Jackson Heights is a great example of how to ruin a project with great potential. You have a brilliant cast, a fantastic director, and a great writer with a pretty good script (besides a few loop holes due to lack of research and knowledge about the US). This project had the potential to top charts and become one of a kind, had it been about 18 episodes. But no, thanks to the channel and production company (yes you Six Sigma) and their need for greed, this went from 22 episodes, to 24, and now 26. Why not stretch it to 30? You still have time to ruin it because its not like anyone is watching now any ways. Money over art, money over everything. This need for greed is how talent in Pakistan gets wasted. Khaire, since channels and production companies couldn’t care less about the audience or what I have to say, we shall continue with the review.
In the last two episodes, Sikander has come home and is now walking. Bhatti saheb has managed to be the all time hero and being the tough desi guys he is, even managed to scare professional gamblers. Yes ladies and gentlemen, a desi cab driver has scared Vegas typed gamblers (who have no bones about killing to get their money back) and got them to back off of Sikander. They will never bother him again. Kya baat hai! Aur zevar bechare are finally sold. Allah Shukar! Sikandar’s new lease on life has also given him a new appreciation for it and his wife. Even I think he has changed. Salma gave him a pretty good schooling in the park and he agreed with everything. He even kicked Kash out of his house. Iman too notices the changes in her father and upon hearing the conversation between Salma and Alya begs her mother to give this family another chance. I have to admit, Iman’s character was probably the only besides Salma that was very carefully and perfectly crafted. Even though she knows how abusive her father has been upon seeing him genuinely change, she wants that family she never had. You can’t question that. What child (even grown ups) wouldn’t want their parents to work it out if there is a chance? At her age, even a sliver of hope is all she needs to beg Salma to stay. Will she or won’t she, is the question…especially after Bhatti saheb (prematurely) has already bought her a plane ticket back to Pakistan. I personally still don’t trust Bhatti, so not sure who I’m rooting for.
Ammi is now in a coma, so Bhatti has decided it is time to go back (finally). Seriously, I feel for Ammi…her kids care more about money and American passports than they do about her. To stretch the episode even further, we got to see Nadir come and visit Nani…and of course he then had to call Jamshed and tell him to come back.
Speaking of Jamshed, walls are kind of closing in on him. Maria finds out through Rizwan that her sister is getting married and is justifiably upset. Michelle too finally realizes her mistake. Rizwan is completely on to Jamshed, especially after seeing him go to an immigration lawyer knowing his 6 month visa is about to expire. Not too hard to put 2 and 2 together. Did anyone else see Jamshed squirm when Rizwan slowly reveals he knows the fraud Jamshed is? Maria can’t make it to the wedding so it must be extended 2 more weeks. Rizwan and Michelle are still hanging out and the insecure and selfish child that Jamshed is, he is now inviting himself to all their outings scared that Rizwan will tell Michelle everything. I really hope Jamshed gets deported or thrown in a cell!
So this is where we are everyone. Next week’s promo suggests that it might be the last episode, but it isn’t :) We have 3 more to go. The last two episodes have relatively been better though. I will say I miss the old and sleazy Sikander (sad, I know). Amina Sheikh and Ali Kazmi really own this serial. Words aren’t enough to say how good they are. Of course Mehreen extracts such brilliant performances from her cast that they can’t help but not be good.
Till next time…
