India, May 7 -- It was an ordinary Wednesday, which, for entertainment journalists, usually means attending a screening or two and keeping a tab on upcoming releases in theatres and new releases on streaming. Amid this rush, a colleague, usually very tuned into what's new, asked me incredulously, "The new season of Citadel is here?" Three years ago, when it was launched, Citadel was the biggest show in the world. It had the backing of the Russos, starred Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden, and saw premieres across the world.

Normally, I would chastise my colleague for being unaware of the arrival of its second season. But the blame does not lie with them. Citadel season 2 arrived as quietly as a whisper, without a hint of promotion, with...