After many successful weeks at building up the story, Shak is taking a turn for the not so credible. There were some highs (yay!) and lows (boo!) in this week’s episode. And this may not win me any brownie points but I have to say the highs were Ali and his mother!

Their fear, foreboding and annoyance at the shift of power within the family was palpable. Ali’s mother’s coaching him on how to keep his wife in check, and advice to make sure she knows who is the man in the family as well as her stark instructions to Sania were very well captured through dialogue and performance. Both Gibran and Badar Khalil own these characters and even though they maybe grating on our sensibilities, how instantly recognizable are they in people we know? Every turn of phrase rings true for these two.  So despite my annoyance at the characters I felt they evoke their personas and hit the right notes.

The other high note was ‘Sham. So it’s not a secret that my sympathies lie entirely with him but all biases aside, Adeel Hussain gives a very credible and restrained performance. His annoyance at being straddled with Sania as his much-needed assistant, his straightening her out with a – have you ever worked in an office before?- really put in place Sania tall claims of I can sue you (Too much Law and Order my dear?) and his overall exasperation with dealing with another slew of personal dynamics placed me squarely in his corner.

Also of note was Sania’s conversation with Rumi (though I do have some reservations about how this is playing out). In her desperate attempt for someone to understand and support her, she turns to her son. Some of this points to her alienation and loneliness brought forth by the hurt at the harsh manner in which Ali and his mother ganged up on her.

Though I really wish this dilemma of juggling home and work would also have brought into its fold address working women. As Sania’s mother-in-law rather pointedly points out she is working out of choice, not pressure even though Sania sees it as her way of helping out the family in strained times. What about those women for whom working is not a choice? Say Shadab, the help, for instance. How wonderful would it have been for Sania and Shadab to share a scene to mirror the circumstances that led them out of the house?

Alright, now for the lows.

Will someone please explain to me in which universe is a BBA a greater degree than a BCom? If my ability to expand acronyms serves me correctly they are both Bachelors’ degrees.  If you really wanted her to be more educated than her hubby would it be that hard to give Sania an MBA -heck even by correspondence! Also just the fact that he didn’t know her educational background is straining credibility.

But what’s straining it further, is Sania’s return to Kashaf avatar. Which new bottom of the totem pole employee shows so much attitude on her first day? Why were the others begging her to stay? I would have fired her on the spot. ‘Sham was right on to put her in her place. It would also help if her character had to struggle a bit to get her first job and then put her personal affronts on the back burner to actually keep it.

Sanam really needs to dial it down a whole lot more and learn to behave more as an earnest newbie instead of an entitled know-it-all. Also perhaps listening to the boss and refraining from discussions on her personal life in the office (Stop treating me as your padosan?!) would help.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the schoolmarmish take on scenes with Rumi are getting close to ruining them for me. He’s your kid, hug him sometimes. Also he’s five, and that’s a lot of maturity to expect from him. While I see she has no support system to lean on, the dialogue doesn’t come across as age appropriate.  I agree not all parents are touchy-feely, I can’t help but feel like the conversation sounds stilted.

Meanwhile, as Sehrish sinks into her depression and Atif and Mahum prime themselves for another attack, it’s nice to see a fine balance of character growth with plot progression. Let’s just hope they keep it real.

MM (aka A musing Muslim)