TVF and Amazon Prime Video had a rare gem in their hands with Panchayat (2020-ongoing). Season one was fresh. We had a show that captured the quiet rhythms of rural India with warmth and gentle wit, inspired from the timeless classic Malgudi Days (1986). Here was a series that didn’t rely on high drama or social grandstanding; instead, it found humour and humanity in the small, often overlooked corners of village life. It was rooted without being reductive. It even managed to be reflective without being preachy. But somewhere along the way, in trying to stretch its appeal into an extended franchise, they bungled it. Written by Chandan Kumar and directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra, Panchayat began as a refreshingly honest look at the absurdities and affections of a sleepy village. However, it’s now become a tired loop of recycled storylines and undercooked arcs.