Woodpecker Part 1 -2020- Ullu Original < SAFE ◆ >

Riya becomes a paranoid mess. She hears tapping on the window every night at 11:11 PM. She reports it to the building watchman, but no one is there. Rohan begins gaslighting her, suggesting she is overworked. In the climax of Part 1, Riya discovers the hidden camera in their bedroom smoke detector. As she stares into the lens in horror, Rohan watches from the next room via a live feed. The episode ends with Rohan whispering to the screen: "Finally… she feels something." Cue the ominous Ullu title card.

"Woodpecker Part 1 - 2020 - Ullu Original" is a textbook example of the genre Ullu has perfected. It utilizes specific themes that have become synonymous with the brand.

The central conflict ignites when Rohan, desperate to feel anything —fear, anger, even pain—discovers an underground chat room dealing with "psychological horror experiences for the numb." He commissions a mysterious entity to essentially "stalk" and terrorize his own girlfriend without her knowledge, just so he can observe her reactions and feel a vicarious thrill. Woodpecker Part 1 -2020- Ullu Original

At its core, Woodpecker is a modern fable about the perils of digital temptation. The story revolves around a seemingly happily married couple living a comfortable urban life. However, beneath the surface, monotony and unspoken fantasies begin to corrode their relationship.

We meet Rohan and Riya in their cramped Mumbai apartment. Their relationship is technically healthy, but hollow. Riya plans a surprise birthday party for Rohan, but he shows zero excitement. We see Rohan visiting a psychiatrist (a brief cameo) who diagnoses him with "Emotional Blunting Syndrome" – a fictional condition that drives the plot. Frustrated, Rohan turns to the dark web. Riya becomes a paranoid mess

The weight of the series rests on the shoulders of the actress playing Roshini. In Part 1, she is required to display a range of emotions—from the innocence of a small-town girl with big dreams to the calculated cunning of a woman who has been scorned. The character arc is designed to be a transformation. Viewers watch her transition from a victim of circumstance to someone who takes agency over her life, even if her methods are morally grey.

To give credit where it is due, the title works on three levels: Rohan begins gaslighting her, suggesting she is overworked

The title Woodpecker is a metaphor for persistent, damaging pecking. After one of his encounters, the protagonist realizes he has been secretly recorded. The mysterious woman from the app begins to blackmail him, threatening to expose his infidelity to his family and employer. What follows is a spiraling descent of fear, lies, and desperate attempts to pay off the blackmailer.

The title Woodpecker becomes clear in Part 1. The antagonist—a masked, faceless figure—does not strike hard or fast. Instead, he pecks away at Riya’s sanity slowly. A door left open here, a picture frame tilted there, a whisper through the wall at 2 AM. The slow, rhythmic destruction of a person’s peace of mind.

Mainstream reviewers panned the series for its wooden dialogue, predictable plot points, and over-reliance on gratuitous scenes that sometimes undercut the suspense. A common criticism was that the series “mistakes skin for story.”

Every Ullu Original needs a compelling villain. In "Woodpecker," the antagonists are the gatekeepers of the industry—training school owners, casting directors, and influential figures who view women like Roshini as commodities. Their performances are often exaggerated, fitting the melodramatic tone of the series, but they effectively serve their purpose: generating enough hatred and tension to make the audience root for Roshini’s revenge or success.