The Night Manager season 1 review: A Notch Above!

The Night Manager season 1 review

Based on the novel by John le Carre structured on the landmark original British series, The Night Manager released in 2016, starring Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, and Elizabeth Debicki and went on to bag eleven awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards (for director Susanne Bier and music composer Victor Reyes) and three Golden Globe Awards (for Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Laurie).

So, looking at the above milestones, it’s a tough challenge for the directors - Priyanka Ghose, Sandeep Modi and Rukh Nabeel.

The screenplay by Shridhar Raghavan (Pathaan previous) successfully adapts it to the Indian sentiments and that ‘family’ thing works well over here.

I have heard there has been attempts to turn The Night Manager into a movie, hmmm.. interesting! Pathaan, Tiger dono zinda hai waise, Aamir Khan could have made his dying fortunes with this.

Chalo, anyways I have not watched the landmark British series and has just watched the Indian version, and in my opinion web series has better potential to deliver proper justice to the spy thriller master John le Carre’s The Night Manager.

The Night Manager has all the ingredients the old school masters ordered for a thrilling, ripping ride packed with superb performances.

Smart writing, engaging twist and turns and that hook that’ll keep you coming back for more.

Performances

Anil Kapoor is superb, suave, marvellously poised, calculated but still dealing with that vulnerability from inside is a treat. His entry is a killer.  

Aditya Roy Kapur, is cool, smart and so efficient. His demeanour is perfect and the actor delivers. Aditya Roy Kapur had a tough one here has to be rough and determined in his job as an ex-soldier and empathic as well to his guest. His scenes with the young girl and Anil Kapoor are major highlights.

Sobhita Dhulipala who looks fabulous may have a limited role here as Shelly’s girlfriend but I think the second season will give her role more meaning. Hints are given. However, her scenes with Aditya which don,t say much are something but convey a lot are something.

Saswata Chatterjee is fantastic as Shelly’s right-hand man. He is having a blast here.

Tillotama Shome is outstanding. Seriously natural and playful as well, a rare quality.

Arista Mehta is fantastic in a short but very significant role.

Resh Lamba makes his mark wonderfully

Ravi Behl is fine.

Flaws

Yes, it is predictable at times, and the decision to divide the series into two parts will be debatable. For me it’s a good hook. But people will question why the series doesn’t end and makes them wait till June 2023. How will Hotstar main the interest and curiosity level till they drop the second season.

Final words

The Night Manager is your binge watch this weekend without any doubt. The season 1 streaming on Disney + Hotstar contains four episodes, and the second season as per the pre-cap will arrive in June this year.

But it has enough meat and masala catering to the ‘taste’ of spy/crime thriller lovers and audience in general to overlook the early exit and wait.

Go for it.