Criminal Justice 3 review: Pankaj Tripathi-led slow burner offers a realistic look at juvenile crime

Criminal Justice 3's first two episodes are slow yet intense. They, however, don't really give Pankaj Tripathi enough scope to shine.

The first two episodes of Criminal Justice 3, out now on Disney+ Hotstar, make for a moderately engaging watch despite their limitations. They explore sensitive issues such as juvenile crime and drug abuse but aren't everyone's cup of tea as they move at their own pace. Moreover, these episodes don't do complete justice to Pankaj Tripathi's abilities. The actor gets limited scope to make his presence felt.

Criminal Justice 3 revolves around a teenage superstar who goes missing after a party. The cops are soon called in to investigate the matter, which spells trouble for her brother. On paper, the storyline features a good mix of suspense and drama. The promising plot largely manages to hit the right notes due to the sincere screenplay.

A web series — unlike a feature film — gives writers the freedom to explore characters and subplots in detail. The makers of Criminal Justice 3 try to utilise this aspect to build a layered narrative. The series begins with a shot that introduces us to the teenage superstar. The attention then shifts to her family. The makers touch upon aspects such as her personal aspirations and her chequered relationship with her brother. They, however, do so without revealing too much, which keeps the suspense alive.It also sets the stage for the upcoming episodes.

Here's the trailer of Criminal Justice 3:

This approach, however, has its disadvantages. Criminal Justice 3 moves at its own pace, which wasn't really the case in the dark and biting first season. The dull police interrogation scenes, too, don't help the cause. To make matters worse, they feel a bit mechanical. TV shows like CID and the Ronit Roy-led Adaalat have fared much better in this regard.

Coming to the performances, Pankaj Tripathi is underutilised but puts his best foot forward every time he appears on screen. His one liners, however, just didn't land this time. Let's hope that things improve in the episodes to come.

Purab Kohli shines in a couple of scenes and tries to convey a lot through his silences. Swastika Mukherjee is decent, but her mannerisms are a bit reminiscent of her work in Pataal Lok. The rest of the cast serves its purpose.