So we’re at episode four of this much awaited drama, and I have to say that I’m rather disappointed. I found today’s episode to be a bit slow and boring, even though we now have all four of the main characters on screen. While the first episode was just amazing, the tumult seems to have died down already. I didn’t find Haissam Hussain’s work to be anything particularly applaud-worthy this episode either.
Daneez and Shimraiz, while beautifully characterized and portrayed by Ayesha (and pretty well by Mikaal too I suppose), are getting a bit annoying. I understand that they play spoiled, bratty ABCD’s, but they’re still getting on my nerves. I also don’t understand what this whole Taniya business really has to do with anything. I mean yes, it’s pretty entertaining watching Shimraiz and Daneez play around with this girl, but what does this really have to do with the plot? To be honest, I’m still waiting for the real story, the story that we’ve seen through all of those amazing promos, to start.
Another problem; Sanam Baloch only had one scene in the whole episode! I get that her character’s backstory hasn’t been fully introduced yet and whatnot, but still. Fawad and Sanam were one of the main reasons I was so eagerly awaiting this drama. I find it highly unfair that we’ve only had about three Sanam Baloch scenes after 4 episodes.
However, I have to give it to Samira Fazal for creating Mujtaba’s character. He’s not dumb, he’s just so full of himself that he doesn’t realize the consequences that he’ll have to face for some of the things he says.
The scene between Mujtaba and Daneez was amazing. Bratty Daneez, being rude and obnoxious with Mujtaba while he sits there, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she hates him. He just listens to everything she says, acting like the nerdy FOB she believes him to be. And once she drives away, he transforms back into good old Mujtaba. “Ghar dhoondhti hai meri jooti.”
And the scene at the end when Mujtaba goes looking for an apartment is just amazing. After seeing people like his westernized Chachi and cousin, Mujtaba sees the other side of the American-Desi spectrum. The type of desis who, despite having lived in the U.S for years and years, still manage to retain the FOBiness they first came to America with. “Itne karak log toh mainey Pakistan mein bhi nahin dekhe.”
Get used to it Mujtaba. You’re going to have to see a lot of different types of desis before you come to a decision. And I hope that the next episode will be much more interesting than this one.
-Sarah AKA Noorie
