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Mismatched is a Hindi-language romantic comedy reminiscent of American coming-of-age romantic dramas. It is based on Sandhya Menon's 2017 novel When Dimple Met Rishi. However, the novel's premise is in the United States; the series takes place in India, which gives it a somewhat quirky and different outlook on a fictional Indian town.
The plot revolves around a summer programming course. Rishi, a hopeless romantic, coincidentally meets Dimple, a geeky, ambitious software engineer, after first seeing her photo on a matrimonial website, which her mother unintentionally posted.
However, nothing quite happens between them initially; instead, there is a more antagonistic relationship. But as the seasons progress, they get close with many turns of events, and after a while, they start dating.
The somewhat unrealistic plot with many social messages is one of the show's strengths, as it gives a feel-good vibe without being hollow.
The third season, trending on Netflix Bangladesh starts with a three-year time jump and a completely different angle, long-distance relationships and a time when both move past their college lives.
The season also moves away from the ties trope to some extent to delineate the complexities of the tech world, with "Better Verse," a virtual reality project crafted in Rishi's Institute, being one of the forefronts.
In many ways, the season lacks the youthful exuberance of the first two seasons; however, this is justifiable, considering the extensive character growth portrayed there.
The character of Anmol stood out in the season as his character underwent a massive shift in this season, following the trail of the last season. Other than this, Vinny, Krish, and many other characters from the previous season are also featured in this season. However, the season does an abysmal job when it comes to navigating the depths of the relationships between the characters, something which was done quite masterfully in the previous seasons.
The show depicts the various stages of a teenage relationship, from the youthful exuberance-induced butterflies early on to the stage where trust issues and insecurities creep in, followed by another stage where career and ambition fade the excitement.
This transition from the first to the third season differs from most Indian rom-coms in that, rather than manufacturing a happy ending that looks forced, the show is more grounded in reality when the relationship dynamics are considered. Its mature and realistic take on relationships is something commendable.
However, the show has retained its feel-good nature and uniqueness among Indian TV shows because it brings up the sunny disposition of American teenage rom-coms in an Indian setting, something which most Indian teen flicks fail to do. It is a must-watch for a holiday evening.