Chandan. Chanchal. Chitvan.
Three years ago, this trio of siblings took us on a memorable road trip full of drama and laughter.
The Viral Fever’s (TVF) Tripling 2 was one of the most eagerly awaited sequels of the year. Even more so since it carried the weight of holding up to the well-acclaimed first season, which released back in 2016. A show known for its simple storyline that touched all our hearts, the expectations from the sequel were extremely high.
If you are hoping for the same wit, humour, and great punchlines you saw in Season 1 of the show, then you might feel a little disheartened.
With Tripling 2 what you will experience is a story that tries its best to recreate the magic, but doesn’t quite do justice to the previous season.
What Has Changed from Tripling 1?
Life has moved on for the three protagonists since their last road trip.
Chandan (Sumeet Vyas) has now written a book, narrating his previous journey with his siblings; Chitvan (Amol Parashar) is currently dating a big-shot lawyer and babysits his girlfriend’s child at home; and Chanchal (Maanvi Gagroo) has become an MLA, after her husband ran away.
“Pichhli baar majboori ke wajah se road trip kiya tha, iss baar bond karenge.” (Last time, we did a road trip because of a compulsion, this time we’ll do it for bonding).Chandan Sharma (Sumeet Vyas)
But do we get to see a lot of sibling bonding?
I’m afraid not.
The first episode of Tripling 2 titled, ‘Mada Faka’, starts with Chandan trying to convince Chitvan to take a road trip with him to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival. What you hope for is them meeting their sister on the way, and starting another saga of the old sibling-bonding that we enjoyed so much in Season 1.
In the show’s attempt to broaden the plotline and introduce new characters, somewhere the chemistry among the three siblings gets lost.
In the new season, every time you see the three protagonists together, you are given a ray of hope that it would lead to the same kind of exchanges that you’ve come to love, but these scenes are short and feel incomplete. The story moves on to focus on other issues and characters which fail to draw interest.
Season 2 is more about the journey of the three siblings trying to find Chanchal’s husband, Pranav.
‘Old is gold’ is a phrase that can perfectly sum-up what the audience might want to say to the creators of Tripling 2.
Humour Misses the Mark in Tripling 2
A major element, which the audience might miss from Season 1, is the witty jokes and comic punchlines. Other than two or three funny references made by Chitvan, the show lacks the element of situational comedy altogether.
There are times when some lines in the new season will seem repetitive having already been done in Season 1, such as Chitvan’s line, “Baba! You are beautiful.”
Sample one of the rare funny lines that come from Chitvan when Chandan tells his siblings that his book is going to be adapted into a film.
“We are going to be a franchise just like Marvel, baba? Main bhi doll banega?”Chitvan in Tripling 2
Some Scenes are Heart Warming
Humour aside, the writing of Tripling 2 itself is just slightly above than average. One scene that gives you a glimpse of the warm sibling bonding comes right at the beginning of episode 4, ‘Bandhu Re’.
The viewer is taken to the city of Kathgodam in a flashback scene, where the three siblings, as kids, are searching for their lost dog, Brandy. While Chanchal is anxious and in tears, ‘big brother’ Chandan is being her pillar of support, and Chitvan is well… fooling around. These relatable elements are what made Tripling so memorable.
In Tripling 2, the roads take the audience to beautiful places like Jodhpur, Lucknow, Kolkata and Sikkim. As Chandan, Chitvan and Chanchal set out to find Pranav, they meet new characters along the way. And one of the characters which deserves a mention is Zainab (Shweta Tripathi), her brief role is effectively enacted.
Chitvan Is the Only Saving Grace of Tripling 2
Many of us have a soft spot for the character of Chitvan and rightly so. Being the youngest sibling and the witty/humourous one, he is a delight to see on the screen. But in the season 2, we see a new side of him. The transformation of Chitvan’s character is probably the best thing about Tripling 2.
For the first time, we get to see Chitvan evolve into a mature man with a plan. His love for his girlfriend’s child (Cheetah Sharma) is adorable, especially the way he makes him sleep while on a video call.
Chitvan talking about responsibility is pretty rare, right? All the more reason to fall in love with him in the new season.
So, Is Tripling 2 Binge-Worthy?
Will Tripling 2 keep you hooked till the end? Unlike its predecessor, probably it won’t. In fact, the first episode itself starts testing your patience and makes you lose interest in the what’s coming up. This is definitely not a binge-worthy season, but loyalists may want to watch it till the end just to tick it off their bucket list.
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