Special Ops Season 1 - Episode 1 May 2026

"Grounded" received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising Saldana's performance and the potential of the series but criticizing the predictability of the plot and character development. The episode aims to establish a strong foundation for the series, diving into complex themes and action sequences typical of the spy thriller genre.

Episode 1 — “The Brotherhood of the Lost”
Runtime: ~46 minutes

At the midpoint of Episode 1, just as the audience settles into the rhythm of a procedural, the show detonates its first major plot device. Himmat receives a mysterious piece of human intelligence (HUMINT) from a source he thought was dead. The clue is cryptic: "Your enemy is not across the border. He is inside the room."

This line changes everything. The episode pivots from a standard "India vs. Pakistan" spy drama to a paranoid thriller about internal betrayal. Himmat realizes that his 18-year hunt has been compromised from within. The "Special Ops" team cannot trust even their own headquarters.

Rating: 8/10

Special OPS Episode 1 is a confident, patient, and intelligent opener that rewards attention to detail. It sacrifices instant gratification for long-term investment. If you enjoy John le Carré-style spy fiction (slow burn, psychological weight, bureaucratic realism) rather than James Bond, this will hook you immediately. Kay Kay Menon’s restrained grief and the final 5 minutes’ revelation ensure you will click “Next Episode.”

Best for: Fans of A Wednesday, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, or realistic espionage dramas.
Not for: Viewers seeking high-octane action, romance, or comic relief.

Would you like a spoiler-free preview of the remaining season’s trajectory?

Here’s a detailed feature-style look at Episode 1 of Special OPS (Disney+ Hotstar, 2020), directed by Neeraj Pandey. Special OPS Season 1 - Episode 1

After the court bombing, Himmat receives a cryptic piece of intel from an asset in Jordan: a laptop is being transported by a courier through the Turkey-Syria border. On that laptop is the key to identifying "The Bull."

He sends Colonel Farooq to intercept the courier. The scene that follows is a lesson in low-budget, high-tension action. There are no explosions or car chases. Instead, we watch Farooq blend into a crowded market, identify the courier, and silently pick his pocket to steal a USB drive.

When the data is decrypted back in Delhi, Himmat finally has a face. The laptop contains a single image: a photograph of a man in his 50s, with hard eyes, standing in front of a European landmark.

Himmat whispers the name that will drive the rest of the season: “Found you.” "Grounded" received mixed reviews from critics, with many

The inaugural episode of Special OPS introduces us to the high-stakes world of Indian intelligence. We meet Himmat Singh, a senior analyst at the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), who is facing a board of inquiry regarding his "unofficial" operations and extravagant spending. Through the interrogation, the narrative flashes back to the year 2001.

The episode juxtaposes the bureaucratic scrutiny of the present with the field dangers of the past. Himmat Singh is convinced that a series of terror attacks on Indian soil—including the attack on Parliament—are the work of a single mastermind, a ghost entity he refers to as "Ikhlaq Khan." While the establishment doubts the existence of such a man, Himmat assembles a small, off-the-books team of elite agents stationed across the globe to hunt him down. The episode ends on a high-octane note, establishing the cat-and-mouse game that defines the series.

One of the most satisfying sequences in Episode 1 is the introduction of Himmat’s team—officers who don’t exist officially. They are "Invisibles."

The episode avoids the usual trope of a "heroic infiltration." Instead, we see painstaking groundwork. For every step forward, there is a step back. A potential lead in Istanbul disappears. A source in Jordan goes silent. This realism is the episode’s greatest strength. After the court bombing, Himmat receives a cryptic

Special OPS Episode 1 is a slow-burn, intelligent opener. It resists the urge to glamorize espionage, instead presenting it as lonely, frustrating, and deeply personal. If you enjoy puzzle-box thrillers with strong central performances and political realism, this is a compelling start.

Rating for Episode 1: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A confident handshake before the storm.