-series revolves around two sidekicks, a simple and sweet boy Samvidhan aka Sam and his naughty and troublemaker friend Prateek. Sam likes the most popular girl in the school, Jaz aka Jasmine and Prateek tries his best to set him up with her. But Sam ends up getting close to Jaz's friend Aadhya. Aadhya falls in love with Sam and believes that he too feels the same way. She writes notes for him in books in the library and believes that Sam is the one responding to her letters or notes. The story has all elements - comedy, drama, arguments and fights - with several twists, making it still an engaging watch. Season 1 of the series ends, leaving the viewers aware of the upcoming complications in their lives. But you would only hope the identity of the person who has actually been writing to Aadhya is not revealed. That would have created more curiosity for its next season.

The series is about the sidekicks but it is so focussed on them that sidekicks appear as the popular students in the school. The direction and cinematography are good but nothing out of the ordinary. The story is relatable too especially since it is set in a small town. The performances are good and natural. The actors look their high school best. 

Since it has only three episodes in its first season with each about a half-hour long, it can make for a decent watch when you are looking for snackable content to indulge in during your office breaks or while having your lunch. 

Verdict:

Despite all the odds, the series makes for a good watch. It has a certain feel-good factor to it and reminds you of your school days. 

The other episodes of the six-episode season will release every Wednesday on Amazon MiniTV. The season finale is on February 2.