Dabdaba

The makers of Panchayat seem to be riding high on confidence, assuming that anything they create will automatically be loved by the audience. But Season 4 takes a sharp turn into local politics and election drama, leaving behind the charm, light-heartedness, and emotional connect that made the earlier seasons so special. The narrative feels stretched, with moments that drag on without purpose. What once felt refreshing now feels like it's trying too hard to stay relevant. Halfway through the season, I genuinely felt I would've had a better time playing a few rounds on my PS5 or even killing time on my phone.

Panchayat is loosing the steam. This season is such a let down. Such a Waste of time. Many sub plots were unnecessarily stretched . Looks like the content of 4 episode has been stretched to 4.

Panchayat, once hailed as a quiet revolution in Indian storytelling, seems to have finally lost the very essence that made it special. Season 4 arrives with the burden of expectation-and falters under its own weight. What was once a breezy, slice-of-rural-life dramedy now feels like a lethargic retread of its own greatest hits, stretched thin across eight sluggish episodes.

Let's be honest: Panchayat was never about twists and cliffhangers. Its brilliance lay in the mundane-everyday problems, political rivalries, and emotional silences. But Season 4 tries too hard to manufacture drama while paradoxically doing very little. The narrative spins its wheels in the same muddy lanes of Phulera, but without the warmth, humor, or depth that once made us root for its characters.

The biggest letdown this season is the writing. It feels like a four-episode story stretched painfully across eight episodes. Subplots meander aimlessly-be it Bhushan's exaggerated villainy, the tired "who will become the next sachiv" debate, or the slow-burn romance that refuses to ignite. The dialogues are still peppered with rustic wit, but they no longer carry weight or novelty. It's as if the writers are relying on the audience's affection for the characters to carry them through the sludge-and it's starting to wear thin.

The pacing is glacial. Scenes drag on long after their point is made. Conflicts that once simmered subtly are now shouted, repeated, and dragged beyond endurance. An entire episode might pass with no meaningful progression. Instead of layered storytelling, we get narrative padding-filler scenes that exist only to stretch runtime.

Even the cast, despite their impeccable performances, cannot save the season from its narrative fatigue. Jitendra Kumar's Abhishek Tripathi seems perpetually stuck-professionally, emotionally, and narratively. Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav as the Pradhan couple remain a delight, but they're given far less to work with. Faisal Malik as Prahlad tries to inject emotional gravitas, especially in the quieter moments, but the writing doesn't support his arc. Chandan Roy as Vikas, who was once the heartbeat of the show's comedic rhythm, is now reduced to repetitive one-liners.

Season 4 also leans too heavily into melodrama, something earlier seasons skillfully avoided. The charm of Panchayat always came from its restraint-it didn't shout to be heard. But now, with overwrought conflicts and increasingly cartoonish antagonists, it feels like the show is trying to be something it never needed to be.

There are still flashes of brilliance-moments that make you smile, or a line that stings with unexpected wisdom. Phulera still looks beautiful in the dusky sunlight. The camerawork remains competent, and the score continues to be unobtrusively pleasant. But these elements are no longer enough. When the plot doesn't move, when characters stagnate, and when every second episode feels like déjà vu, the craft can only do so much.

What's most disappointing is that Panchayat had the potential to evolve. It could have taken its universe in new directions, explored the bureaucratic system more deeply, or even leaned into the shifting political landscape with nuance. Instead, it loops endlessly within its comfort zone-safe, familiar, and increasingly irrelevant.

In the end, Panchayat Season 4 is a shadow of its former self-charming in patches, but overall a tedious watch. For a show once praised for "doing more with less," it now seems to be doing very little with a lot. Unless the creators find a way to rejuvenate the narrative with genuine progression and fresh stakes, Panchayat risks becoming the very thing it once stood against: just another show milking its nostalgia.

Pradhanji thought a lesson by Phulera people, Banrakas always one step ahead to Pradhan. . One sided people might get hurt. But if you see from both sides you will enjoy the Show. Bhushan and team are not bad guys they are just other on other side.

Panchayat always takes you to an otherworld out of city busy schedules, A simple village drama, fun, entertainment. All characters rock specially Bhushan, Binod have excelled in their acting. Season 3 was more on serious drama lacking comedy which season 4 has well balanced. Seeing Vidhayak on comedy role is more fun than serious. Next excited for season 5. Good work Panchayat team.

This season lacks the humour the comic timing the screen presence, the essence and the depth of the story and many other factors that felt missing in the whole series. As Suggested this season would be all about the voting and election but still I feel the entire series revolves around the few characters rather than emphasizing on the character over all and it fails to give some message it has also failed to describe any particular story line and just blindly showing the election scenes particularly focusing on Bhushan side... A lot could have been improved and some more new characters could have been introduced which could have paved the new story line of the upcoming season..Unlike the previous seasons, this season lacked the essence it's comedy delivery and that true essence and charm. I'm telling you I'm the diehard fan of panchayat but I don't get the same vibe ... Like something felt missing... It lacked the depth and it feels it's not the same series I fell in for .Also the way this series used to end with a curiosity for next season is lacking .The season timing could have been increased and along side emphasis could have been given on germinating a new story line with lasting impact or a scene that focus on giving some social message. I'm not fully satisfied with this season. Like everything seems quick and rushy. Like I was not expecting the love story of Rinky and sachivji to start in this way. I feel like the earlier humor and depth is missing here.

The show provided more tension than happiness. It felt too slow, and there were too many repeated dialogues. Most of the time, it would slip back into a boring, monotonous mode. While the acting was commendable, the plot lacked depth and substance. I feel they should consider hiring a more creative scriptwriter, perhaps from the South, where storytelling often prioritizes innovation and unique ideas.

On a positive note, the direction was impressive, and you could tell the filmmakers put a lot of effort into maintaining a certain quality. However, the character of Nanaji seemed entirely useless. He had no real influence on the plot, and his presence was more of a filler than a meaningful contribution. Additionally, it felt like the party teams spent more time engaging in 'internal' discussions rather than interacting with one another. This really reduced the dynamics of the story.

One of the biggest letdowns was the absence of a new scam, like the Yojana scam from earlier seasons, which could have introduced some fresh intrigue. The reduction in the power of the MLA was also disappointing. In the last season, his character had a strong presence and played a pivotal role. Seeing him diminished here felt like a missed opportunity to build on his earlier successes.

While the show had potential, it ultimately fell short in terms of plot development, character arcs, and maintaining the intensity that made previous seasons so engaging. Hopefully, future episodes can find a better balance between tension and narrative depth.