Mismatched Season 3 story:

Rishi (Rohit Saraf) and Dimple (Prajakta Koli) have transitioned from the Aravali Institute to a new campus in Hyderabad as they prepare to enter the next phase of their relationship. This technology-driven love story explores the protagonists' ambitions and the complexities of sustaining a relationship while navigating the intricacies of living a dual life. Concurrently, rivals Anmol (Taaruk Raina) and Rishi find themselves collaborating at the virtual reality lab, Betterverse. Krish (Abhinav Sharma) continues to seek his place, while a new character, Rith (Lauren Robinson), aspires to achieve success in this digital realm with the assistance of Celina (Muskkaan Jafari). The fresh start for Sid sir (Rannvijay Singha) and Zeenat (Vidya Malavade) symbolizes the various "worlds" the group encounters throughout Mismatched.

Mismatched Season 3 review:

Mismatched is a series that epitomizes the young adult genre, consistently making its presence known since its debut. After a two-year hiatus, the show returns for its third season, having taken a three-year leap in the storyline. However, what transformations have occurred in these three years, and does the wait of two years prove to be worthwhile? Let us explore this further.

Rishi and Dimple's long-distance relationship is revealed three years later. Dimple is disheartened and struggling to cope with the rejection she experienced after not being accepted at NNIT, which is led by Nandini (Dipannita Sharma), while Rishi is flourishing at the institution in Hyderabad. My initial interest lay in understanding the institution's intricate and seemingly arbitrary system. Nevertheless...

After three years of stagnation, Dimple decides to take a leap of faith and travels to Hyderabad to enrol in the institution overseen by Sid Sir (Rannvijay Singha). The distance that once separated them has finally diminished, allowing the couple, entangled in a perpetually toxic relationship, to reunite. Mismatched delves into the narrative of a couple drawn together by their circumstances and personal aspirations.

However, the series becomes problematic when it introduces an overwhelming number of characters who continuously justify the actions of teenagers through a lens of self-victimization, highlighting the unsustainability of the situation.

While the locations shift from Jaipur to Hyderabad, the question remains: have the individuals changed? Certainly not! In an era where artificial intelligence and the virtual realm are competing for dominance over human lives, the series offers a fleeting glimpse of hope for real-world improvement. There are frequent discussions about the emergence of a "Betterverse"—the technology being developed at their institution.

It is recommended to refrain from engaging with Mismatched, despite any attempts to understand it, as the creators have not invested significant effort into the project. This season features a team of five writers: Gazal Dhaliwal, Aarsh Vora, Sunayana Kumari, Nandini Gupta, and Akshay Jhunjhunwala. While Dhaliwal has been a consistent presence since the inaugural season, the narrative has become so elongated that the introduction of new characters fails to inject any sense of novelty.

In the end, Anmol (Raina) offers a love story centred around Vinny (Ahsaas Channa) as the main character. Their narrative reflects the overarching issues that afflict this season. The series diminishes what could have been a profound examination of love, vulnerability, and healing after trauma into a shallow storyline that lacks a meaningful resolution. Meanwhile, Celina (Jaferi) finds herself torn between Krish (Sharma) and Ritika, known as Rith (Robinson), yet the outcome remains unproductive.

Rith, portrayed by Robinson, introduces a unique perspective. However, escaping reality and seeking comfort in the digital realm proves unattainable, and an excessive immersion in it results in the development of an antagonistic character who lacks justification for such a portrayal.

The most significant letdown is the minimal character development observed despite a three-year time leap. While Dimple's challenges with rejection and self-esteem resonate, her toxic relationship with Rishi overshadows these issues. Their incessant push-and-pull dynamic, although pivotal to the plot, ultimately becomes monotonous and emotionally draining.

One of the persistent challenges in Season 3 of Mismatched is its failure to ground the extensive storylines. The series attempts to explore various themes—such as long-distance relationships, personal insecurities, the pressure to achieve, and the emergence of artificial intelligence—yet it does not provide adequate depth or resolution for any of them.

The love story between Rishi and Dimple, which has consistently served as the emotional foundation of the series, appears to be losing momentum. Their ongoing cycle of conflicts, misunderstandings, and reconciliations has become increasingly predictable. Rather than confronting their fundamental incompatibilities directly, the show tends to reunite them in a manner that feels more contrived than natural. Although the introduction of new challenges could have added layers of complexity—something that Mismatched typically lacks—it ultimately resulted in a repetition of familiar patterns.

Sid Sir and Zeenat, who once provided a stabilizing influence amid the tumult of adolescent emotions, now appear more as symbolic representations than as engaged characters within the narrative. Their storyline, while endearing, seems to be an afterthought in the context of an overly ambitious plot.

The dialogue often comes across as immature, and the pacing lacks consistency, resulting in a series that feels unnecessarily prolonged. The "Betterverse" subplot, which had the potential to offer intriguing insights into the relationship between technology and human connections, instead becomes a convoluted distraction. Regrettably, the show treats this element as a mere aesthetic choice rather than a significant narrative component, characterized by vague explanations and fluctuating stakes.

Considering that the series is centred on coding, artificial intelligence, and technology, it would benefit from a more profound exploration of these themes, rather than concentrating predominantly on the emotional experiences of the characters.

Mismatched represents a flawed endeavour at character development, leaving its audience yearning for the authenticity and appeal of its earlier seasons, which were also somewhat limited.

Mismatched Season 3 verdict:

Mismatched Season 3 endeavours to establish a new narrative framework; however, it ultimately encounters numerous flaws within its structure. Although it seeks to revitalize its storyline through a time jump and innovative themes, it struggles to resolve the recurring toxic dynamics and disjointed subplots.

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