Gamerlog Season 1 Review: A predictable esports drama that fails to hit the high score

Time of India

6 hours ago

Story: Raghu (Darsheel Safary), a small-town boy from Surat, gets a life-changing chance to join a pro esports team in Mumbai and compete in the elite Tournament of Champions. Can he rise to the challenge and turn his gaming dream into reality?
Review: In an era where digital dreams and online fame are fast becoming a generational aspiration, Gamerlog steps in to tell the story of one such dreamer. With a unique gaming backdrop and a strong emotional thread, this six-part series attempts to blend ambition, rebellion, and the evolving world of Indian esports. But despite its earnestness, the show falters in execution, delivering a lukewarm narrative that never fully taps into its potential.
The plot revolves around Raghu aka Maverick (Safary), a quiet but skilled gamer from Surat who rebels against his conservative parents' IIT dreams to pursue his own path in Mumbai's burgeoning esports scene. There, he joins 'Team Gamerlog,' led by the determined Joanna (Anjali Sivaraman), whose own journey to gaming stardom is mired in personal and professional challenges. Along with team members Lalit (Chetan Dhawan), Jaggi (Chinmay Chandraunshuh), Saurabh (Shubroy Chowdhury), and Mahesh (Akash Menon), they battle both external rivals and internal conflicts, all culminating in their big break: The Tournament of Champions, India's most coveted esports event.
Directed by debutant Arya Deo and written by Karmanaya Ahuja, the show ambitiously aims to go beyond surface-level gaming tropes and delve into the emotional arcs of its young characters. Unfortunately, while the intention is admirable, the treatment is far too formulaic. The conflicts are predictable, the character arcs familiar, and the interpersonal dynamics never quite evolve into something truly engaging. The pacing feels uneven, and despite the high-stakes gaming setup, the emotional stakes rarely resonate deeply.
Performance-wise, Gamerlog does have its moments. Darsheel Safary delivers a grounded and relatable performance as Raghu, capturing both his vulnerability and determination with sincerity. Anjali Sivaraman brings an understated charisma to Joanna, though her character remains underwritten in key emotional beats. The ensemble cast – Chetan Dhawan, Chinmay Chandraunshuh, Saurabh Shubroy Chowdhury, and Akash Menon – put in decent efforts, but the team chemistry never quite clicks. Kunal Bhan as the rival team leader and Joanna's former flame adds some tension, though it never escalates into anything truly gripping.
Visually, the series does attempt to capture the vibrancy of gaming tournaments and digital life, but it often relies on clichéd montages and underwhelming game sequences. The emotional transitions feel forced at times, and the show struggles to balance the competitive thrills with the depth it wants to portray.
In conclusion, Gamerlog is a decent one-time watch, particularly for Gen Z viewers who may find pockets of relatability in its themes of rebellion and digital ambition. But beyond that, it lacks the storytelling sharpness and emotional depth to truly stand out in the coming-of-age or sports drama genres. A show about chasing dreams should ideally soar—but here, it barely gets off the ground.