SPOILERS AHEAD
The show has been loved, hated and talked about so much that another review would just be a culmination of picking different stuff from different reviews that are already published. I loved season 2 so much more but I was also in for a treat since a friend of mine told me that 'Guruji' wasn't really behind everything which made me wonder who could be the one creating the ruckus.
This was when I had just about finished episode 5 and my immediate reaction was 'Dilbagh Singh' and I started to think about it and the plot sounded a lot more fun(had that been the case). However, there were certain areas that I thought about that acted as an alternate version to this wonderfully crafted show. They were never fulfilled, though, but the assumptions were good while they lasted. Just to clear things out, these were my thoughts before I finished the last episode.
- Gaitonde calling Sartaj - Jojo tells Gaitonde that he has been made a fool for almost 20 years by the concerned person. Now, he hadn't known Guruji for 20 years but Dilbagh Singh met him 20 years back. The process of overseeing the entire plan without divulging your identity could have been a good reveal, had it been the case. Dilbagh Singh was making sure that Gaitonde has broken down completely before taking him under his wings. This plot point would have worked even during the part where Gaitonde meets him again in the ashram. He did not want to see him unless he was sure that Gaitonde has surrendered to Guruji's will.
- The Baap Connection - It was all about Gaitonde's three fathers and how each of them fucked his life. Gaitonde's realisation about who the main person is could have been a justifiable driving force for him to call 'Sartaj' since the son might be able to emotionally weaken the father or at least make him vulnerable. He also says that fathers are always the ones who fuck up their children's lives and this could have acted as a hint for Sartaj to realise what is going on. Also, the stories are running in parallel. Gaitonde talks about his dads being evil. A clue that was almost there but people wouldn't have caught on.
- Bhaagwaan mein maante ho? - First words on the phone.
- Blind Faith - Another layer that it would have added to the narrative would have been to Sartaj's mother's beliefs that his husband was a good man. The confidence in your loved someones is so densely clouded that you cannot comprehend that their highly positive (perceived) actions could drive them to do something insane. The conversation between Sartaj and his mother could have negated the possibility of such a plot and then reinstated it like a twist in the end.
- Just like my Dad - Malcolm Murad not killing Sartaj and asking him to fulfil his father's wishes.
- The Shahid Khan connection
There are a couple of scenes that I felt were solidifying my assumptions, too. The first one is when Guruji allows people to leave his 'Satyuga' plan and then Dilbagh reacts. I thought he was hinting at Guruji to send Murad. The next is when Kalki enters the secret room to reveal that Guruji is still alive. She is looking towards something else before she turns to Guruji and the camera pans towards him. I thought the reveal would have a flashback with Dilbagh sitting at the front and Kalki looking at him first. 'Guruji' could have been a tool like Gaitonde and all others were. The pattern drawn in the end would then pave way for another season.
There are many plot points that would fit in, assuming the mentioned cases. The only additive that I think should have been there was the motivation of Dilbagh Singh to create this chaos. However, there could be another season to explore Dilbagh's motives and how then Sartaj tries to tackle an ideology that he never thought could go wrong. Aham Brahmasmi.