Call Me Bae review: This riches-to-rags story delivers drama and delight

Call Me Bae is the story of a socialite who has to build an independent life after losing her wealth and privilege. The series is now streaming on Prime Video.

Story

All her life, Bella, also known as Bae, has been taught that her purpose in life is to marry into a wealthy family, while her brother is encouraged to take over the family business. 

Following this expectation, Bae marries into a family wealthier than her own, but she is unhappy with her husband, Agastya, who prioritizes his work over their relationship.

Eventually, Bae falls out of love and ends up cheating on Agastya, leading to her being disowned by his family. Bae’s own family also refuses to support her, as they have joint business interests with Agastya.

Refusing to be hidden away by her family as punishment, Bae decides to move to Mumbai, find a job, and build a life from scratch. Will Bae succeed, or will she fail as her family expects?

Performances

Ananya Pandey undoubtedly delivers a strong performance. She embodies the charm, liveliness, and naiveté that characterize Bae’s sheltered upbringing. 

Pandey’s performance remains strong even when her character hits a low, and as Bae grows, she successfully showcases the character’s transformation without losing her charm.

Niharika Dutt and Muskkaan Jaferi also perform their parts well; they effectively capture their characters’ quirks. As Bae’s friends, they both add something different to the dynamic of the group.

Unfortunately, Gurfateh Pirzada’s Neel, a straightforward journalist who dislikes pomp, fails to shine among the other characters; he lacks the charisma that defines the show.

Varun Sood and Vihaan Samat are also enjoyable to watch, as is Vir Das, who plays a clownish, egotistical news anchor who maliciously manipulates the truth.

Positives

The show brings out the humor in Bae’s ridiculously ostentatious life. Even when she goes through difficult times in the initial episodes, the show maintains its light-hearted tone.

Bae’s struggles are unlike those of the many who come to Mumbai to make their dreams come true. Her challenges revolve around adjusting to her loss of privilege, which makes her situation unique.

One of the best aspects of the show is Bae’s character. The show emphasizes that she is special, and it is easy for the audience to accept this as they witness her genuine kindness.

Surprisingly, even though the character embraces the stereotype of a sheltered princess and continues to name-drop like Tahani from The Good Place, she remains likable.

Moreover, she has moments where she displays unexpected intelligence, surprising both the characters in the show and the audience.

Her journey, from a woman with no purpose to one who finds a purpose, forms meaningful relationships, and thrives outside her comfort zone, is what makes the show engaging.

It must be mentioned that Bae’s character stands out not only due to its writing but also because of the vibrant costumes Pandey wears, which add to the character’s personality.

The show briefly explores, sometimes with humor, issues related to the current state of TV journalism and what it means to be ethical in that field. These topics are relevant in today’s world, so the audience can easily connect with them.

Negatives

In the initial episodes, there are scenes that serve no purpose other than comedic relief. Some of them do not fit smoothly into the narrative and stick out like a sore thumb. 

Similarly, in those episodes, there are jokes in nearly every dialogue to keep things light, but at times, they fall flat and feel forced, as if the show is trying a little too hard.

The heavy topics explored in the show, like sexual harassment, do not have an impact on the audience, as the show prioritizes its light-hearted tone over emotional resonance. 

By doing so, it loses an opportunity to make Bae’s success over the antagonists more meaningful, which it could have been if these topics had more depth.

Verdict

Call Me Bae is an entertaining drama. While it lacks emotional resonance, it remains enjoyable and successfully keeps the audience invested in the protagonist’s journey.


Also Read: Call Me Bae recap and ending explained

Muskan Chhatwani
Muskan Chhatwani
Muskan is an editor at The Envoy Web. Her name translates to smile in English, but she likes shows and films that do anything but make you smile. She believes that analyzing and interpreting the tiny little things on-screen can reveal a story that is not visible to everyone, a story of your own.

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