Panchayat Season 4 Review: A Slower Burn with Political Sparks and Personal Wins
Let’s admit it, Panchayat has never been just a show. It’s a vibe. A feeling. The dusty roads of Phulera, the slow build-ups, the passive-aggressive politics, the chai breaks, and those perfectly awkward silences, we’ve grown attached to them all. So when Season 4 landed on Amazon Prime Video, fans like me were both excited and anxious. What now? More laughs? More village chaos? Or something totally unexpected?
Turns out, it’s the third one.
This season takes a bold detour. It dials down the comedy, turns up the emotional stakes, and brings in serious tension, both political and personal. And while the result may not be laugh-out-loud funny like Seasons 1 and 2, it’s layered, heartfelt, and honestly pretty bold for a show like this.
Plot Breakdown: The Calm Before (and During) the Political Storm
Season 4 opens with Phulera in the middle of a power shift. After the emotional gut-punch in the Season 3 finale, things feel… uneasy. Bhushan and Kranti Devi, now emboldened by MLA Chandrakishore Singh, are out for blood. Their goal? Dismantle Pradhan Ji’s quiet control over the village. Manju Devi, still technically the Pradhan, is suddenly pushed into the spotlight. And instead of backing down, she decides to step up.
Abhishek, meanwhile, finally cleared the CAT with a 97 percentile. But there’s a big twist: he doesn’t instantly leave. And that hesitation? That tells you how much Phulera, and the people in it, have become home. The season doesn’t rush through this arc. We see Abhishek torn between his ambition and emotional ties to the villagers, his role, and, yes, Rinki.
Their relationship finally moves forward. No cheesy drama, no over-the-top romance. Just two people who’ve shared enough awkward silences to now share something real. Their confession is one of the quietest and most satisfying moments in the show so far.
Episodes are packed with small but powerful conflicts: a planned resignation, a character’s bottled grief finally breaking through, hidden betrayals, and subtle shifts in village loyalty. And all of it is treated with respect. Nothing feels forced or exaggerated.
Characters: So Familiar, Yet So Evolved
The beauty of Panchayat lies in how effortlessly the characters evolve. There are no dramatic character flips here, just natural, lived-in growth.
Jitendra Kumar as Abhishek is in top form. You can see his restlessness giving way to reflection. He's no longer just trying to escape Phulera; he's wondering why he ever wanted to leave in the first place. His body language, expressions, and even the way he speaks are all way more grounded this time.
Neena Gupta as Manju Devi has one of her best arcs yet. From being a passive figurehead to taking actual decisions, she brings both fire and restraint. You feel proud of her, especially in scenes where she finally speaks up for herself.
Raghubir Yadav’s Pradhan Ji struggles more than before. His confidence is shaken, his position is threatened, but his ego remains intact. Watching him cope with being sidelined is both frustrating and deeply human.
Faisal Malik’s Prahlad is the quiet storm. Still grieving his son, still loyal to Pradhan Ji, but deeply observant of the political games around him. He doesn't speak much, but every word he says counts.
Even side characters like Vikas get moments of growth. He’s still goofy, but more responsible now. And Bhushan, oh man, he’s more annoying than ever, which is exactly what makes him perfect as this season’s main antagonist.
Direction & Writing: Bold Choices, Subtle Wins
This is where the show takes the biggest creative leap.
Director Deepak Kumar Mishra ditches the comfort zone. The camera lingers longer. Silences stretch. Scenes don’t always end with a punchline; they end with questions. Or emotions. Or nothing at all. And that’s what makes it brilliant.
The writing by Chandan Kumar is tighter, even though the pace slows down. There’s a deliberate choice to keep things real, almost documentary-like at times. Nobody gives long speeches. The drama unfolds through awkward glances, half-finished conversations, and long-held stares. The script doesn't hold your hand, and honestly, that's refreshing.
It’s a bold risk, especially for a show that was loved for its humour. But it pays off if you’re watching closely.
What Doesn’t Work: Let’s Be Honest
Okay, here’s the deal: this season won’t work for everyone.
The pacing is slow. Slower than ever. Some episodes might feel like nothing’s happening, especially if you're expecting big, juicy moments. The humour? It’s still there, but way more subtle. No Vikas-Prahlad chaos, no silly panchayat complaints, no laugh-out-loud situations like the early seasons. If you loved Panchayat for being light and quirky, this might feel like a letdown.
Also, the finale doesn’t end on a cliffhanger. It's emotional, yes. Beautifully written, yes. But it wraps up gently, almost too gently. Some viewers may crave more drama or resolution.
Final Verdict: More Heart, Less Hype And That’s Okay
Panchayat Season 4 is like that quiet friend who doesn’t say much but feels everything deeply. It’s not loud. It’s not fast. It’s not trying to impress you. It’s just honest. This isn’t the most entertaining season, but it’s the most emotionally rich. It pushes its characters to evolve, and it trusts its audience to evolve with them.
If you’re willing to slow down, tune in, and actually feel the weight of what’s happening, this season will absolutely work for you. If you’re just looking to laugh and escape, maybe not so much.
Either way, Panchayat proves it’s more than just a web series. It’s a mirror to the quiet conflicts we all go through, and that’s what makes it special.
If you enjoy grounded stories set in small towns, you might also like my review of Crime Files Season 2, another series that digs into rural life, but with a darker twist. [Read it here].
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