Do Bol

While this series is relatively out-of-the box in terms of concept, the character development saves it from stepping on too many feet when it comes to themes like forced marriage, infidelity, depression and mental health crises. Dialogue delivery is solid, especially from the leading characters played by Affan Waheed, Hira Salman and Haroon Shahid. All three display a level of expertise beyond their experience; Affan with his sensitivity, Hira with her rebelliousness and Haroon with his depiction of depression. Cinematography could be improved, especially the frequency with which sets are used as opposed to outdoor scenes, especially as a good portion of the film is carried out outside of the home. Sub-plots are solid and weave in well into the overall narrative; Zafar's theft and deception of his family weaves into the narrative best, so does Jahangir's jealousy and manipulation of Badar's sister Rania. Supporting characters needed more definition; their roles are shown with little other than their dialogue delivery. Munawar is perhaps shown to have the biggest development as a sub-character when he goes from being authoritarian to gentle in his environments. More time could have been spent depicting the reconciliation between Gaiti-Ara and her mother, Jahan Ara. She also isn't shown to have any visible symptoms of depression besides anger management issues and impulsivity. This lack of diversity was an issue in understanding the rapid transformation in the plot. My favorite performances came from Hira Salman as the vulnerable but rebellious Gaiti Ara, from Affan Waheed as the dutiful but people pleasing Badar, and from Haroon Shahid as the bossy but sensitive Sameer.