Wow! Just WOW. First of all, thanks a lot to the Producers and AppleTV folks for creating this web-series. I am a big admirer of the Shantaram Novel, so I was anxious waiting for the final episode to come so that I could watch the entire series in one go. And what a series!! Fully satisfied my expectation. Loved Karla's acting, and her portrayal of resolute decisions and her internal fragile state. Lin's role too is played brilliantly. Particularly I liked Lin and Karla's chemistry. Didier, and KaderBhai's angle could have been improved a bit. But overall, absolutely loved it.
Below are some more detailed observations:- -> Lin and Karla's chemistry seems to have been shown brilliantly. Upto the mark, as was expected as per the Novel.
-> Lin and Karla's philosophical talks and debates, which is what makes the Novel so unique, has been depicted perfectly in the web-series. Same for Lin and KaderBhai's talks too.
-> Kaderkhan's personality is not as imposing as it should have been, as per the Novel.
-> At times, the emotions are depicted to be building up too fast to be realistic. Like in episode 2, when Prabhu is bidding good bye to Lin, they become emotional and Prabhu tells Lin "you are a good man", and they were in tears. That felt unrealistic, they hardly had any bonding till that time in the web-series. I think new viewers who have not read the novel, will feel first two episodes to be too slow and difficult to grasp. But so was the Novel!! The Novel too requires some patience till 50-60 pages.
-> Didier's character is not well built up. Those who haven't read the novel, may get difficulty understanding his character, who he is, why he keeps getting in frame without much context or detail; at least till initial 3-4 episodes.
-> Use of LPG Gas stove in Lin's slum hut!! No, NO! There could have been no Gas stove in those times in a Bombay slum. (Not sure if the Novel mentioned a LPG gas stove in slum hut).
-> Change in storyline compared to what is mentioned in Novel. The web-series show an Australian cop coming to Mumbai in search of Lin and even catching him ultimately. I think this was not mentioned in the Novel, though this doesn't affect the brilliance of the web series.
********* Creators, please, PLEASE bring on the Season 2. Don't stop this series please. I will pay double the price for the next season, but please, plz plz, bring Season 2. 😢
Below are some more detailed observations:- -> Lin and Karla's chemistry seems to have been shown brilliantly. Upto the mark, as was expected as per the Novel.
-> Lin and Karla's philosophical talks and debates, which is what makes the Novel so unique, has been depicted perfectly in the web-series. Same for Lin and KaderBhai's talks too.
-> Kaderkhan's personality is not as imposing as it should have been, as per the Novel.
-> At times, the emotions are depicted to be building up too fast to be realistic. Like in episode 2, when Prabhu is bidding good bye to Lin, they become emotional and Prabhu tells Lin "you are a good man", and they were in tears. That felt unrealistic, they hardly had any bonding till that time in the web-series. I think new viewers who have not read the novel, will feel first two episodes to be too slow and difficult to grasp. But so was the Novel!! The Novel too requires some patience till 50-60 pages.
-> Didier's character is not well built up. Those who haven't read the novel, may get difficulty understanding his character, who he is, why he keeps getting in frame without much context or detail; at least till initial 3-4 episodes.
-> Use of LPG Gas stove in Lin's slum hut!! No, NO! There could have been no Gas stove in those times in a Bombay slum. (Not sure if the Novel mentioned a LPG gas stove in slum hut).
-> Change in storyline compared to what is mentioned in Novel. The web-series show an Australian cop coming to Mumbai in search of Lin and even catching him ultimately. I think this was not mentioned in the Novel, though this doesn't affect the brilliance of the web series.
********* Creators, please, PLEASE bring on the Season 2. Don't stop this series please. I will pay double the price for the next season, but please, plz plz, bring Season 2. 😢