If you were to pick dramas to watch all week, which ones would it be for you? Million dollar question, answer in comments please, I want to know what’s on your mind!
The Week in Dramas is back and this time Pinjra makes it top of the list, not that it was ever at the bottom! But with the FIFA World cup giving tough competition, it is credit to a gripping narrative that Pinjra survived the ‘goals’! Wabaal is moving fast too, but more on that and Faraz very soon. Wehshi disappoints and Fraud is inching towards a finale, one episode at a time.
So before we look forward to new dramas, let’s get over with the good, the bad and the … you fill in the blanks, I’m just doing the weekly roundup here!
Two Thumbs Up For Pinjra!
Pinjra two thumbs up for going behind the scenes into how juvenile jail systems work in our country. The unspoken realities of life need to be addressed and Pinjra is doing just that. I do feel Javed is a bit slow on the uptake as far as quick reactions go. I mean, why hasn’t he caught on to the fact that his lawyer’s been bought out? But perhaps that’s how Javed is, he toes the straight line, (despite living in Pakistan where things are never what they seem), Javed is a rare species. He believes that if his children reach the breakfast table on time, earn good grades and keep away from music and art they will ace the success factor – oh Javed, you have a lot to learn – pity that his self-awareness or journey, whatever you call it, hasn’t kicked in yet. Though I do find him the most interesting character, because like I’ve said earlier, we have many Javed’s amidst us!
Pinjra does not let go of the child narrative as Abeer’s guilt kicks in – that was a heart wrenching scene between Dua and Abeer and then poor Azaan, suffering in silence. Pinjra is giving us reasons to watch and if you’re still stuck on the Mehak-Shamsher romance in KTK then I have one phrase for you – wake up and smell the coffee, if you really want to watch romance done right, then let’s skip KTK and move onto Fraud!
Fraud & Romance Done Right!
Fraud and Maya and Shaan are giving us goals – Maya with her dignified, mysterious, graceful air has Shaan totally bowled over, and him her I believe! Why else would we love to see this interaction like a breath of fresh air and so much more than whatever Maham and Sir Hammad are trying to achieve in Wabaal. Lekin kya karen, romance doesn’t always hit right on the Pakistani screen, and when it does, it needs a big shout out! Maila feeling guilty about Talal was another heartfelt emotion that many women (even men) might have connected with. Second marriages take their toll and Maila aka Rabiya Kulsoom is doing a splendid job first as Talal’s wife and now, as his widow.
Fast forward to Mr. Shajji and yes, we’re hoping for retribution and soon, though unfortunately, Maya will have to suffer first – I wish that wouldn’t happen – less predictable is more presentable, refreshing and out of the box – story line change here with Shaan respecting and believing Maya would have been such a great plot twist – but I fear that’s not happening!
Daraar – the story that we love to hate?
Didn’t really want to bring in Daraar in the conversation, but all I have to say is, if our dramas can show as much intimacy and love, and fondness between an onscreen husband and wife as they do between extra marital affairs such as Sajjal and Shaheer’s, it would be a welcome relief, as opposed to the slaps! Well, I guess that one’s going to fall on deaf ears, but you can give me full marks for trying!
Wabaal and Faraz’s Woes – But Is He A Real Man?
Wabaal and my thoughts have been echoed in this piece, but if you really want to know, is Faraz being hounded for not being your alpha male, are we a confused lot? Do we not let the men in our society break away from traditional roles? Or, is he behaving like more of a doormat than we’d like and challenging our ideals of what a ‘real man’ should be like? Hmm, on that note, I leave you. Would love to know your side of the argument. Mine resides here.
Agar is The One To watch!
Agar is throwing cute love feels with Hooriya and Jamshed, proving that Pakistani dramas can get it right on the romance front. Both Hina Altaf and Usama are giving us endearing characters, refreshing to see a young couple not involved in the typical saas bahu shenanigans because you know what, the husband, the constant in the formula has now changed to a variable! If it weren’t for the way Jamshed handles the situation between wife and mom, Hooriya would be in for a breakup, what say you?
And Annie and Shahwez are definitely playing love birds but not tying the know. Should they? Why wait for parents who will never say yes? You tell me, which side are you on. To marry or not to marry, that is the question. Oh well, Agar is certainly easy on the eyes and nerves so far, so I’d recommend a watch if you haven’t already!
Oh Wehshi, Did You Have To?
Shall we round up with Wehshi then? And yes, I know the plot is part of the novel and yes, I know Asif has been through a lot and yes, I know Sobia is one bad a@%$!! woman who shouldn’t have played 3 men, but if you tell me she deserved to be raped, then you need to reset your value system. Also, it doesn’t really matter if he did or didn’t, just the fact that he thought of it is bad enough, just as bad as Hamza’s mid-air slap in Mere Humsafar – it’s all in the mind, and ours need to be cleansed of revenge! Women hating is a hobby yes, and perhaps we need to separate the gender from the crime often or stop thinking that a woman who does wrong will receive her punishment by way of a man taking advantage of her and it’s okay because she deserved it because no, … forget it. I’m so done here!
Wehshi is not about changing mindsets but perhaps reinforcing them. Yeah, sad day. Watch Aamir behave like the prize has just been snatched from under his nose… oh really, because your wives are a prize to be owned, right? I see how you disregarded her pain and suffering in the promo, oh I forgot, she deserved it! Oops I’m sorry but not really sorry for the rant but regressive storylines should not be put onto paper and then screen. Not in a society where there are many Zahir Jaffar’s walking the streets … and many Qandeel Baloch’s who might never receive justice!
So, on that sober note, I bid adieu to the week in dramas. Hoping next week will have more action from Habs and less Soha, Tinke Ka Sahara will inject some adrenalin into Qadar and Dilawer in Bakhtawar will realize he is the hero after all!
