Flashbacks are one thing you are certain to bump into if you elect to watch the seven-episode long Bard Of Blood on Netflix. These flashbacks certainly hit your wits at two points with first being involved with the story and the second with Emraan Hashmi himself.
The spy-thriller for most of the part dons a cliched story of a terminated spy who has been called back to duty to make his expertise available for a mission in Balochistan, in south-western Pakistan. The true to-its-genre web series, produced jointly by Netflix and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies, has geopolitical elements attached to it. However, all the references are woven flawlessly to ensure the non-political audience is not left out of context as they approach the climax.
Secondly and positively, Bard of Blood showcases the Murder actor in the most un-Hashmi form ever and we are not complaining. Unquestionably, it is something one would appreciate, especially, if it’s a digital career in making. Hashmi as a spy sinks into his character well and doesn’t try to do much. And again, we are not complaining.
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About the plot, the story is set around 4 Indian spies who have been captured by the Taliban in Pakistan. The rescue mission seeks the expertise of ex-RAW agent Kabir Anand, who had earlier left the organization after a failed mission in Balochistan. The agent throughout the rescue operation caters adrenaline-pumping suspense, bombs, blood and everything else that keeps you hooked.
Talking about being hooked, staying true to its self, Netflix has ensured it does what it is best at. Netflix creates enough suspense at the end of each episode and would prompt you to binge-watch the same. So it’s better you get a couple of hours and buckets of popcorn sorted.
On his mission, Kabir is followed by the likes of Isha Khanna (Sobhita Dhulipala) a desk agent craving to earn in-field experience. The romance part has been endearingly played by Jannat (Kriti Kulhari) while the brother from different mother character has Veer (Viineet Singh) in the lead who has infiltrated Balochistan for a period of four years.
When it comes to supporting cast, the source material – a book written by Bilal Siddiqui – does more justice to them. The Emraan centric plot gives less time to the makers to think the variety they could have brought in the visual representation of the book.
The fact that Bard of Blood is ‘Kabir centric’ wouldn’t disappoint if you are only watching it for Emraan Hashmi and bits and pieces here and there. He looks like a spy, works like a spy, and is certainly a believable spy.
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The villainous in the web series has been served by Taliban leader beside Tanveer Shehzad (Jaideep Ahlawat) an ISI agent handling the Taliban. We have many reasons to hate both and they could have been used to irk the audience before finally humiliating the Taliban, which is one context to go by.
As we approach the climax, we surely have so much to keep up with, nevertheless, Bard of Blood beads the story perfectly – with a cliffhanger intact – to draw a second-season yearning conclusion.
