SERIES REVIEW: THE TRIAL SEASON 2 “Kajol wins the case, the show loses it.”

SUYASH PACHAURI
Sep 19
4 min read

REVIEW BY:

SUYASH PACHAURI

[GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD] & [DIRECTOR'S DAILY CLAPBOARD]

ONE-LINER: “Kajol wins the case, the show loses it.”

Cast: Kajol, Jisshu Sengupta, Alyy Khan, Sheeba Chaddha, Kubbra Sait, Sonali Kulkarni, Karanvir Sharma, Gaurav Pandey, Narayani Dhole, Asrani

Production House: Banijay Asia

Director: Umesh Bist

Streaming On: JioHotstar

Language: Hindi , Tamil , Telugu , Kannada , Malyalam , Bengali and Marathi

Hindi Runtime: 6 Episodes (Approx. 40 mins each)

Introduction

When Kajol made her OTT debut with The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha (Season 1), audiences were curious to see how the actress, known for her iconic filmography (DDLJ, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Baazigar), would adapt to the web-series format. The first season, adapted from The Good Wife, wasn’t flawless but still engaging largely due to Kajol’s fiery screen presence.

Now, Season 2 arrives with Umesh Bist in the director’s chair, attempting to expand Noyonika Sengupta’s (Kajol) journey as both a lawyer and a woman trying to rebuild her fractured life after her husband Rajiv (Jisshu Sengupta)’s scandal. Unfortunately, while there are moments of intrigue, the series falters in execution suffering from disjointed writing, uneven pacing, and unnecessary subplots.

Screenplay & Script Sense

The script tries to balance too many tones domestic drama, legal thriller, political chess game, and emotional melodrama. Instead of weaving them seamlessly, the screenplay often feels like a patchwork quilt.

The courtroom battles, which should have been the show’s backbone, are often sidelined.
Political subplots, especially Rajiv’s foray into elections, get more screen time but lack depth.
Emotional arcs like Noyonika’s daughters resenting and then suddenly forgiving her are abrupt and unconvincing.
Disconnected side stories (e.g., her brother’s sexuality, the best-friend dynamic never established, etc.) appear and vanish without payoff.

What could have been a taut legal-political drama turns into a soap opera with law sprinkled in.

Direction

Umesh Bist (Pagglait) has proven sensitivity in character-driven narratives, but here he overstretches. He brings polish to a few sequences particularly the courtroom scenes and confrontations between Kajol and Sonali Kulkarni. However:

The tonal inconsistency (between thriller, melodrama, and political drama) dilutes impact.
Dramatic moments often get lost in overuse of background music and clichéd tropes.
The lack of continuity from Suparn Verma’s Season 1 direction is also noticeable.

Acting

If there is one reason to watch Season 2, it is the performances:

Kajol (Noyonika Sengupta): Outstanding. She’s fierce, vulnerable, and layered. Her transformation from hesitant homemaker-turned-lawyer to confident professional is believable. She alone holds the shaky script together.
Sonali Kulkarni (Narayani Dhole): A revelation. Her sharp-tongued political strategist is a scene-stealer.
Jisshu Sengupta (Rajiv Sengupta): Underutilised in the middle, but impactful in the finale.
Alyy Khan & Sheeba Chaddha: Dependable, with strong screen presence.
Kubbra Sait: Brings nuance, though limited scope.
Karanvir Sharma & Gaurav Pandey: Wasted; their arca feel half-baked.
Asrani (guest role): Surprisingly refreshing in a darker shade.

Cinematography

Rangrajan Ramabadran’s camera captures courtroom dynamics with efficiency close shots heighten intensity, while political rallies are staged with realism. Visual tone balances the chaos of law chambers with the polished world of politics. Nothing extraordinary, but functional and immersive.

Music & Background Score

Composed by Aman Pant & Anurag Saikia, the background score works in a few intense moments but feels overbearing in melodramatic scenes. The songs, however, are utterly forgettable and drag the pacing down.

Editing

At six episodes, the runtime is mercifully short. However, within that compact frame, the editing is inconsistent. Some episodes drag, while crucial conflicts resolve abruptly. A tighter narrative arc and crisper cutdowns could have elevated the storytelling.

Episode-Wise Breakdown

Episode 1:

AftermathThe Sengupta family deals with the fallout of Rajiv’s scandal and Noyonika’s growing professional commitments. Their daughter Anaira’s panic attack sets up the emotional stakes. Promising start, but cluttered.

Episode 2:

Political GamesRajiv steps into politics, and Noyonika faces her first high-profile sexual harassment case. The tension builds but collapses under excessive melodrama.

Episode 3:

The Balancing ActFocus shifts to Noyonika juggling motherhood, law, and a broken marriage. Strong Kajol performance here, but writing feels surface-level.

Episode 4:

Friends & FoesMalini (Sheeba Chaddha) and Vishal (Alyy Khan) engage in a riveting law-firm conflict. This is among the strongest episodes, offering genuine intrigue.

Episode 5:

Family First?Daughters confront Noyonika, Rajiv’s campaign heats up, and Narayani (Sonali Kulkarni) sharpens her claws. Narratively messy, but dramatic.

Episode 6:

VerdictsThe finale ties courtroom drama with political showdown. Rajiv shines, Noyonika confronts betrayal, and Narayani dominates. A rushed but entertaining climax.

Final Verdict

The Trial Season 2 is a mixed bag. On one hand, Kajol and Sonali Kulkarni deliver powerhouse performances, supported by a few engaging subplots. On the other, the series falters in writing, direction, and pacing wasting its potential as a sharp legal-political thriller.

It’s watchable for Kajol’s charisma and the short runtime, but don’t expect depth or consistency.