Great Performances, Mythology References, and More Reasons to Watch Breathe: Into the Shadows

How would you react if your fate suddenly depended on how well you can negotiate with a deranged criminal? It’s not a question most of us concern ourselves with on a regular basis. But it’s one that Amazon Prime Video’s latest offering, Breathe: Into the Shadows, introduces in the first episode of the season.

Over the next 11 episodes, the show forces you to put yourself in the shoes of Doctor Avinash (Abhishek Bachchan), a family man and psychiatrist who’s on a mission to save his daughter from the clutches of a mysterious masked kidnapper.

The series, which marks Abhishek Bachahan’s web-series debut, also features actors Nithya Menen (as Dr Avinash’s resolute wife), and Amit Sadh (as a police officer dealing with a personal crisis), who have won the praise of several reviewers for the way they have held their own through the 12 episode run-time.

But that’s just one reason to watch the show, given that it also has…

A plot that’s so beautifully binge watchable: 

There are two plots running simultaneously through the show’s 12 episodes — one that follows the story of a seemingly normal couple that have been forced by exceptional circumstances to take some drastic decisions, and another that involves two affable police officers trying their best to solve a couple of gruesome murders.

From the first episode, when we find out that young Siya has gone missing at a birthday party to episode 12, where the cat-and-mouse game reaches its climax, the show demands the viewers attention, making it, in effect, the ideal show to binge-watch.

Bachchan keeps viewers on their toes, never knowing what to expect next or who to root for.

Plus, each character has its own motivation and backstory, which when revealed through the series, is bound to leave a few jaws gaping in anticipation. But if that isn’t enough to pique your interest, there’s also…

Abhishek Bachchan!:

Abhishek Bachchan’s web-series debut has proved to be worth the wait. Specifically, the actor has been praised for the way he switches between a loveable family man to stoic doctor on a mission in just 15 minutes of run-time.

Right from the start, when the doctor is thrown headfirst into a crisis involving his only daughter, Bachchan keeps viewers on their toes, never knowing what to expect next or who to root for. It’s both the hallmark of a good web-series, and a good performance.

But that’s to be expected, because…

The cast is full of brilliant actors:

With strong performances by Amit Sadh, Sayami Kher, and Nithya Menen, Breathe: Into the Shadows clearly doesn’t rely only on Abhishek Bachchan’s prowess.

In particular, Sadh has been praised for the way he breathes life into the role of Kabir Sawant, a police officer who doesn’t rely on super swag to deliver punchlines, but is a real and relatable character, with struggles that viewers of all backgrounds will identify with.

Nitya Menen, who fans of south Indian films will already know, does her part to uplift the show. The ease with which she plays the role of a distraught mother, as well as one of a determined woman, not willing to let a maniac dictate her life, establishes her as a standout actor in a series with several other big names in the industry.

Breathe: Into the Shadows not only keeps viewers engrossed through its runtime, but also leaves the audience struggling to piece together clues.

All these characters, and fine performances, come together to give us…

A number of plot twists that no one  can see coming:

Breathe: Into the Shadows does what few other shows have done well in the past, weaving mythological concepts into its narrative. This time the focus is on Ravan’s 10 heads — or, sins — which our mysterious kidnapper seems to be obsessed with, for reasons that aren’t immediately apparent.

Towards the end, however, it all starts to make sense, as the show offers a number of plot twists, each worthy of another batch of popcorn. While we obviously can’t tell you what any of them are without spoiling the entire show, all you should know is that the last few episodes  of the series are turbulent enough to have spawned…

A thousand theories on the internet: 

The greatest endorsement of a series is that it not only keeps viewers engrossed through its runtime, but also leaves the audience struggling to piece together clues, even weeks after they’re done watching. And again, here, Breathe: Into the Shadows excels, given the number of fan theories that have been floating about the internet dissecting the show’s cliffhanger ending (several spoilers here).

This proves beyond a doubt that Breathe: Into the Shadows is not just a show worth binging but one that’s guaranteed to hold your attention way after the season is done and the plot is revealed. In case you haven’t watched it yet, the series is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. So what are you waiting for?