Tan Man Neel O Neel: A Shocking Twist Drives Home an Important Message

Back in 2009, audiences around Pakistan found themselves pulled into the love story of Bano & Hassan, their families, small personality quirks, their hopes, dreams and differences.  Halfway through the show, that same audience had the rug pulled out beneath their feet when Bano & Hassan's families were struck by immense tragedy - and reality.  The show was "Dastaan" and that show was the last time I cried profusely over fictional characters and went into mourning for weeks.  Until today.  

"Tan Man Neel O Neel" introduced audiences to Rabi (Sehar Khan) and Sonu (Shuja Asad), two innocent, naive dreamers with a drive to create a name for themselves.  We met their families, including their beautiful mothers, Rabi's father and uncle and Kami (Usman Javed), Rabi's controlling, manipulative cousin - who also dreams of being her husband.  

Through Rabi and Sonu's young romance, the past relationship between Ehsaan (Nauman Masood) and Farah (Samiya Mumtaz) is revealed along with the reality behind the death of Sonu's father, Mehnaz (Nadia Afgan) grapples between doing right by a good woman and doing right by her husband while Moon (Ali Ammar) struggles to find his spirit and fight back after being a victim of assault.  

There are so many wonderful stories being told in "Tan Man Neel O Neel," stories which are deemed taboo, stories which aren't openly spoken about and yet happen all the time in these small towns.  While this show has a light-hearted facade, once we look beyond it, the canvas is dark in a world where the actions of one person can affect many lives.  After "Mann Jogi" and "Nadaan," I recorded a video stating I almost hoped for a more tragic end in the final segment of Sultana Siddiqui's mob trilogy - because in reality, can anyone escape a mob?  The outcome is almost always death.  But despite mentally preparing myself, the finale left me in shock.  

In the finale, Rabi, Sonu and Moon look towards the future, business partners in a brand-new business, invested in their first event when tragedy strikes in the form of Kami with a bruised ego.  Throwing false allegations of blasphemy on Sonu, the trio find themselves being hounded by a mob.  And once a mob zones in, is there any escaping it?  Caught in the crossfire is Ehsaan, a man who has lived as a coward all his life, but stands tall to defend his daughter and Sonu against an angry mob - and loses his life in the process.  Is this retribution for all the pain he caused?  Taaya (Tanveer Hussain) steps in to save Rabi, defending the young woman he raised as a daughter from a mob set on her by his own son - and loses his life as well.  In "Nadaan," we saw Kashif Hussain's character cower when forced to face a mob of his own creation.  This time around, Kami sees his own father murdered before his eyes, murdered by a mob of his creation, helpless to put a stop to it.  

At the end, the trio is on their own - was it by choice?  Did the three make a conscious decision to separate in the hopes that at least one would be able to shake off this mob?  Or was this a conscious choice to show that these three lives had their own individual stories and, in the end, we are all alone in death?  We can't be certain, but what's certain is the fear one goes through in such a situation, a situation that no one would ever want to find themselves on the receiving end of.  And yet, Mustafa Afridi and Saife Hassan drive another stake through our hearts, showing visuals of the real-life victims of such lynchings like Mashal Khan and Priyantha Kumara Diyawandana as Sonu, Rabi and Moon fall prey to their own on-screen mob.  

It's those final shots which leave the viewer almost shell-shocked with Mustafa Afridi himself, once the animated MC, weeping on the streets and Laddu crying in an abandoned tent with Ehsaan's lifeless body in his lap.  

It's the bleakness of reality which hits the hardest.  Who were Sonu, Rabi and Moon?  Three individuals with their own emotional baggage, hopes and dreams for a better future.  While moving forward towards accomplishing those goals, suddenly, in an instant, those dreams are shattered.  Isn't this reality?  Isn't this how mobs play out in real life?  Does a bloodthirsty, riled-up mob care about the ambitions of their victim or who is waiting for them at home?  

It's difficult to discuss or dissect performances, because each and every performance deserves a shout-out.  Sehar Khan's performance as Rabi has gone beyond a performance - she became that character, one we grew to love before her dreams were snatched away.  There's no looking back for Sehar Khan as a performer.  Shuja Asad as Sonu, an innocent soul, gives the most earnest performance of his career, that innocence radiating from his every movement.  Shuja Asad has a bright future ahead!  Ali Ammar as Moon has been a revelation, along with Usman Javed as Kami.  Nadia Afgan, Nauman Masood, Tanveer Hussain, Saleem Mairaj, are all outstanding in their roles. But the true heroes of "Tan Man Neel O Neel" are writer Mustafa Afridi, director Saife Hassan and producer Sultana Siddiqui for making the incredibly brave choice to create this story for Pakistani television.  Thank you for such a thought-provoking piece of art.  But where do we go from here?  What do we take away from this story?  How does it stop?  When does mob violence stop?  

Khaani, The Portrayal of Justice and the Impressionable Audience

  Khaani, The Portrayal of Justice and the Impressionable Audience

The Feroze Khan and Sana Javed starrer continues to make waves in discussions one year after its release

* Disclaimer:  This article was written in June 2019, but was missed by the site I wrote for and was never published. 

 

Social topics and presentation of “real” stories are the hit formula of the moment – and this is a trend that is being received with open arms by the majority of viewers.  Intelligent, realistic storytelling that sheds light upon necessary topics has been missing from Pakistani television screens for some time, but it seems like these shows are now here to stay.  With Inkaar, Khaas, Surkh Chandni, Darr Khuda Se and many other shows running successfully, let’s look back at the show that technically began this trend.  Khaani successfully ran from November 2017 to July 2018, engaging viewers and receiving a lot of attention for its unusual storyline.  Starring Feroze Khan and Sana Javed, Khaani ran on the Har Pal Geo network.  Produced by 7^th Sky Entertainment, written by Asma Nabeel and directed by Anjum Shahzad, Khaani had everything going for it in order to be a successful show.  Was Khaani a successful show?  It absolutely was – but this show did not gain success without its share of controversies.  To date, Khaani is a widely discussed and debated show on social media. 

Khaani focuses on a tale of crime, obsession and justice.  Twins Sarim and Khaani (Sana Javed) are inseparable and Sarim takes on the role of supportive elder brother, as Khaani is timid and scared of the world.  With two younger sisters and loving parents, Khaani’s family is a vision of loving bliss – until one day, on his way home from his scholarship interview, Sarim is shot dead by Mir Hadi (Feroze Khan) over a parking dispute.  Mir Hadi, a young man with power and influence, is unapologetic for his crime and treats it as though it’s business as usual – until he falls in “love” with Khaani and makes it his mission to attain her.  Khaani and her family’s grief and their ultimate push for justice forms the crux of the show. 

While Khaani ended almost a year ago, the show remains to be a discussion point on social media.  When referencing toxic shows with bad messages, Khaani tends to top the list.  Did Khaani portray a problematic story though?  For this viewer, Khaani was a solid show that made a great statement.  Taking the argument against Khaani, the greatest issue taken with Khaani is that Mir Hadi’s obsession with Khaani is projected as “love.”  The argument is that Mir Hadi is presented as a lover, a man repentant of his actions and loyal in his affections for Khaani – watering down his crime.  This may be true, but only in a sense. 

In Khaani, Mir Hadi is depicted as a villain from episode 1 itself.  The first episode spends 40 minutes building the audience affection for Sarim, Khaani and their family.  The audience is overjoyed as Sarim is approved for his scholarship and happily heads home to celebrate with his family.  The first episode ends with Mir Hadi shooting Sarim in cold blood without an ounce of fear or regret on his face.  The audience is introduced to Mir Hadi as a purely negative character, shattering the hopes and hearts of an entire family.  After the family mourns, Mir Hadi and his family continue to pester Khaani’s family, seeking “forgiveness” from the family in order to absolve Mir Hadi of his crime.  Khaani, heartbroken over her brother’s loss, stands firm, refusing to sign the papers.  Mir Hadi pulls a gun on Khaani and when she refuses to bend, he holds it to her father, forcing Khaani’s hand at signing the papers.  Mir Hadi is, once again, presented as a cold-blooded individual. 

Mir Hadi pursues Khaani, threatens Khaani, stalks Khaani and goes so far as to write Khaani letters, posing as a secret admirer.  Khaani, in her emotional state, begins to enjoy these letters, falling for the charmer on the other end – until she discovers who is penning the letters.  Khaani does not, for a moment, mourn the loss of a “romance.”  Rather, she throws the letters on Mir Hadi’s face and declares openly that he can spend a lifetime trying to trap her, but she will never accept her brother’s murderer into her life.  Mir Hadi ultimately kidnaps Khaani from her home directly before her marriage in an attempt to have her for himself.  At this point, Khaani makes it clear to Mir Hadi that he can have her in any way he wishes, but she will never love him, as he is her brother’s murderer.  At this point, Khaani earns Mir Hadi’s respect and he returns her to her house.  One can argue that “earning respect” from a killer is showing a softer side which causes audiences to warm up to Mir Hadi.  Ultimately, when telling any story, characters must be believable.  Whether it’s a Khaani or a Mir Hadi, both characters are human beings – and human beings have shades and angles to themselves. Mir Hadi’s reactions to his inability to “acquire” Khaani only make Mir Hadi seem like a living, breathing character – and this does not make him any less of a criminal. 

There are two messages that the viewer is expected to take away from the show.  First, the message of justice is the main focal point.  Justice is received when Mir Hadi is sentenced to life in jail – a sentence chosen by Khaani’s family themselves, as Mir Hadi sought to be hung to death, desiring freedom from his life.  Khaani’s family decides that Mir Hadi needs to be further punished for his actions and that punishment is to live with his guilt in jail for the duration of his life.  While in jail, Mir Hadi loses his father to suicide and his mother becomes mentally imbalanced with grief.  Mir Hadi, despite his political power, his wealth and his aggression, still ends up in jail for his crime and the girl he desires is unattainable for him.  What more could a viewer want in terms of justice? 

The second message that is important to the show is that of human growth.  Khaani’s growth as an individual is a large basis for the story.  When the show begins, Khaani is afraid of everything.  Timid, weak and dependent, it’s incredible to witness Khaani’s growth in this drama.  Khaani goes on to become the “son” of her family, working hard, discovering herself and becoming self-sufficient – and when this all falls into place, it’s only then that she meets Arham (Muhammad Mubarak Ali), the man who goes on to become her ever-supportive husband.  This character growth is important for women to witness, as it gives hope to women and sets a positive example for young girls.  Khaani, as a character, is a strong woman who fights against the odds to come out on top. 

The greatest drawback of the show, the reason the show received such negative publicity essentially lies in the publicity itself.  Despite the writer, director and actors being on track regarding the storyline and presenting viewers with an impressive show, the original soundtrack (OST) of the drama tends to paint a different visual than what is seen in the show itself.  Slick editing and tweaking of scenes creates an OST that sells the idea of romance, a romance marred by tragedy between two star-crossed lovers.  Those who have watched the show from beginning to end are well-aware that this love angle is one-sided and remains so from beginning to end.  However, with the Khaani OST being one of the most highly-viewed Pakistani videos on YouTube, this misinterpretation of the show has less to do with the fault of viewers, the fault of the drama makers and is misunderstood largely due to the story presented by the original soundtrack.  Likewise, the casting of Feroze Khan may have worked against the show in the sense that young girls immediately took to his appearance, swooning over Mir Hadi despite his being a thoroughly negative character. 

With shows emerging in full form a year later, shows telling equally important stories, it can be argued that these shows have more finesse than Khaani.  These shows are clearer in their villains and heroes.  These shows come with taglines attached, keeping the viewer in a clear frame of mine regarding the story.  The Ost accurately depicts the upcoming storyline of a drama.  And while this all may be true, one cannot ignore that Khaani told an important story – a story of justice for a family and a story that sent out a clear message:  “The outcome of murder cannot be love.”  

Ishq Zahe Naseeb: The Upcoming Finale

Hey guys!  Whoever is still reading, it's been a while since I've written on here and I've previously explained the reason for that.  To keep up with my writing regularly, please visit the television section on Masala.com, where you can find my articles on Pakistani dramas.  I did want to come here and write something a little less informal though, so here we are!

If you've been keeping up with me on Masala.com or on Twitter (@SophiaAQ), you know that Ishq Zahe Naseeb on Hum TV has been my favorite show on television lately.  It's a brilliantly written and directed show with incredible acting.  Of course, people do have their complaints and I've had my moments as well.  With the finale coming up this week (on Friday), I am hoping the loose ends are wrapped up, particularly regarding Shakra/Suraiyya and the sequence of events in Sameer's life.  While they have laid out the details, there's still a lot that requires clarity. 

I've seen a lot of discussion regarding what should happen at the end of the show and there seems to be a lot of discontent amongst viewers regarding Sameer's potential death.  The way I see it, there are two ways the show could end, but there are drawbacks to both endings.

First, if what many viewers want happens, Sameer will live and Goher will nurse him to good health with the help of a good psychiatrist.  Kashif will move on with Donia and that will be the "happy" ending many want.  As a Pakistani drama viewer AND someone who has lived out my own reality, there's a big GLARING problem with this ending.  While yes, Sameer does technically deserve happiness and rise above his problems, Sameer's death has been an imminent part of the show from the first episode alone with the Fakirni's prediction.  It was almost laid out for viewers to understand that Sameer's character will pass away - and went on to take viewers along for the ride.  However, if we put all that aside and say Sameer will live, this plays into a concept that has played out on our television screens for years now.  This concept of sacrifice on the part of the woman.  This concept of a woman "curing" a man, submitting herself to her fate and making lemonade out of lemons.  "Settling."  Does Goher need to "settle" for a man who is a man and a woman?  A man who has murdered someone before?  And yes, it's correct to say that none of this is actually Sameer's fault.  It is not and he has suffered a lot as a child AND as an adult.  But does Goher have to be the sacrificial lamb to ensure Sameer's happiness?  For the record, Dissociative Identity Disorder is a disorder that does not have a cure.  And looking at how long Sameer's condition has been neglected - of his own choice, by the way -, even controlling it would be very difficult. 

Let's look at option number two  Sameer dies.  He confesses that he killed himself before passing, leaving Goher in the clear.  She marries Kashif - the man who loves her and the man she loves.  A man who has been there for her through everything - even if he hasn't physically been there.  He has been unwavering in his love and doesn't even question Goher regarding what happened with Sameer, his faith in her is blind and true.  Why doesn't Goher deserve this ending?  Of course, this what I WANT to happen, obviously.  But let's look at the negative.  Does this mean that those suffering from mental health issues are destined to suffer forever?  As someone with anxiety and depression, I don't believe that particularly sends out a great message.  BUT that being said, the chosing of dissiociative identity disorder is an intelligent one then, because there actually is not a cure for the disorder.  Many psychiatrists still continue to debate about its validity, which is one of the many reasons that makes it so difficult to treat.  And again, treatment is simply attempting to control it in some way, as there's really no way to "cure" it.  Sameer suffering from this illness makes his predicament much more dire, again, especially because he has left it untreated for so long.  He himself had a refusal to treat it and chose, instead, to simply lock himself up each night and this has made it worse.

These are just thoughts, not providing the "right" ending.  It could end either way - either Goher helps Sameer through his illness OR he passes and Goher gets a more stable ending with Kashif.  There are positives and negatives to both options, but it will be interesting to see which way the writers go with this.  I'm obviously rooting for a specific ending.  Which one are you hoping for?  Leave it in the comments!  As always, happy watching!  

Part 2: The Top 10 Dramas of All Time: Join In On The Decision!

Hi guys!  Poll #2 is also up and the link is at the bottom of the page! Please continue to vote and let’s move this forward. I’m going to post poll #3 soon as well, so keep an eye out! 

If you’re late to the party, Here’s the story:

Just  for fun one day, I began brainstorming my top 10 favorite Pakistani dramas of all time.  The list became long and initially, I began working on it for what I thought could be a fun blog series.  However, when I posted it on twitter, it got a big response and I decided to poll drama lovers on the subject.  We received a huge number of nominees and I decided to create polls to make the process easier, so we could see what the fandom overall believes to be the ultimate top 10.  There will be 5 polls in all initially to narrow down the nominee options.  The polls have been split to include both classics and newer dramas (and those in the middle) in a fair number.  I have also separated dramas by actor - so for example, you will not find more than 1-2 dramas with Fawad Khan or Mahira Khan or Saba Qamar in one poll.  Their dramas are scattered within the 5 polls to keep the voting process fair.

Multiple choices are allowed, but please, in order to easily weed out options, try to keep your choices limited to 10 choices OR LESS.  Really put weight on your choices and choose those that are deserving.

Please share the polls with your friends and family that watch dramas, tweet out the link and continue to follow the polling process.

My twitter handle is @SophiaAQ and here is the link to the first poll.  Thanks!

Link to Poll #2:

Vote For Your Top 10 Pakistani Dramas of all-time (From this list)

The Top 10 Dramas of All Time: Join In On The Decision!

Hi guys!  Just for fun one day, I began brainstorming my top 10 favorite Pakistani dramas of all time.  The list became long and initially, I began working on it for what I thought could be a fun blog series.  However, when I posted it on twitter, it got a big response and I decided to poll drama lovers on the subject.  We received a huge number of nominees and I decided to create polls to make the process easier, so we could see what the fandom overall believes to be the ultimate top 10.  There will be 5 polls in all initially to narrow down the nominee options.  The polls have been split to include both classics and newer dramas (and those in the middle) in a fair number.  I have also separated dramas by actor - so for example, you will not find more than 1-2 dramas with Fawad Khan or Mahira Khan or Saba Qamar in one poll.  Their dramas are scattered within the 5 polls to keep the voting process fair.

Multiple choices are allowed, but please, in order to easily weed out options, try to keep your choices limited to 10 choices OR LESS.  Really put weight on your choices and choose those that are deserving.

Please share the polls with your friends and family that watch dramas, tweet out the link and continue to follow the polling process.

My twitter handle is @SophiaAQ and here is the link to the first poll.  Thanks!

Poll #1: Your Top 10 Favorite Pakistani Dramas of All Time? (From this list)

Meer Abru: Interesting Story...But Have We Seen It Before?

When I discovered Sanam Chaudhry and Noor Hassan were in a drama together, I immediately jotted it down on my "to watch" list and waited for the air date.  When that day came, I sat in front of the TV and began watching.  Within seconds, my mind was taken back to a show I watched several years ago, back in the years when I indulged in watching Indian television serials.  For those who watched Indian television in the mid-2000s, an Ekta Kapoor serial ruled television screens at the time, a show called Kahin To Hoga.  This show starred Rajeev Khandelwal as Sujal, Aamna Shariff as Kashish and Rohit Bakshi as Piyush and created one of the most compelling and frustrating love triangles on television

 Kahin To Hoga told the tale of two best friends that lived together in one house with their families.  Their children Sujal, Rishi, Piyush, Varun, Aman and Sanjana all grow up together.  Kashish Sinha, the daughter of a professor, is one of four sisters and takes care of the household as a mother would.  She begins working in Sujal's office and immediately, sparks fly and despite irritation with each other, deep feelings form.  Kashish also befriends Piyush, who also has feelings for Kashish.  In a mistake, Kashish accepts the rishta that comes from their house, assuming it to be from Sujal.  However, after seeing Sujal's reaction to the misunderstanding and his mistrust of their relationship, Kashish decides to marry Piyush, a move that sends Sujal down a heartbroken path of anger.  This story gets fairly messy. 

A side-story is also as such:  Rishi, Sujal's brother, has a run-in with Kashish and Professor Sinha and in an effort to get revenge, he has a relationship with Mehak, Kashish's sister, and gets her pregnant.  Does this all sound familiar?  It should, because this is the exact same story as Meer Abru.  The story is so similar that even the casting has been done in such a way that the Pakistani counterparts are styled the exact same way as they were in the Indian version.  There are very slight changes made.  For example, the "Rishi" character (Waleed) is "Piyush's" brother (Mirza Zain Baig) instead of "Sujal" (Meer) and the Aman, Sanjana, Varun characters have been erased.  When I watch Meer Abru with family or friends and they say "I wonder what Meer will do now?", I answer with "Just wait and watch" - because I know exactly what he's going to do.  I know exactly where this show is headed.  I know exactly what is going to happen to Meer, Abru and Saim - because I've seen it all before.

The issue I take with this "copy" is simple - ethically, shouldn't due credit be given when remaking an already existing television show?  "But India copies our music all the time."  I know there will be someone out there who makes this statement.  Two wrongs do not make a right.  Regarding television shows, a remake of "Dhoop Kinaare" was made in India several years back and their opening credits stated that it was a remake of Dhoop Kinaare.  Credit was given.  Likewise, when Talkhiyan and Mera Naseeb were made in Pakistan, credit was given to the novels they were inspired by.  I simply do not understand why this happened in an industry where we are lauded for our content and people across the border love watching our serials for their simplicity and originality.

All this being said, Meer Abru is actually an incredibly entertaining show.  Despite knowing exactly how the story will play out before it happens, I tune in every Wednesday and Thursday to catch the new episodes.  Noor Hassan is doing a great job in his role as Meer and his chemistry with Sanam Chaudhry is electrifying.  Mirza Zain Baig is doing a great job as well as Saim, the reliable, mature character.  At entertainment value, this show is high on the list - I thoroughly enjoy the show and I am not in the minority.  Meer Abru has caught on and has many die-hard fans.  And, quite honestly, I am one of them.  I look forward to watching the show on Wednesdays and Thursdays, excitedly watching the story play out - an excitement made more possible by already knowing how the story plays out, I suppose.

Is Meer Abru a bad show?  No!  It's a great show.  It's simply just not original - and how I wish it were a legal remake (a fact that I google searched with optimism) or even had a line in the credits, because that step alone would have excused all my complains.  Alas, it is not so.

Aangan: A Recap

To start off, I know I promised to write more often and have not displayed living up to that - but I have.  I'm writing for Masala.com these days - and writing quite often -, so it leaves less time to write here.  I'll still be uploading original pieces here, but those pieces are exclusive to Masala.com, so I can't share them here.  I will, however, link the articles here, so you can visit the site to read them.

With the finale of Aangan airing this week, I was requested to write a recap of Aangan.  For those who have missed an episode of Aangan, airing on Hum TV, here and there OR for those who are interested in Aangan, but would like to know more about it, I've written a VERY lengthy recap of the show on Masala.com.  The recap is so lengthy that it had to be split into two parts.  I am linking the articles in this post.  Please read, enjoy and comment (both here and on Masala.com)!

Aangan: A Recap - Part 1

Aangan: A Recap - Part 2

I have an article I wrote specifically for this blog written and ready to go, but will upload it tomorrow.  As always, thanks for reading and happy watching!

Khaas: A Different Kind of Abuse

Hey guys!  It's been some time - I'm going to spare you the excuses and just dive right in.

Khaas airs on Hum TV, is written by Sarwat Nazir and boasts of a star-studded cast including Sanam Baloch, Ali Rehman Khan and Haroon Shahid in the lead roles.  It goes unannounced then that the show kicked off with high expectations - and boy, does it live up to them.

The story, to put it in simple terms, revolves around Saba (Sanam Baloch), a free-spirited, self confident woman who catches the eye of Ammar (Ali Rehman Khan), a man who, while being the life of every party, cannot see beyond his own wants and desires.  Saba and Ammar get married and immediately begin having marital issues.  Throw Faakhir (Haroon Shahid), one of Ammar's best friends who also falls for Saba, into the mix and you have the recipe for a love triangle......except, the show is not what you would expect.

The story for Khaas is described as "focusing on the issues of a married couple in society."  The story is not that simple.  We've seen abuse depicted in Pakistani dramas before - coincidentally (or not), one of the best dramas on abuse in a marriage is "Kankar," also a Sanam Baloch starrer.  However, here, the abuse is of a different sort. 

Ammar can be pegged as a narcissist from episode 1 itself and it's this narcissism that propels his behavior towards his wife.  Ammar routinely indulges in emotionally abusing his wife by making her feel inferior and verbally abusing her by putting her down in a joking manner.  This sort of man can be seen throughout our society, but this may be the first time that the media is touching upon the issue, depicting Ammar's character in a way that clearly shows that this carefree insulting is NOT appropriate. 

We see Ammar crack insensitive jokes on everything from Saba's unattractive hands, her curly hair, her social skills, all while praising himself for being "khaas" (special).  While watching these scenes can be uncomfortable, it's also eye-opening.  How many men and women like Ammar exist in our society?  Many years ago, "Maat" came to our television screens and took the country by storm (and shock). People couldn't believe a girl like Saman (Saba Qamar) could be so shockingly vile and self-absorbed.  At that time, the show was presented in a simple manner - a "good" sister and a "bad" sister.  With "Khaas," that same self-absorbed nature is put it into a man and we get to witness how it psychologically affects those around him. 

On the other end, we see Saba steadily progress from a self-assured, confident, bubbly girl to slowly showing signs of self-doubt and confusion.  "Is my anger justified?  Should I apologize when I don't believe I'm wrong?"  We've all had these moments, but in Saba's case, she struggles with her own concepts of right and wrong and how to apply them to her marriage (or more specifically, her husband's behavior).

At present, Khaas is 5 episodes in and my curiosity is at a high.  I'm interested in seeing how the story progresses, whether Ammar's behavior will actually receive a label within the story itself and how Faakhir will figure into the narrative moving forward.

Are you watching this show?  What are your thoughts?  Leave a comment below or on Twitter.  And as always, happy watching!