Why Kota Factory Season 1 Outshines Season 2

When it comes to the discussions about which season of Kota Factory is superior, there's a clear consensus: almost everybody prefers Season 1 (S1) over Season 2 (S2). While I appreciated the cinematography in S2 and found S2 Episode 5 (S2 E5) to be arguably the best of the show, overall it does not match the quality and success of its predecessor. Herein, I will delve into the reasons why S1 excels over S2 and provide insights for potential future episodes.

Why S1 Was Superior

1. Coherent and Focused Storytelling: While Kota Factory Season 1 had a clear sense of direction, Season 2 (S2) took a somewhat scattered approach. S1 knew precisely what it was doing. Vaibhav faced a problem with his preparations which he learned how to tackle and then simply and effectively moved forward. The season stuck to this singular storyline and, despite its simplicity, it resonated deeply with many viewers.

Contrastingly, S2 attempted multiple storylines without fully developing any of them. In the first episode, S2 introduced the "Why IIT" concept but failed to utilize it to its potential. It then transitioned to S1-like episodes with different characters, but it was all done haphazardly without consistency. S2 Episode 5 (S2 E5), which shifted to the theme of the show being a business, despite being a welcome change, lacked proper handling. The narrative shift was abrupt and didn't do justice to the story or the characters.

Multifaceted Storytelling

2. Effective Character Focus: S1 mostly followed Vaibhav, allowing him significant screen time as the central character. Supporting characters worked well with him too. Season 2 (S2) attempted to give each character their own arc, but it failed to do justice to these arcs.[1] Instead, the stories of these characters were left incomplete, with none reaching their full potential until they were brought back together. S2 seemed to force these characters to appear together in scenes, but it wasn't as effective as giving them more time on their own[2].

Conclusion and Future Prospects

While S2 was not entirely without its merits, it certainly wasn't the standout season that S1 was. It had some good ideas that were not properly utilized. If a Season 3 (S3) is in the making, it would be wise to learn from the strengths of S1 and address the shortcomings of S2.

What were your thoughts on S2 E5's opening montage with the AIR 1 scene? For me, it was the best scene of the whole episode. What did you think?

Multiple character arcs were introduced in S2, but often felt underdeveloped and abruptly cut short.

Giving characters more time on their own could have posed a challenge in terms of making the material interesting, but it would have provided a more focused and engaging experience for the audience.