Minus One S2 Review: Aisha Ahmed, Ayush Mehra Power A Nuanced Portrayal Of Toxic Love

Will the minus one become a plus?

We often wonder if exes can really be friends but it’s almost impossible to find an answer to this question. While many people stay friends with their exes after a mature breakup, some stay friends because of the residual feelings that eventually lead to trouble. But season 2 of the romance drama series, Minus One: New Chapter gives us the answer we’re all looking for. Starring Aisha Ahmed and Ayush Mehra, Minus One continues the story of Riya and Varun, the exes who live together. FYI, season 2 of the web series drops on Lionsgate Play on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

The Story Of Minus One: New Chapter

While Minus One S1 revolved around Riya (played by Aisha Ahmed) and Varun (played by Ayush Mehra) navigating through life together as friends after their relationship fell apart, season 2 is much more intense. Season 1 was light-hearted but in season 2, things get real. The story dives deeper into the lives of Riya and Varun’s life together as they grow up. 4 years after their breakup, Varun is a pilot who lost his job and Riya is an ace photographer and the duo continue living together. The story oscillates between the years before their breakup and 4 years after their breakup as they try to adult without letting their friendship come in the way of their lives. But how long will these exes stay friends and live together as flatmates? Will their friendship survive the test of time? What happens when one ex finally finds love? How will Riya and Varun finally tell their parents about their breakup? Well, you’ll just have to watch the series to find out.

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Cast And Characters

Aisha Ahmed and Ayush Mehra’s chemistry as Riya and Varun seemed great in season 1 of Minus One but season 2 is much more intense as it dives into their past and shows the story of their breakup and all the heartache they suffered. In season 1, we saw Varun and Riya as friends but their true chemistry was visible in season 2 where Aisha and Ayush’s characters Riya and Varun were shown as a couple romancing each other and also as grown-up adults who struggle to come to terms with the realities of their lives as the exes continue living together. From their passionate kisses to the anguish, they feel, both Aisha and Ayush delivered impactful performances while keeping the viewers hooked and invested in the lives of their characters as the story progresses. Their nuanced acting takes the viewers on an emotional rollercoaster making them experience every emotion that the characters feel. Aisha Ahmed and Ayush Mehra will leave you feeling high on emotions with your heart physically hurting thanks to their skilful performance. Content Creator Kusha Kapila also has a small appearance in the series. While her character does not have much to say, her silence speaks volumes. The actress silently delivered an unforgettable performance.

Verdict: Perfect Portrayal Of The Chaos Of Love

TBH, Minus One S1 was full of cliché and so is season 2. I mean, we’re talking about a couple who were in a live-in relationship and continue to live together as flatmates after their breakup. That has trouble written all over it. Season 1 barely scratched the surface of Riya and Varun’s relationship but Season 2 took a much deeper and more intense dive into their relationship and their past which explained a lot of things, from Riya’s need to hold onto her house and her home to Varun’s need to not let go of Riya.

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With longer episodes Minus One: New Chapter brings revelations about Riya and Varun’s relationship, their love and romance. It shows the story of how the couple got around to moving in together and how the trouble in paradise began. It takes the viewers through several phases of a relationship, from the honeymoon phase to when reality hits. The cinematography is extremely nuanced and skillfully explores the complexity of Riya and Varun’s characters, their needs, love and their toxic friendship. The scenes are beautifully shot in a manner that makes them just as impactful as the performance delivered by Aisha Ahmed and Ayush Mehra.

NGL but some people brought tears to my eyes as I watched Riya and Varun’s mistakes rip them apart and it nearly felt like someone ripped my heart right out of my chest. The series captures how small fights and issues can often escalate into bigger problems. It also highlights the importance of communication in order to resolve issues before they grow out of proportion. Minus One S2 showcases how mistakes followed by miscommunication (or lack thereof) slowly chips away at a relationship to the point where it eventually crumbles. What starts as a petty argument eventually leads to the downfall of Riya and Varun’s romance.

After a dive into their broken relationship, the series smoothly moves forward to explore their friendship, Riya’s need for a home and Varun’s need for forgiveness and how it all leads to a toxic relationship between the duo. It moves forward to 4 years after their breakup when reality hits them both reminding them that things cannot go on like this. Varun’s new relationship serves as a wake-up call for both Riya and Varun to clean up their acts and get their lives in order while reminding them to let go of the past.

Season 2 of Minus One gets more intense with the complexity of love, romance, joy, heartbreak and toxic friendship which reminds the viewers of how important it is to let go of the past and move on in life. It carefully shows the evolution of a relationship between two people as they grow and change with time.

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However, the switches between timelines make it a little tough to keep up with Riya and Varun’s relationship. The show also briefly introduces Riya and Varun’s parents to the viewers but fails to explain both the character’s real issues that lie in their relationships with their families which is why I’m giving this show 4 out of 5 stars.

Minus One: New Chapter premieres on Lionsgate Play on February 14.

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