The latest chapter of the much-loved web series ‘Panchayat’ has left many fans underwhelmed. Season 4 of the Prime Video show, starring Jitendra Kumar and Neena Gupta, premiered on June 24, but its finale, titled ‘Dabdaba,’ has received the lowest rating of all the series’ concluding episodes so far, according to IMDb.

Season finale ratings drop

While previous ‘Panchayat’ finales were celebrated for their emotional resonance and humour, the season 4 conclusion failed to strike the same chord with viewers. IMDb data shows the season 1 finale ‘Jab Jaago Tabhi Savera’ scored 8.8, while season 2’s ‘Parivaar’ earned a remarkable 9.6. Season 3’s ‘Hamla’ followed closely with a 9.0 rating. In contrast, ‘Dabdaba’ currently stands at 8.4, the lowest among the finales to date.

Fans express disappointment online

Soon after the new season dropped, social media was flooded with reactions, many of them critical. Several viewers took to X to voice their dissatisfaction, particularly with the pacing and tonal shift of the show.

“Finished watching... Disappointed to the core. Slow. Even boring in some parts... Lacked the USP comedy... unexpected downfall,” wrote one user. Another remarked, “I am really disappointed with the ending. But I can understand they have to set up for next season.”

Others echoed similar sentiments, lamenting the shift away from comedy and the increased focus on political tension. “Just now finished watching ‘Panchayat’ SE-4. It used to be such a pleasant experience earlier. All credit goes to you people. But this time you people have ruined the whole story. Good actors, good setup but season-4 story is so bad, negative & stretched out,” read one comment. Another user compared the experience to, “attending a wedding you didn’t even want to go to, but you’re forced to sit till the end.”

While a few appreciated the emotional undertones and narrative development, many called out the season’s slower pace and lack of comedic spark. “Dragged,” one viewer said. “Panchayat Season 4 lost its comic charm & leaned too much into politics. While emotional moments were decent, the signature humor was missing. A few standout scenes, but overall it felt dragged and lacked spark. Had potential, but underwhelming.”

A more blunt review stated, “Sadly, the weakest season so far.”

About ‘Panchayat’ Season 4

The fourth season sees the return of Jitendra Kumar as the endearing Sachiv Ji, alongside Neena Gupta, Raghubir Yadav, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy, Sanvikaa, Durgesh Kumar, Sunita Rajwar, and Pankaj Jha. This time, the storyline delves into the heat of the election season in the fictional village of Phulera, focusing on the shifting dynamics and growing political drama.

The series was created by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Chandan Kumar, and directed by Mishra with Akshat Vijaywargiya. Despite high anticipation, the show also became a victim of piracy just hours after its premiere, with all eight episodes surfacing on unauthorised websites.