Kay Kay Menon’s ‘Special Ops 2’ web-series review: Neeraj Pandey gets his groove and grit back in a gripping sequel

Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Prakash Raj, Vinay Pathak, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Shikha Talsania, Saiyami Kher, Muzammil Ibrahim

Director: Neeraj Pandey and Shivam Nair

Language: Hindi

Can Artificial Intelligence be as dangerous and disastrous as a terrorist attack? The second season of Special Ops by Neeraj Pandey attempts to answer this question. This time, Himmat Singh (Kay Kay Menon) and his squad have to battle cyber terrorism. There is a particular scene in the Series where Aarif Zakaria shows us and the world how dangerous artificial intelligence can be. And the next moment, his life is in danger.

It’s impossible not to be swayed by the star cast, but one must point out how there’s an essence of been there, done that. Prakash Raj reminds us of Attack, that John Abraham movie that also dealt with terrorism. Tahir Raj Bhasin brings back memories of his terrific turn as the creepy and charismatic nemesis of Rani Mukerji in Mardaani, again about the forces of our country. There’s something else that’s common in films or shows of this nature.

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Every time the nation is in jeopardy, there’s only one man who can save the day for the people. The spy universe by Yash Raj Films thrives on this trope, so why should Pandey shy away from milking this mass formula that hinges on masala? After all, he gave one of the better spy films in the form of Baby a decade ago. And apart from Kabir Khan, if there is one filmmaker, who knows how to create swanky and sweeping shots in his repertoire, it’s this man. Both Khan and Pandey either coincidentally or carefully select stories that brim with globetrotting thrills.

Special OPs 2 has evolved as compared to the last season that came five years back. The review began with the mention of AI, which all of a sudden took over the internet. It has made things both accessible and alarming. Is fake the new real? This is the question this technological boom raises. But the series also knows how to keep the cliches intact but in good ways. So, a phone conversation between the villain and the hero is a must. And there has to be a dialogue about patriotism. And Menon, as always, shines in a role that fits perfectly with his tenacity.

I don’t think there’s any actor who mouths the C word as fluently and fascinatingly as Menon, first in Black Friday and now in Special Ops 2. And it’s always good to see Vinay Pathak in anything he does. What’s also striking about the show is the colourful outfits Tahir Bhasin flaunts, reminding you of the perennially iconic Ajit Khan. Neeraj Pandey lost track with his last experiment. With this, he almost gets his groove back. That’s truly Special!

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Special Ops 2 is now streaming on Jio Hotstar