Inspector Avinash — A Gritty, Flawed, and Surprisingly Addictive Cop Drama That Wears Its '90s Heart on Its Sleeve

Watch Episode 7 closely: Avinash doesn't fire a single bullet. He simply talks a gang leader into surrendering by citing his mother's court case. That's not typical heroism — it's psychological warfare.

The show is structured around the infamous "Gang of Four" dacoits who terrorized Uttar Pradesh in the '90s. But instead of a single, stretched narrative, each episode (or two-episode arc) functions like a mini-movie. One episode tracks a jewelry heist. Another follows a fake currency racket. Another dives into a jailbreak. This old-school "case of the week" format feels refreshingly nostalgic in an era of slow-burn, 10-hour movies disguised as series.

Randeep Hooda plays the real-life IPS officer Avinash Mishra. Unlike the usual cop who screams and smashes heads, Hooda's Avinash is eerily calm, almost withdrawn. He speaks in a low, measured tone, even when staring down a dozen armed men. His signature move isn't a flying kick — it's waiting . He waits for the criminal to make a mistake, for the informer to call, for the trap to close. It's a quiet, coiled intensity that makes every episode feel tense, even when nothing is exploding.

But here’s the twist: Those flaws actually add to the charm. This is not a documentary. It’s a — gritty but theatrical, real but heightened. The bad guys are deliciously evil (Amit Sial as a ruthless gang lord is pure gold), and the 1990s setting — landline phones, Ambassador cars, open gutters — is lovingly recreated.

★★★½ (3.5/5) — Watch it for Randeep Hooda’s eyes, stay for the nostalgic case-of-the-week rush.

With chai and a willingness to forgive the over-the-top background music.