Panchayat Season 4 Review: Evil Creeps into Rustic Paradise

Panchayat Season 4 arrives with familiar faces and fresh challenges in the quiet village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh. The once-idyllic rural setting now faces darker shadows, as the peaceful life of its residents is disrupted by politics and malice.

Following a surprise early release, the new season skips the usual recap, so newcomers should catch up on previous episodes before diving in. The creative duo behind the series, writer Chandan Kumar and director Deepak Kumar Mishra, return with their signature storytelling style.

The story continues to follow Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar), the city-born engineering graduate turned reluctant panchayat secretary, navigating the unique hurdles of village administration. Supported by his ever-cheerful assistant Vikas (Chandan Roy) and deputy Pradhan Prahlad (Faisal Malik), Abhishek faces quirky local issues — from wedding disputes over office chairs to CCTV cameras used to track a missing goat.

However, Season 4 introduces a darker tone. The ongoing political rivalry between Manju Devi (Neena Gupta), the official sarpanch, and her husband Brij Bhushan Dubey (Raghubir Yadav), who wields real power, intensifies. Their opponents Bhushan and Kranti plot to unseat them with dirty tricks and corruption allegations, while the powerful MLA Chandrakishore Singh escalates tensions.

Despite the heavier themes, the show retains its warmth through strong performances and character bonds. The series portrays evolving village life, including new infrastructure and persistent challenges like cleanliness campaigns and election politics.

Yet, the humor is somewhat subdued, reflecting the harsher realities creeping into Phulera. Some storylines, such as the visit of Manju’s father and a power outage subplot, feel underdeveloped. Compared to the sharply crafted earlier seasons—especially Season 2—this installment feels less fresh.

Still, Panchayat Season 4 remains engaging thanks to its talented cast, who continue to bring genuine charm to their roles. The season ends hinting at more conflicts and surprises ahead, setting the stage for a potential Season 5.

For fans of grounded, character-driven storytelling with a mix of humor and social commentary, Panchayat Season 4 is worth a watch, even if it lacks some of the sparkle of its best moments.