Thrilling, but predictable

Meanwhile, an unusual disappearance, grief that takes a psychotic turn, and a web of secrets: Shaque: Trust No One has all of this and begins with the abduction of a baby girl, Apeksha, from a hospital shortly after birth.

Key points

• The misty, mysterious setting of Shimla hills provides the perfect backdrop for the story.
• Yet their psychology is never explored deeply enough to create Shaque the psychological-crime thriller it seems to aspire for.
• There is a lot going on in the plot-an extramarital affair, drugging, murder and illegal surrogacy-and some of it stretches credulity.
• The show undoubtedly begins with an intriguing premise and sustains a certain momentum, but its mystery remains underdeveloped.
• Though not immediately, chopra eases into her role as Anvita.

For context, the misty, mysterious setting of Shimla hills provides the perfect backdrop for the story. The atmosphere grows darker as the narrative expands beyond a conventional police case. An occult and black-magic thread on the outskirts of town. It eventually finds its way into the Dutt household, adds another layer of mystery. But the device is pushed too far with the cop's habit of consulting Tarot cards, making the arc feel awkward and forced.

Meanwhile, the characters exist in shades of grey. Though not immediately, chopra eases into her role as Anvita. Her initial reaction to discovering that her daughter is missing feels superficial, but her performance gathers momentum as the series progresses. Although his Punjabi accent occasionally feels awkward, anup Soni is particularly effective as the good cop who stays on the case alongside Anvita for almost a decade. Even more compelling is Jennifer Winget's Sakshi, another major character, whose arc moves through a number of shades of feeling: from initial passivity to suspicion, disgust and, eventually, understanding.

There is a lot going on in the plot-an extramarital affair, drugging, murder and illegal surrogacy-and some of it stretches credulity. More importantly, much of it contributes little to Anvita's search for Apeksha. The illegal surrogacy track, in particular, feels like a missed opportunity. It could have been woven more meaningfully into Apeksha's story to offer a larger commentary on motherhood, exploitation and the commodification of parenthood.

At its heart, the series attempts to examine the plenty of forms that maternal instinct can take, not just through Anvita but additionally through Sakshi and Anvita's mother-in-law, Madhu (Soni Razdan). Yet their psychology is never explored deeply enough to create Shaque the psychological-crime thriller it seems to aspire for. Most disappointing, nevertheless, is the way the series gives away its climax far too early-almost by the fourth episode. The answer is not concealed so much as placed plainly in front of the viewer. You keep hoping there is another layer or revelation waiting to emerge, but there isn't.

Meanwhile, the show undoubtedly begins with an intriguing premise and sustains a certain momentum, but its mystery remains underdeveloped. What could have been a layered psychological thriller ultimately settles for a predictable resolution, leaving little surprise-and even less sense of closure.

In short, thrilling, but predictable is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.