Review: Adapted from Andy Breckman’s Emmy-winning Monk, Mistry is a thoughtfully Indianized procedural that marries crime-solving with emotional resonance, trading high-stakes intensity for warmth, charm, and a protagonist worth rooting for. Across eight episodes, the show balances episodic investigations with a lingering personal tragedy—creating a hybrid that’s more endearing than edge-of-your-seat.
At its heart is Armaan Mistry (Ram Kapoor), a former cop sidelined by the trauma of his wife’s unsolved car-bomb murder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Plagued by a fear of germs, disorder, and unpredictability, Armaan isn’t your typical hero—but he’s exactly what makes the series work. His condition is not just a character quirk but a central narrative tool. His compulsions turn out to be his method: he sees what others miss, perceives patterns in the mundane, and follows logic where others follow instinct.
Director Rishab Seth, with writers Aarsh Vohra and Ritviq Joshi, structure Mistry like a classic detective drama—complete with neatly wrapped case-of-the-week episodes. But they also attempt a slow-burn arc around Armaan’s unresolved grief: the death of his wife Sushmita (Shraddha Nigam) in a car bombing. That lingering mystery is meant to tie the season together, and while it adds depth, it’s frustratingly undercooked by the finale. The choice to leave major narrative threads hanging suggests confidence in a second season, but it leaves this one feeling incomplete.
What makes Mistry rise above formula is its tone—gentler than the gritty crime dramas flooding Indian OTT, and more character-driven than most procedural imports. There’s humour here, often arising from Armaan’s interactions with the world—his awkwardness at a child-sized school desk, for instance, or his fixation on orderly tea cups. These aren’t just comic relief moments; they humanize his condition and invite empathy rather than pity.
Kapoor brings surprising restraint and precision to Armaan, balancing eccentricity with emotional vulnerability. It’s one of his most refined performances in recent years. Mona Singh, as ACP Sehmat Siddiqui, plays the exasperated-yet-supportive colleague with measured realism. Their dynamic is rooted in an unspoken history, which adds dimension to their interactions.
Shikha Talsania as Sharanya, Armaan’s assistant and emotional anchor, is a delight. Her portrayal of a single mother balancing home life with the demands of managing a brilliant but difficult man adds welcome layers to the narrative. Kshitish Date, as the bumbling-yet-sincere Inspector Bunty, is another highlight—offering levity without tipping into slapstick.
The writing sparkles in its dialogue, full of pop-culture nods and clever lines (including a sly Drishyam reference), adding humour without undermining the stakes. A standout episode set during a vacation turns a seemingly simple murder into a cat-and-mouse chase for a missing body.
Still, the series isn’t flawless. It occasionally wobbles in tone, especially when toggling between Armaan’s trauma and the show’s more comedic beats. Viewers familiar with Monk may find this version somewhat tamer in terms of complexity and tension.
Yet for those unacquainted with the original, Mistry offers a charming, binge-worthy experience that emphasizes character over convolution. It’s not just about solving murders—it’s about finding order in emotional chaos, and perhaps, closure in disorder.
Mistry is a heartfelt procedural that swaps shock value for soul. Anchored by a stellar cast and quirky storytelling, it’s a promising start to a franchise that deserves a deeper dive.
