There’s a particular kind of thrill that doesn’t come from gunfights or car chases. It comes from what’s left unsaid—from silences, subtle glances, long games, and the weight of secrets. That’s the essence of Special Ops—a show that slowly pulls you into its shadowy world of espionage, and before you know it, you’re deep in, binge-watching episode after episode. Like many viewers, I started the series with modest expectations. A spy thriller, sure, but what could be so different? Turns out, everything.
A Spy Story That Rewards Patience
Created by Neeraj Pandey (A Wednesday, Baby), Special Ops is anything but formulaic. At its centre is Himmat Singh, a senior officer in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), played with quiet force by Kay Kay Menon. Himmat isn’t your typical action hero—he’s sharp, restrained, and operates with the kind of mental precision that makes you want to follow his every move.
Menon’s performance is understated but magnetic. He doesn’t need flashy lines or dramatic entrances. With just a glance or a half-smile, he conveys more than most can with pages of dialogue. As someone who binged the entire show, I can say this without hesitation: Himmat Singh is the reason I stayed hooked—and the reason I kept coming back.
A Puzzle Told in Chapters
What sets Special Ops apart from other thrillers is how it unravels. It doesn’t give you everything upfront. The story is told over multiple timelines, bouncing between present interrogations and past covert missions, between dusty Delhi conference rooms and tense overseas operations. At first, it may feel like scattered fragments. But gradually, each episode adds context until the full picture emerges.
And that’s what makes it so binge-worthy. The show trusts its audience. It doesn’t spoon-feed answers or over-explain plot points. Instead, it lets the suspense build organically. You find yourself thinking about characters long after the credits roll. Who’s playing double? What’s real? What’s manipulation?
A Cast of Characters You Grow Into
While Himmat anchors the story, the supporting cast plays a huge role in expanding its world. Each of his five undercover agents, operating across different countries, has a story worth telling. Farooq in Dubai or Ruhani in Iran, all these characters are leaping to a lot more than that. Furthermore, it’s seasons of such subtlety of character that give real depth to the emotional pull of the piece. You’re not just watching spy games; you are becoming involved in their unique and distinct missions.
Grounded Action, Real Stakes
Special Ops depends on a package of bite-sized conflict, not Showtime’s breakfast time, revised or commercially executed. That pack pours hot traditional perspectives of terrorism flickers–smuggling, highly sophisticated code passing for ordinary information in encrypted form, diplomatic maze-walking. As for actual fight scenes, they are done all hand-held and coarse. Never does the camera make anything seem bigger or more powerful than it really is. In such a barren world, so far from the civilized West that echoes crucifixion scenes of ancient Rome, this distinctly visual story is not some banal backdrop but exactly where the action takes place. Pictures on the show are clean and lean, never overpowering. The background music accompaniment is kept to a minimum, letting the story unfold quietly before you.
The Women Behind the Mission
Another commendable aspect is the role of female characters. They’re not just there to complement male leads—they bring intelligence, resolve, and their own arc to the table. From analysts to field agents, their presence is meaningful, adding diversity without tokenism.
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Final Verdict: Not Just a Series, But a Statement
What Special Ops does best is remind us that espionage isn’t all about action—it’s about patience, perception, and persistence. It strips away the glamour and gives us a grounded, humanised look into intelligence work. And it makes you wonder: how many Himmat Singhs are out there, fighting battles we’ll never hear about?
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. But only if you’re ready to really watch—not multitask, not skim, but sit with it, absorb it, and think. Because Special Ops doesn’t aim to entertain passively. It demands attention. And it rewards you handsomely for giving it. For me, it was more than a weekend binge. It was a masterclass in storytelling, character-building, and narrative restraint. The kind of series that lingers long after the screen goes black.
Writer – Subham Choudhary