The fourth season of Panchayat, Amazon Prime Video’s beloved rural dramedy, has finally arrived—but not with the warmth and sharpness fans have come to expect. While earlier seasons carved a niche with their slice-of-village-life storytelling, gentle humour, and heartfelt characters, Season 4 feels like a misstep—both structurally and emotionally.
After building a strong, grounded world in Phulera, the new season struggles to maintain coherence, resulting in a narrative that feels scattered and underwhelming. Here’s a comprehensive look at what worked, what didn’t, and whether Panchayat still has enough fuel for future seasons.
🎬 Season Overview
- Title: Panchayat – Season 4
- Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Drama, Comedy
- Creator: Chandan Kumar
- Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
- Starring: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy
- Episodes: 8
- Runtime per episode: 35–45 minutes
📜 Plot Summary (Without Major Spoilers)
The season picks up where Season 3 left off. Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), the reluctant but evolving Panchayat Secretary, is back in Phulera—but his return feels less impactful this time. The show attempts to balance ongoing political tensions in the village with everyday challenges, bureaucratic loopholes, and interpersonal relationships.
However, unlike previous seasons, the narrative feels less cohesive. There’s an over-reliance on dramatic tension and interpersonal conflict, and the show’s formerly light-hearted tone feels diluted under the weight of too many subplots.
✍️ Writing & Storytelling: A Shift in Tone
The biggest issue with Season 4 lies in the writing. Previous seasons shined with simplicity, organic humour, and real-life rural problems told through subtle storytelling. This time, the focus shifts toward interpersonal politics, emotional manipulation, and forced confrontations.
What Went Wrong:
- Too many plot threads: Rivalries, love triangles, administrative corruption, emotional breakdowns—all jammed into just eight episodes.
- Pacing issues: Some episodes are dragging, others feel rushed.
- Lack of emotional payoff: Earlier seasons gave us heartwarming endings. Here, even emotional moments feel abrupt or undercooked.
The series that once thrived on the “less is more” philosophy now seems to be chasing complexity, but not very successfully.
🎭 Performances: Reliable Cast, But Repetitive Arcs
If there’s one element that continues to shine, it’s the acting performances. The cast, both main and supporting, deliver what is expected—though the material often fails them.
🌟 Standouts:
- Jitendra Kumar (Abhishek): Does a commendable job portraying growing internal conflict and leadership fatigue, but the character seems stuck in a loop.
- Raghubir Yadav (Pradhan Ji) and Neena Gupta (Manju Devi): Still charming, but underutilized.
- Faisal Malik (Prahlad Pandey): The emotional arc initiated in Season 3 continues here, but gets lost in the narrative shuffle.
- Chandan Roy (Vikas): Offers light comic relief, but even his jokes feel recycled.
The ensemble delivers sincere performances, but the scripts don’t allow for new character growth or memorable scenes.
🏞️ Direction and Cinematography: Still Visually Grounded
Director Deepak Kumar Mishra retains his visual style: wide village shots, real locations, and unpolished setups that lend authenticity. The aesthetic remains faithful to Phulera’s rural setting.
Pros:
- Natural lighting and earthy visuals
- Real-life village sounds and ambiance
- No flashy dramatization or synthetic sets
Cons:
- No major visual innovation or mood shifts
- Repetitive setups from earlier seasons
🎵 Music and Background Score: A Fading Identity
Panchayat once stood out for its minimalist, yet impactful background score. Unfortunately, Season 4’s music lacks freshness, relying on older motifs and musical cues with minor tweaks.
It neither elevates emotional scenes nor creates new audio identities for fresh arcs. A missed opportunity.
⚖️ What Works in Season 4
✅ Continued rustic charm of Phulera
✅ Great acting from core cast
✅ Some well-executed one-liners and humorous village moments
✅ A few meaningful insights into the Indian grassroots governance system
✅ Emotional callback to moments from Season 3
❌ What Doesn’t Work
❌ Disjointed plot with too many half-baked subplots
❌ Forced emotional and romantic drama
❌ Predictable narrative turns
❌ Characters feel stagnant and repetitive
❌ Reduced impact of signature simplicity and innocence
❌ Weak season finale with no significant payoff
🧠 Themes & Messages: Still Relevant, But Less Potent
Panchayat still tries to tackle important themes:
- Grassroots democracy
- Administrative hurdles in rural India
- Caste/class undertones (though less pronounced)
- Emotional isolation in leadership roles
But instead of letting these messages flow organically through daily life and small stories, they now feel more like plot devices, which undercuts their authenticity.
🌐 Audience Reactions: Mixed to Lukewarm
Fans of the show have taken to social media with mixed reviews:
“Loved the characters, but Season 4 lacked the spark and depth of earlier seasons.” – Twitter
“They tried to make it too serious and political. Lost its soul somewhere.” – Reddit India thread
“It still has some charm, but the writing felt forced this time.” – Prime Video YouTube comment
📊 Final Verdict
| Category | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Story & Writing | 5.5 |
| Performances | 8.0 |
| Visuals & Direction | 7.0 |
| Music & Score | 5.5 |
| Rewatchability Factor | 6.0 |
| Overall Impact | 6.5 |
📦 Conclusion: A Disappointing, Yet Not Hopeless Season
Panchayat Season 4 feels like a show caught in transition—trying to evolve beyond its comfort zone, but not quite sure how. In attempting to raise emotional and political stakes, it sacrifices the core magic of simplicity and slice-of-life narrative that originally made it a fan favourite.
It’s not unwatchable, nor devoid of merit. But it leaves you wanting more — not in a good way, but in the sense that you wish they had done more with less.
The season ends on a vaguely open note, hinting that a fifth season may be in the works. If so, the makers would do well to revisit what made Panchayat truly special: simplicity, sincerity, and soul.
