The follow-up season to the popular and critically acclaimed Rocket Boys does not disappoint and has the right mix of facts and fiction that keeps you engrossed from start to finish.
Synopsis
In the second instalment of the show, Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha (Jim Sarbh) and Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (Ishwak Singh) help, turn India into a nuclear power in the face of impending threats of world war. The series kick starts with Homi Bhabha working on the nuclear bomb, Vikram Sarabhai is doing his job of promoting peace and education. However, because of the change in power brought about by the death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the ascent of the Lioness Indira Gandhi, politics are now more aggressively engulfing their surroundings.
Review
As the first season, Rocket Boys Season 2 tells the tale of an underdog. It emphasises how the protagonists struggle to make their ideas a reality despite the country’s shifting realities and complexity. However, this time around, their personal equations are more intricate and thicker.
The sequel, Rocket Boys 2, advances the plot by examining the significance of India obtaining nuclear weapons. And how nuclear physicist Homi Bhabha, astronomer Vikram Sarabhai, who helped India grow and establish nuclear power and spearheaded space research, and Indian aerospace scientist Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (Arjun Radhakrishnan) were able to complete the enormous task that could fundamentally alter India’s position in the world. While the outcome is predictable, the series’ focus is on how it was accomplished.
Rocket Boys succeeded in imagining a relationship that inspired the science community in India in the same manner that the Beatles changed mainstream music, despite the different artistic tendencies of members such as Lennon and McCartney. The heroes’ personalities and interpersonal interactions are masterfully portrayed in the series.
On the flip side, a crucial scene in which a character is faced with a potentially fatal circumstance falls short of expectations. Ironically, the powerful background music too lessens its impact. A few parts of The Rocket Boys Season 2 seem to drag on, but considering the subject, this was expected. Also, Saba Azad’s subplot could have been developed more.
Ishwak Singh shines in his role in Rocket Boys Season 2’s making it the notable highlight of the series. The actor has done a good job of internalising his part. He performs at his peak during dramatic situations and says a lot with his eyes.
Jim Sarbh is perfection as usual as puts up his best effort and dazzles with his unmistakable honesty.
Verdict
Rocket Boys continues to be a shining example of never compromising quality in a world where Hindi television shows and movies still struggle with dubbing. Just watch it to hear the great title track a couple more times, if nothing else.