The drama starts to become interesting at the very end of Episode 8. But before we get to the end of episode 8, we have to deal with the dullness of episode 7. I don’t know about you but I’ve had enough of Mr. Manto’s (Humayun Saeed) character. The guy is dull and here we are expecting him to be the knife that slices through glass, but he can’t even make fruit interesting. Manto seems like an overly coddled child, who thinks that the guy who he was scared to death of and who assaulted him at the party is a nice guy because he gives him a ride to the university and apologises. So, I’m done with Manto but not done with the drama just yet. 

 

 

What is phuppo’s (Saima Noor) deal? The most shocking part in the two episodes is when phuppo is pushing Mehmal (Sajal Aly) to think about Manto when she hears Mehmal take his name and not her new about-to-be fiance’s. Mehmal tells her she’s got a twenty  year different Phuppo and Phuppo is like there is no age in love? No, phuppo, this isn’t okay and one begins to wonder if phuppo is about to take on a much darker side. No ‘normal’ motherly figure would allow her child, a student, dream about marrying her professor, no less a wealthy don’s daughter, that also literally when the young larka walas have arrived. So what exactly is phuppo playing at? 

 

 

The episode 8 cliffhanger is of course, a very convincing villain Farhad (Azaan Sami Khan) who is the perfect character. Dark and grey, he can come off as nice but also evil which Azaan plays amazingly well. His character grows in ways that really pique your interest, especially how cold he can get. When Ifrah (Hajra Yamin) goes missing and the twist at the end of episode 8 grabs you, it’s all because of Farhad’s cool and calm persona that makes you realise that he’s not to be messed up.

 

 

Mehmal’s father also proves to be very disappointing, attacking Ifrah as the "girl who ran away from home" and deeming her unsuitable for friendship, but misogyny and sexism are to be expected in the drama. 

 

The new superstar entry was also by Ifrah’s father (Syed Mohammad Ahmed), who played the role of the helpless father with such truth that it blew me away. He was a stark contrast with Sajal’s father, Siraj (Asif Raza Mir) and the scene with both of them is epic. A man asking for help and another refusing to extend it because of the daughter’s running away is thoughtful and exposes Sajal’s father’s liberalism, it seems even to his daughter.

 

 

Mehmal’s fiance lacks such charisma that one immediately forgets to even mention him but the review wouldn’t be complete without doing so. Forgetful, boring and a dud, it’s no wonder Mehmal is thinking about other people and as the next episode gears up for an engagement, episode 9 might be worth your time.