‘Panchayat S4’ Review: Phulera Feels Familiar but Faded in The Show’s Fourth Outing

The much-loved Panchayat is back with Season 4, and fans had all eyes on the new political drama brewing in Phulera. After that shocking cliffhanger from Season 3, the biggest question on everyone’s mind was – who shot Pradhan ji? But if you’re tuning in just to get that answer, brace yourself. That twist doesn’t reveal itself until the last two or three episodes, which means a long and sometimes tiring wait through a plot that tries to stay true to its roots but doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Politics Over Heart: A Shift in Focus
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Neena Gupta & Sunita Rajwar in ‘Panchayat S4’ (Source: Amazon Prime Video)
This time, the show completely dives into the panchayat elections, and the entire narrative revolves around a tug of war between two camps: Pradhan ji-Manju Devi and gang versus Bhushan, Kranti Devi, Binod, and Madhav. Dirty tricks, name-tarnishing campaigns, emotional speeches, and vote-bank politics take center stage. The village feels like a battleground, but somewhere in the rush to build tension, the soul of Panchayat starts slipping away.

There’s no denying that the show still maintains its structure, slice-of-rural-life storytelling and local charm. But now it feels repetitive like the formula is being stretched too thin. The spark that made the show a breath of fresh air is missing. The moments that once made us laugh or tear up now feel more manufactured than heartfelt.

The Characters Lose Depth
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Jitendra Kumar & Saanvika in Panchayat S4 (Source: TVF)
One of the strongest pillars of Panchayat was always its characters. From Abhishek Tripathi’s quiet struggles to the warm, endearing banter between the village gang, these were people we rooted for. But in this season, their journeys feel undercooked.

Abhishek (Jitendra Kumar) is still caught between cracking the CAT or staying in Phulera for love, but this emotional dilemma barely moves forward. His love angle with Rinki (Sanvikaa) does get some attention, with sweet stolen moments and one near-kiss scene, but the chemistry lacks intensity. There’s no fire, no butterflies, just missed chances and half-baked hints.

Rinki herself is barely present in this season, and that’s a letdown. A new character, Rinki’s nana (Manju Devi’s father), is introduced with some promise but ends up being nothing more than a one-episode advice machine who exits as suddenly as he enters.

Thankfully, some characters do shine. Neena Gupta as Manju Devi brings both fire and depth to her role, especially in her emotionally charged scenes. Sunita Rajwar (Kranti Devi) and Durgesh Kumar (Bhushan) add a strong competitive flavour with their sharp-tongued antics and political plotting. In one of the emotional high points, Pradhan ji (Raghubir Yadav) breaks down, and even though it’s not a masterclass in acting, the sheer emotion of the scene touches a nerve.

A heartfelt beer session between Prahladcha and Vikas tries to capture the magic of past seasons, but it lacks that raw authenticity we’ve grown used to. It feels more like an emotional checkbox than a natural moment of connection.

Screenplay, Pace and Presentation: A Bit of a Drag
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Jitendra Kumar & Faisal Malik in ‘Panchayat S4’ (Source: Amazon Prime Video)
One of the main issues this season faces is pacing. The episodes feel long and packed, but not in an exciting way. The core political drama drags on with too many repetitive scenes and unnecessary emotional layers. There’s also a vidhayak subplot thrown in that adds no real value and could’ve easily been skipped.

Visually and technically, the show still maintains its simplicity, which is its charm. The village, the bylanes, the government office, the homes, all feel familiar. But even that groundedness starts to feel dull when the story lacks movement.

Time to Say Goodbye?
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Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Neena Gupta & Jitendra Kumar in ‘Panchayat S4’ (Source: Amazon Prime V
The message that echoes loudest by the end of Panchayat Season 4 is that even the best shows must know when to stop. The charm, the storytelling, the emotional depth, all of it risks losing power when dragged endlessly. This season ends on a half-open note, leaving room for another installment. But the question is, do we still want it?

Panchayat once felt like a quiet revolution in Indian storytelling, honest, grounded, and warm. But with this season, it feels like that warmth is slowly fading, replaced by overdone tropes and a sense of obligation to keep the show going.

Final Verdict
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Ashok Kumar, Durgesh Kumar & Bulloo Kumar (Source: Amazon Prime Video)
Season 4 of Panchayat is not terrible; it still has its moments, its witty lines, its familiar faces, but it no longer feels as special as it once did. While loyal fans may still want to hang on for closure or out of sheer attachment to the characters, it’s clear that the heart of Phulera is beating a little slower now. Here’s hoping the makers wrap it up with a bang in the next one and give the show the graceful farewell it deserves.