The first episode of Mismatched, an extremely hyped web series on Netflix, begins with a wide-angled view of a huge green park leading to a school in Jaipur called Aravali Institute of Technology. In the background, we listen to the voiceover of Rishi explaining that he is at the institute not to study but, for Dimple. 

He is an old-school hopeless romantic. He is looking for Dimple around the campus with his childhood best friend, Namrata. Rishi and Namrata enquire with the receptionist about Dimple. The receptionist is also unaware but she tells them about Dimple’s ‘purple-haired’ roommate.

They look for her in classrooms but don't find her. Celina, the purple-haired girl roommate is passing by on her scooty when she runs into the two. They get involved in a spat of words but end up learning that Dimple is in the canteen.

Namrata and Rishi look for Dimple in the canteen. Finally, Rishi finds Dimple in the garden behind the canteen, pats her on the back, and says the very famous dialogue from the trailer, “Hello future wife”, and the show breaks into a flashback.

We see Dimple applying makeup through close shots of her face.  Her mother instructs her to apply makeup properly and wear lenses instead of specs. On top of that, she tells her about a few ‘intelligent’ young men who are also coming to the sangeet they are going to. 

When Dimple shows up downstairs, her mother gets angry. Dimple doesn’t dress the way her mother wanted her to. She complains that Dimple never listens to her. They get into an argument. Her mom warns that she won’t allow Dimple to go for the JAVA course she has applied for if her defiant behaviour continues.

Dimple is a 17-year-old ambitious girl interested in computer sciences who aspires to learn coding, design apps, and do a Ph.D. Her mother is, however, always obsessing about Dimple’s external features and her skin tone.  Her mom is very orthodox and thinks that Dimple should start meeting boys now because only then will she be able to find an appropriate match by the age of 21. 

Irritated Dimple goes to her room, plays a computer game for a moment, and bangs the keyboard after losing the round. She gets a notification. The email reads that she has been accepted for the Application Development Program at the Aravali Institute. 

She goes down to meet her mother's friends. While talking about her future plans, she tells them about the acceptance from the Aravali Institute.  Dimple’s mother is hesitant at first but agrees to let her go. Dimple thanks her parents with excitement. 

Meanwhile, in Jaipur, Rishi and his grandmother are listening to old songs in a jeep. They discuss the importance of getting to know your partner before marriage. Dadi joins a matrimonial group to look for an ideal girl for Rishi. They scout through photographs of potential girls and come across Dimple’s profile. Rishi likes Dimple because she has no filters in her photographs. He likes the way she smiles in her picture. 

Dadi enquires about her and learns that she is coming to Jaipur for a computer course. She suggests that Rishi enroll for the same course.

Meanwhile, Dimple leaves from Ambala for Jaipur. She reaches the college, finishes the reception formalities, and enters her room, to loud music and a rather dominating roommate, Celina.  They decide to go to the canteen but after a ping on her phone, Celina leaves for some urgent work.

In the next scene, we see Zeenat, an older-looking woman, in conversation with the canteen person about how she feels uncomfortable among such young students. Dimple overhears Zeenat and begins talking to her and offers sympathy. Dimple orders cold coffee. While coming out of the canteen, she sees Anmol Malhotra - a famous gamer and streamer of the video game ‘League of Legends'. She expresses how she is a fan of his gaming.

She is surprised to see that he is in a wheelchair and says this to him. Anmol responds with a sharp attitude which takes Dimple aback.

She walks away and we are brought back to the exact location where the flashback began. Rishi faces Dimple’s back in the garden while Namrata stands a bit further with her smartphone in her hands as she records. Rishi pats Dimple on the shoulder and says, “Hello, future wife”. Dimple turns back, pauses for a second, and throws her cold coffee on his face. She calls him a creep and walks away, yet again.

Episode Rating: 3.5/5

Episode 2 Recap: Hot Summer, Cold Vibes

Mismatched Season 1 Review