‘Bandi’ (2026) Netflix Series Review - Struggles to Balance Crime and Family

Bandi starts as something that has potential, but soon loses its grip midway. The plot revolves around eleven siblings, aged from childhood to early adulthood. These siblings are left to fend for themselves after the untimely and sudden death of their mother. It is at this point that the plot shifts its narrative to crime and grief. As the financial pressure continues to build on them, some of the siblings are left with no choice but to venture into the area of drug dealing, which further lands them in deep trouble, from where getting out is not as easy as it seems.

Moreover, this is where the plot becomes predictable and looks as if it has been heavily borrowed from movies and shows we have seen before. When the show starts, it manages to capture your attention well. But soon enough, you realize that perhaps in the next eight episodes, you already know what will happen. The only thing Bandi gets right is by ensuring that they don't show crime as the right thing to do when one faces financial troubles. Rather, committing a crime such as indulging in drug dealing is shown as a morally incorrect thing to do. This is a great plus point of the show when compared to the older shows and movies, where crime was glamorized. However, there is an overdose of interpersonal drama between the siblings, which can also be frustrating to watch. At one point, the entire plot feels so repetitive in the eight episodes and their run time that you will lose the will to watch it any further. It often mixes its foot holding in creating a fine balance between a family drama and a crime drama. Yes, it can do both, but sadly, it doesn't and ends up failing miserably in its attempts to portray both.

Another erratic thing was the boring pacing. The episodes and the scenes in it move at such a slow pace that one cannot help but feel annoyed. That slow pacing can actually test your patience. It is one of the biggest reasons why Bandi cannot be categorized as a majorly successful plot.

In addition to the above, the scenes feel underdeveloped. Somewhere in between watching, you will realize that the scenes lack finishing, which can disrupt the overall viewing experience. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of Bandi.

Also, there is no character development. With eleven siblings around, it becomes a bit tricky for us viewers to understand whose story is going on. For example, there is Brigerton, which also features multiple siblings. However, Brigerton gives each season to one sibling. Something of that sort helps to maintain consistency and also lets us viewers understand the character development as and when it takes place. Here in Bandi, everything is happening all at once. That creates a major rift in the overall plot of Bandi. It is so difficult to understand what the makers are trying to tell us. So all in all, dear viewers, I wouldn't recommend watching this show. It has to become a hard pass.

Final Score- [3/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times