Beyhadh 2 first episode review: Jennifer Winget's 'beyhadh nafrat' is going to keep you hooked

Jennifer Winget is back on the small screen with Beyhadh 2, which premiered last night (December 2), and going by the first episode it seems the psycho-thriller's shift from 'beyhadh pyaar' to 'beyhadh nafrat' is going to keep the viewers hooked.
At the very outset, the record is set straight as Maya Jaisingh (Jennifer Winget) takes a dip in a mucky pond, clothed in a white satin dress, but later in the episode, she is seen in all black outfits as she plots and plans her revenge.
This time around Maya's target is Mrityunjay Roy's (Ashish Chowdhry) two sons - Rishi and Rudra (Shivin Narang). While she saves Rishi from drowning in the sea after the idol of Durga Maa is immersed in the water, she injures his brother, Rudra, during their fencing session.
Mystery element is retained throughout the episode as there are visible cracks in the relationship that the Roys share with each other.
Mrityunjay loves his two sons, but Rudra doesn't reciprocate his feelings. The latter is requested by Rishi to come to their parents' wedding anniversary celebrations, and he does so for his brother.
Maya looks at her picture with her lover in the frame but it's hidden from the viewers. The fact that the episode leaves several questions unanswered, will make the audience return to it to connect the dots.
The plot of the show is intriguing and fast-paced. The sequence of events is well-aligned and it makes for an interesting watch. What stands apart is the outstanding cinematic visuals, something that the viewers were also a witness to in the first season. The background score adds to they mystery element.
Jennifer Winget is the highlight of the show. Her act as Maya is unmatched. Be it the way she looks at Rishi when she gets him out of the water or the way she smudges the cake with her hand, her scenes leave you with a sense of anticipation.
Ashish Chowdhry looks fresh as Mrityunjay Roy, and plays his part convincingly. Even Shivin Narang is confident on-screen, and makes his presence felt. The first episode definitely gets a thumbs-up for its element of mystery and fabulous performances. It remains to be seen how the show fares in the long run.