With 9 episodes left Jackson Heights has finally picked up the pace to piece the puzzle together. Vasay Chaudhery and Mehreen Jabbar had the very difficult task of telling multiple stories that are intertwined with each other.  These (very different) stories and the characters had to work together at some point along the way to make this project not only different, but successful. Layer by layer they are all starting to make sense now.  (Hopefully) gone are the extra scenes needed to make the channels and production companies happy. Now its finally about the audience which is why the serial is starting to work again.

I’ve said this before and will say it again, the  men of this serial (with the exception of Rizwan) are as mean, conniving, and vicious as any evil step mothers or mothers in law we have seen. The level of ghatyaness is different, but they are all equally ghatya in their own ways. Ghatya #1, Sikander;  beats the crap out of his wife, and emotionally black mails her about his own daughter. I sat there in utter disgust when Salma was threatening to call the police on him and he stopped in her tracks saying Iman will end up in the hands of the state since she is a minor and Salma is not her real mother. The guy doesn’t even care about his own daughter, forget the woman he married to raise his child. It was great to see Iman stand up for her mother. She is the only one who understands the sacrifices Salma makes for this family. The question is what is Salma to do now? How does she get out of this emotionally and physically abusive relationship and at the same time protect Iman from her father? The guy was ready to beat up his own daughter for God sake! He has absolutely no conscience. Not even when he was mugging Bhatti did he have even one remorse. BTW, didn’t he just get out of jail? Shouldn’t there be a check in with a parole officer every now and then to make sure he isn’t getting in trouble again? Ali Kazmi and Aamina Sheikh are absolutely perfect for these roles. I’ve read some complaints about her get up, but in my opinion Aamina Sheikh as Salma is thoroughly convincing. There are threading salons in pretty much every mall in MN and the getup of the girls is not at all different. As always, MJ kept her characters real.

Ghatya #2, Jamshed; Sees a vulnerable, well off woman in her (late 40s?) and starts to manipulate her to start liking him so he can get a green card. So far, Michelle, has changed her wardrobe, started being friendly to cabbies, given him all the shifts he needs (clearly the subtle complaints of ‘being so busy’ to pay off Mamu are working as we see in the promo for episode 16 and he becomes manager), and now he also has an apartment right next to hers which be could probably never afford on the illegal salary he is on. This woman who has led a hard life, is a self made woman and was very comfortable in the wall she had around her, is now being manipulated to extremes and she has no idea. She has no clue that her happiness is all based on a lie and Jamshed has no guilt. Even when his Mamu confronts him, he conveniently and rudely shows him the mirror.

Then we have Ghatya #3, Bhatti; Married for a green card which is still yet to come. He has his eyes firmly set on Salma, treats his actual wife like crap until it suits him, then he is all nice to her. I have a feeling he hasn’t completely shown his true evil self yet. Not that Kathy Bhabi is innocent. Her continuous insults and then sudden attempts to make things better are just driving that wedge between them even wider. The hearing day should be full of surprises, if it actually happens.

Like I said, Jackosn Heights is finally picked up the pace again, and this time hopefully for good. There is nothing I can say about the acting that I haven’t said before. everyone is absolutely on par, especially Aamina Sheikh, Marina Khan, and Ali Kazmi. Top notch direction and no more (so far) complaints about the script anymore. I hope this serial ends with a bang!