Opening Thoughts – Miraculous Ending:

Ohkay so, just like that, Cheek ended miraculously. The way the last episode was executed was not only miraculous, but the fact that this drama has finally ended after so much dragging is another miracle in itself. I am so glad this drama is finally over & now let’s take a look at what they were trying to show.

Miraculous Stuff of Some Other Level:

Just like all the viewers had anticipated, all the loose ends will be tied together in the last episode & that is exactly what happened. Where I was super happy to see Mannat acting like a real sherni, I couldn’t help recalling her entire journey & the way she behaved. It was very realistic to show Mannat having some good & some bad days but for the most part of the drama, she was always on a low & never really eager or keen. Mannat literally lost her sanity when she lost only 1 person & that was Nayab. After that she had such a strong support system like Shayan but still, she could not cope up with her loss. Now when she was literally blazing like a fire in the courtroom, I couldn’t help wondering how was she getting this energy after losing her mother, her husband & her child? Matlab, Nayab ke marne ke baad hi itna josh dikha deti Mannat to shayad aj Shayan zinda hota! I guess out of all the people, Shayan deserved to see this side of Mannat because he was nothing but supportive of Mannat & stood by her side through thick & thin but Mannat never really cared I’d say!

They tried to justify Mannat’s loses by saying this was the PRICE she had to pay because she stood against Wajih? Seriously. I know for them ratings matter the most, but why show such an ugly picture where one would think a million times before standing up for the right? Yes, what they showed was part of a reality but then this is what the huge issue with Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s scripts are, that she literally turns the villain into some divine being, probably a demigod who controls everyone’s lives & deaths. In Balaa, Nigar was literally making sure one family member after another of her in laws died & similarly in Cheekh, Wajih was being the reason behind everyone’s death. Now that Cheekh has ended, I am totally convinced that this was Balaa Part 2.

When I saw Mannat in the courtroom in this episode, I was wondering how good it would’ve been if Shayan was sitting there with Ramzan, looking at his wife proudly & seeing her fighting the case with so much of conviction & courage. Again, there was no point in killing Shayan’s character & there was also no point in adding that entire angle of Mannat’s pregnancy. In fact after this entire case, they could’ve shown that now Mannat & Shayan were finally starting their family & were starting afresh by putting all of this behind them. I mean why not show a positive ending with some hope? Chalo, Bala mai to phir ro dho ke Taimoor & his lady love Saba came together & had each other’s support but in Cheekh, Mannat is all alone, I mean not even a single person that she can call a family? Why!

All this while, I was looking forward to Shehwar’s entry in the courtroom that she’ll come & testify against Wajih because she heard him confess too but she was MIA, which means Maira Khan was wasted in this drama. Since Shehwar didn’t have any important role to play in the last part of the story, I am not sure why was she given some importance in the initial stages too? What a waste of time & space!

Again, this is what the huge issue with our so-called writers is, they love to focus on these gharelu situations so much, but when it comes to technicalities, they show absolutely nothing because that requires research & our drama writers aren’t blessed with the brains to do that or may be they’re too lazy for that. The first court case that was shown lacked literally everything to make it convincing, there was no backstory shown, no scenes suggesting that Mannat was keenly helping the lawyer by giving him every single detail that she knew but now when it came to Mannat, she miraculously gathered all the evidence overnight & voila, she won. It was also funny that after going through so much, Mannat woke up from the wrong side of the bed & had a calling that she could be a lawyer for the day!?!?!?! I am definitely going to Google this one, like if it happens or not because if being your own lawyer is so easy, people shouldn’t be wasting their money paying hefty fees to the qualified & actual lawyers!

So, during the entire drama, there was no mention of Nayab’s belongings, absolutely nothing but now, all of a sudden all these things not only were found by Mannat but they directly made to the court. I mean why do our dramas have such miraculous yet trashy endings? They literally show us the nostrils of our characters in a hope to garner some ratings, like it is their way of paying attention to detail but when it comes to the actual things that need detailing & mentioning, all of that is left to the viewer’s imagination? Like after wasting so much of our time by showing meaningless minminmin of all the characters, incessant caterwauling of Ramzan, Wajih’s unwanted guest appearances at every gathering with bouquets, like literally wasting time in meaningless stuff but when it comes to showing the real deal, they just cut the corners. I am sure it wouldn’t have hurt anyone if they had cut down on those meaningless scenes & had dedicated at least a single episode showing that Mannat on her own was preparing for the case, having sleepless nights & just making sure she doesn’t miss anything out. Seriously when the last episode began, I was taken by surprise when Mannat appeared as a lawyer, matlab kuch bhi? All this while, Mannat was just torturing Wajih & deriving pleasure out of it, she vowed to drive him crazy. I thought she was just doing that, so not sure when & how did she manage the time to prepare for the case that she was fighting herself? Wah! Like they will show us everything meaningless but when it comes to the real defining moments, they just want us to imagine everything happening Behind The Scenes! Why couldn’t they show Sadiq stumbling upon Nayab’s stuff & handing it over to Mannat to help her out? Matlab kuch bhi!

Chalo, the good thing that we can deduce from Wajih’s statement is that we need to raise better sons. Oh yes, another miracle in this episode was that Wajih was not only audible but I could UNDERSTAND what he was saying, taaliyan! So, the crux of the drama was that Yawar was the villain & he was responsible for spoiling Wajih to no end. I am glad they didn’t show Wajih losing his mind, rather he was pretty much in his senses & he could foresee what was going to happen to him after the court’s verdict. Haya, hmmm, another wasted character. Oh yes, instead of showing that entire Shariq Haya drama which literally drove Wajih crazy, they could’ve skipped that useless scene & showed that Mannat was preparing for the case stealthily. Anyways, Haya’s acting was nice in the last few scenes, like she had lost Shayan, Yawar was now in such a condition which broke Haya’s heart & now Wajih was going to die too. Azekah Daniel actually did score brownie points for immaculate performance & actually portraying the pain of a sister that she feels for her brothers. Shariq’s reaction was very real too, after all Wajih was his friend & he was sad that Wajih did something so horrendous that it was now going to cost him his life. Very real indeed!

Closing Thoughts – Good Performances & a Final Verdict:

The performances in Cheekh were definitely brilliant. I don’t know why though in the last episode I totally got Kareena Kapoor’s Aitraaz vibes from Saba Qamar. Anyhow, Saba Qamar & Emaad Irfani, Bilal Abbas Khan & Azekah Daniel, all of these actors were brilliant indeed but the star of the show has to be Aijaz Aslam. It has been a while where AIjaz Aslam got to play such an impactful character & he breathed life into Yawar. He definitely portrayed this twisted character to perfection. Nayyer Ejaz was another star of the initial episodes. Noor ul Hassan is such a good actor but it is unfortunate that his character had to do so much of crying. Rest of the cast did well too. The OST was nice but the over usage really turned it into a pet peeve. I really wish ARY editors stop relying so much of background music & not only that, they stop making their dramas just so acoustically loud, it just takes away the charm of watching a drama because it really gets on your nerves. This drama could’ve been so much better but oh well “tamam gawahon ke saboot aur bayanat ke mad e nazar, ye adalat is nateeje pe pohanchi hai ke Zanjabeel Asim Shah ke dramas band kiye jayein aur un se writing ka haq cheen liya jaye”. Please pour your hearts out.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Slow Episode:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was slow too but then it is understandable that they are taking their time & showing everything that is going to finally convince Mannat to take a stand. Right now the story of Cheekh is focusing on the silent & loud suffering of those who were related to Nayab by blood & by emotions but I do feel things should move forward now.

The Powerful Are Intimidating The Weak:

Ramzan still hasn’t given up hope & he still thinks he will be able to get Nayab the justice she deserves against all odds. This episode showed how Wajih was intimidating Ramzan & was torturing him psychologically in order to weaken him & push him to the limit where he drops the idea of standing against Wajih in court. The way Amir Khan told Ramzan that if he could convince Mannat went to show that he was pretty sure that she won’t be testifying against Wajih. This was the confidence that Amir Khan got through Wajih because Wajih thinks he has done enough to keep Mannat from spilling the beans. So yes, Amir also told Ramzan that the case would proceed if Mannat testifies & unfortunately, Ramzan already knew that was not going to happen.

Mannat continued to observe everything that was going around her & she also observed everyone’s behaviour, which made her disgusted & uncomfortable by being surrounded by such cold-hearted people. It was interesting to see the contrast between Ramzan & Mannat’s sufferings where Ramzan was giving words to his feelings but Mannat was just absorbing everything, she was keeping her feelings to herself because she had no one to talk to & no one who’d understand her. It was nice to see Shehwar being considerate towards Mannat, she knew what Mannat has been through recently so she just wanted to be kind to her before she leaves.

Ramzan created yet another scene at Yawar & Wajih’s office but this time around, even Yawar lost his cool seeing how irrationally Wajih was dealing with everything. Obviously Yawar is bound by the love of his younger brother that is why he is not saying much but it was obvious that even he was unhappy with Wajih’s attitude & behaviour. Wajih thinks he has scored a win by intimidating both Ramzan & Mannat but only time will tell.

One thing worth noticing was Haya’s fiancé’s interest in Nayab’s case. Asad seemed quite concerned for Nayab & he also questioned Haya’s insensitivity towards her best friend. This scene made me feel that may be in the future both Mannat & Asad might be on a same page in regards to Nayab. Also, I don’t think they have so far revealed Asad’s profession, not sure if he’s going to be the lawyer who will fight this case, but going by the actor who is playing the role of Asad, I am not sure if they will give such an important role to a supporting character, but yes, he might end up helping Mannat, you never know. Anyways, this was one important thing that I found worth mentioning in this episode because it does look like along with Sadiq, Mannat might get Asad’s support too.

Closing Thoughts – High Time To Move The Story Forward:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was slow & I really think they should take the story forward where Mannat makes up her mind to get Wajih behind bars. They have taken their sweet time in establishing all the facts & have given us enough insight into all the characters so its high time for some action. My favourite scene from this episode of Cheekh was the opening scene where Ramzan visits police station & Amir, while trying to burp is kind of ridiculing Ramzan while sympathizing with him. That entire scene was directed & acted brilliantly. Nayyer Ejaz is a phenomenal actor & I am enjoying his antics because he brings a comic relief to this otherwise melodrama & this kind of humour is right up my alley. I must say Noor ul Hassan is such a convincing actor, in all of his scenes tonight he made me feel so much for Ramzan’s character, he has given this character such a realistic treatment which is so impctful. Anyways, the preview of next episode did seem promising but I am not too sure if I should get excited because they tend to be misleading too but seeing Wajih in jail was a good sight. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – A Slow Episode:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was kind of slow. I guess before turning the tables completely, they are taking their sweet time elaborating the mindset of both Mannat & Wajih. While it was interesting to see how they both were going about their lives at this stage, I do feel they should change the scenario now or at least steer the course of the story towards the battle that Mannat will fight against Wajih!

Mannat’s Predicament:

Mannat was looking for some ounce of support from people that mattered to her the most; her mother & her husband but she was left disappointed because none of them are saying what she wanted to hear. In this time span, Mannat has learnt one thing that no one will choose to side by what’s right because everyone fears the consequences they’d have to pay & that is why even Mannat is being told to stay quiet & ignore the gruesome reality that she is aware of. Half of the people are not even ready to listen to what she has to say because they can not even imagine that Wajih could do something like this & the other half who know are staying silent for obvious reasons. Mannat’s mother is another fine example of what Mannat will have to deal with in this journey where she will be emotionally blackmailed & mentally tortured to backtrack but she will really have to stay strong to get through all of this. So far, one thing’s clear which is that no one around Mannat is going to make things easier for her, at all!

The opening scene where Ramzan spoke his heart out to Mannat was done really well. Mannat did apologize but even she knows she wants to do so much more for Ramzan as well as Nayab but at the moment she hasn’t mustered up the courage she needs to take a stand. Mannat may have thought that by following the advice of her mother, she will be able to get over this entire incident but as the days are passing by, she is finding it hard to cope up with all of this plus seeing Wajih being so normal after committing such a heinous crime is constantly reminding her how everything is just so wrong around her!

Wajih the spoilt brat he is, couldn’t take what Ramzan did to him within the vicinity of his home, that is why he humiliated Ramzan publicly to get back at him. Wajih really knows how to go from one extreme to the other. I really wish in the end they don’t show him losing his sanity like the usually do with all the negative characters in every other drama. I wish Wajih stays sane for as long as he can so that he actually goes through the pain by not forgetting Nayab & feels remorse over what he has done!

The teasing between Saleem & Sadiq is another important detail of the story. Saleem continues to tease Sadiq about all the things that can happen to a servant of the house because he has seen how faint-hearted Sadiq is but in reality, it is Saleem who knows everything in & out about what has happened & what has been happening in this house, so he should worry about himself. I guess by saying all of this, Saleem’s kind of testing Sadiq & wants to find out what Sadiq actually knows but in reality it is Saleem who knows more than Sadiq does. Saleem changed his testimony in front of Mannat whereas in reality he saw Wajih talking to Nayab moments before she died. Also, now when Wajih was showing Mannat the video & lied to Haya about it to make Mannat look bad, Saleem witnessed that entire incident too. I am sure Saleem won’t say anything against Wajih later when the case will reopen & police will interrogate because he kind of looks like an opportunist who will look for the advantage he’d be able to attain from all of this!

Haya’s character is a face of all of those people who can not even imagine that their own family members can do something wrong. Haya still thinks Wajih is incapable of doing anything of that sort that is why she has not only turned against Mannat, she is sympathizing with Wajih & is now being defensive for him. Oh well, waiting for the time Haya’s bubble with burst!

Closing Thoughts – Promising Promo:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was slow but the preview of the next episode has me excited because it seems Mannat will drop the plan of going to America & will come back to openly challenge Wajih. I really hope Mannat makes up her mind & now invests all her energy in bringing Wajih behind bars. Its about time the course of the story changes & I’m looking forward to the real deal because I am kind of done with Wajih teasing Mannat & Mannat running away from him. Also, a little suggestion for the channel, I am sure even the editors know which dialogues are inaudible or hard to understand, so the least they can do is add subtitles for those particular dialogues because quite a lot of times I can’t really understand what either Ramzan or the mumbling master Wajih/Bilal were saying. Those subtitles will actually improve the drama-watching experience & wouldn’t leave the viewers guessing what the character has just said. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Superbly Directed Drama:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was superbly directed. It focused more on everyone’s reactions as well as Mannat’s anguish when she felt being all alone with such a huge secret. So far the direction of Cheekh is playing a huge role in making it such an interesting watch because all of the scenes are perfectly approached & fabricated. So far everything has remained precise & to the point, which I again say that I hope it stays that way.

No One Believes Mannat:

Probably the most heart-breaking reaction that I found was of Mannat’s mother after she left. Yes, everything that she said to Mannat was only to talk her out of whatever plan was brewing in her mind because as a widow with an experience of how cruel the world for a single woman can be, she didn’t want Mannat to do anything that would put her marital life in shambles. Mannat’s mother knows what her daughter is going through, she knows that Mannat is restless & she won’t be at peace for the rest of her life. She wants to stand by her daughter, be her strength & support system but she chose not to because being a mother, she wants to protect her child. I know whatever she said was not what Mannat wanted to hear & it left her confused even more but I loved her perspective as a mother who wanted to save her child. Mannat’s mother put up a facade in front of her & told her to be selfish but after Mannat left, she broke down because despite wanting to, she was unable to help her child who was feeling lost & she felt guilty because she knew this wasn’t enough for Mannat & this is not what she wanted.

Wajih’s attitude changed completely, it was like he was at peace after sharing his dirty secret with Mannat. It seemed Wajih kind of extracted pleasure from Mannat’s misery because he was so sure that she won’t be able to harm him. Wajih has started to work on his own plan too, which is to buy every single person & his loyalty. Wajih visited Amir & bought him & he tried to do that with Nayab’s family too. In those limited interactions, Wajih did gather that Shamsa was greedy & that is why he tried to convince her so that she stops Ramzan from pursuing the case against Wajih.

As expected, no one actually believed Mannat when she told them about Wajih’s confession. Haya didn’t believe her & Shayan chose not to listen to her. Yawar had an idea & he was just trying to protect Wajih but even he was not sure that is why he waited to hear everything from Wajih. It was so shocking hearing Wajih giving justifications for what he did & the best he could come up with was the fact that he became angry at how Nayab rejected him. Wajih is definitely disturbed because any sane or normal human being would stutter while confessing his crimes but he didn’t. Wajih has this undeniable confidence in himself & that only comes to him because of the power & authority he has. Wajih thinks no one will be able to harm him because he is strong & has a lot of financial backing.

I loved Mannat’s expressions when she saw Wajih after what Ramzan did to him. It was like she kind of felt some sort of satisfaction that Wajih was humiliated. Mannat has this storm brewing inside her & she is just mustering up this courage to channel it out. Right now, Mannat was just analysing everything, she was actually studying Wajih’s attitude, she was trying to figure out whether he was sorry for what he did or not but every single time, she only learnt that Wajih was not sorry & in fact he was now making a joke out of Nayab’s death. Mannat hasn’t made up her mind as of now like she doesn’t know what she wants to do but it’s just a matter of time because the moment that happens, would be the day Wajih will go behind bars. Totally waiting to see that happening!

Closing Thoughts – Impressive So Far:

Overall, this episode was intelligently executed too. I loved watching this episode of Cheekh. Even though not much happened this time around but it was established that in this fight for justice, Mannat will be left alone & she will probably have a handful of supporters because everyone will either be on Wajih’s side or choose not to believe the truth. Saba Qamar has nailed the character of Mannat. Every single expression, her body language, everything elaborated the pain Mannat was suffering from after finding out the truth about Nayab’s tragic death. Bilal Abbas Khan was superb as arrogant Wajih who thought he had everything under control. It was shocking to see him casually joking about Nayab, I am sure because of his convincing acting, Bilal Abbas Khan will make people hate Wajih for a long long time. Noor ul Hassan has performed brilliantly as a heartbroken father of Nayab too but because there’s so much crying that he has to do, I find it hard to understand his dialogues most of the times. The rest of the supporting characters are doing their job well. The director deserves a special mention for directing Cheekh impressively so far. Loving the OST too. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – What An Epic Episode:

Ohkay so, what an amazing, intense & perfectly executed episode of Cheekh. Team Cheekh should take a bow for giving us a gripping drama but for this episode in particular, Saba Qamar & Bilal Abbas Khan deserve a standing ovation. Their performances were impeccable & flawless. I am so glad that so far the team of Cheekh has kept things to-the-point & are not dragging anything by adding delays or moving the story around in circles. This episode was done so so so well that even for a second I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV screen. Every emotion was elaborated to the T & that is why it was just so impactful. I can’t praise this episode of Cheekh enough!

The Confession of A Culprit:

Even though Mannat didn’t want to believe the fact that Wajih could do something like that, but a part of her was also convinced that is why she was trying to find the answers that would confirm her fears. It was like Mannat had this feeling that Wajih might be the culprit but she didn’t want things to lead her to that. Mannat was determined but she was also confused because she didn’t even want to believe that Wajih was capable of doing something like this.

Mannat didn’t stop probing & the way Wajih’s friends lied & informed him, showed exactly how hard it will be for Mannat to prove Wajih guilty in the future with so many people by his side. This is just the beginning & Mannat has no idea what she is getting into but a part of her is deliberately taking the risk because she can not get over the fact that such a harmless soul like Nayab deserved to be treated this way. No one can understand what Nayab meant to Mannat that is why I like how they keep on touching upon the past & reviving those emotions which remind everyone about the bond that Mannat & Nayab shared. Mannat & Nayab was soul sisters & that is the kind of bond which no one else can understand, that is why everyone casually tells Mannat to move on without even realizing that it is just impossible for her. Mannat continued looking for answers because she could feel she will find them & that is what exactly happened.

Wajih’s friend called him & that was kind of what triggered him to finally confess because it seemed like even he was tired of carrying a facade & lying to Mannat as well as his entire family. Mannat searched through Wajih’s belongings & the torn pocket confirmed her fears, her doubts & gave her all the answers that she was looking for. What happened after that was what I am sure not no one saw coming but that most certainly is going to change the course of the story which I am most certainly happy as well as excited about.

Wajih finally decided to tell Mannat everything, every little gruesome detail that she never could’ve imagined. Wajih is egoistic spoiled brat who feels entitled & that is only because he has been raised in such an environment, in such a manner that he thinks the entire universe revolves around him. Wajih is someone who can not take no for an answer & like he said, because he always got the kind of attention he wanted from girls, he thought Nayab was no different. Nayab actually went to speak to Wajih, because she trusted him & because she thought he also respected her but the face that she got to see of Wajih was horrific. Wajih openly told her about the kind of relationship he was looking for without having any strings attached. Wajih, having this sense of entitlement thought that Nayab was so desperate for his attention that she will agree to whatever he was demanding. A slap & a rejection was something that Wajih couldn’t handle & then the fear of being exposed was what drove Wajih to that point where he didn’t even think for a second before pushing Nayab to death. It did seem that Wajih again had this feeling that nothing will happen to him & he will get away with this, but I am glad he will be proven wrong very soon!

Mannat could not believe what she heard & the way she slapped Wajih went to show how disgusted she felt & how angry she was. Mannat wanted to punish Wajih for whatever he was saying that is why she couldn’t resist hitting him so that even he realizes what he has done. Mannat left & the first shocker she got came from her mother who not only wanted Mannat to brush everything under the carpet but also wanted her to apologize to Wajih so that it doesn’t affect her marital life. Unbelievable but very realistic. No mother would ever want her daughter to waste her time or a chunk of her life in court hearings, visiting police stations, meeting lawyers & most importantly, fighting against her entire family who also happens to be quite resourceful.

Sadiq came to the forefront in this episode. He admired Nayab & he liked her to an extent where he dreamt of getting married to her. Sadiq sympathized with Nayab & because he was ashamed of whatever trash he said about her, that is why he touched her feet to seek an apology. I am sure though he does look like a scaredy cat right now, he might be one of those who will eventually support Mannat, out of guilt or out of sympathy for Nayab, but he definitely will help Mannat because that is the kind of character he seems to posses, which was nice to see. After this episode, Yawar can be declared as a hypocrite, who preached about respecting women but contradicted it the moment he found his younger brother in hot waters. Yawar is going to be a face of all those people who clearly have double standards, are hypocrites & do not practice what they preach especially when it comes to their family members. I can not wait to see the fight Mannat will have with all of these people, this is just the beginning!!!

Closing Thoughts – Relevant & To The Point:

I loved this episode & I believe it couldn’t have been any better. Saba Qamar & Bilal Abbas Khan were on fire & Ushna Shah was superb as Nayab, as a girl whose trust was shattered & who was scared as well as scarred for her life. Nayab did save herself by not succumbing to Wajih’s pressures but then she lost her life because Wajih didn’t let her go. I am glad that the story so far has stayed relevant & to the point but I do hope that the fight for serving justice to Nayab isn’t too long or dragged because this usually does happen with our dramas. Let’s just hope that they keep things on track & continue to make such an impact. The entire confession scene was just so intense & gripping. The direction, the editing & the acting has been top-notch so far & I am sure continue to get even better. Can’t wait for the real battle. Please share your thoughts about this amazing episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Intense & Engaging:

Ohkay so, this was yet another engaging & intense episode of Cheekh. After this episode I am even more excited to tune to Cheekh now because it seems that they are now taking the story to the next phase, which is Mannat’s battle to get the justice for Nayab & her family after finding out who the culprit is. It does look like the story is almost past the stage of clues & hints & I can’t wait. Cheekh has been intelligently tackled so far & I hope they keep up with this pace in the remaining episodes too.

The Secret Is Almost Out:

Wajih couldn’t really stand the idea of being doubted in this entire situation, that is why he was upset. Wajih does know that Mannat was emotionally attached to Nayab that is why after complaining a bit about her behaviour he didn’t bother clarifying himself much but when he felt that even Yawar was kind of asking him questions, he immediately stopped him from doing that to put his heart to ease. In this entire scenario, it was quite interesting to see how Wajih stood his ground in front of Yawar, it is like he knows that Yawar was always going to be on his side, that is why he not only told him about Shariq but also emotionally blackmailed him but posing to be not having food as he knew that Yawar would then make sure that no one else questions Wajih again ever. The fact that Wajih knows that he has Yawar’s unconditional support does make him quite relaxed & kind of confident because so far Yawar has assured him that he would not let anything happen to him!

Mannat continued to grieve Nayab’s death & she just couldn’t stop talking about her. It was shown quite realistically that talking about Nayab was basically a catharsis for Mannat & after every round of crying, she was slowly & steadily mustering up the courage to face what had happened & what she was supposed to do next. Unfortunately, so far Mannat has still not gotten the kind of emotional help & support she deserved to deal with this loss. On the surface it did look like Mannat was just being emotional but quite gradually she was making a progress & learning to deal with this pain her way which actually was now going to turn into her strength.

Mannat’s conversation with Shayan kind of showed that at the moment, Shayan was also upset with how Nayab’s father behaved with Wajih & that he was unhappy with how his entire family was being affected because of her tragic death. For now it did look like Shayan wanted Mannat to get over this, plus his cold & indifferent attitude was very believable considering the fact that Shayan was not present there to witness it all himself. So far, Shayan has only heard what happened & he can only analyse things from a distance without knowing the gravity of the situation, so yes, even though he sympathizes with Nayab & feels for Mannat, he is putting his entire family & his wife on the same pedestal, that is why he wanted Mannat to move on so that it doesn’t affect his family further. I so hope when he comes back, he ends up supporting his wife but it does look like they all are a close-knit family, so Mannat will be left alone in this fight!

Finally, the actual statement of Nayab which stated ‘Raja Behria Hai’ made it to Mannat & Amir Khan finally told her everything. Even though it did look like Amir added some of the details himself but as far as the actual statement was concerned, he did convey it to Mannat. Well, when the episode began & the way Yawar behaved after finding out that Wajih gave Shariq’s contact details to the police & mentioned his name as a suspect, I did feel that Yawar could be the culprit too because he kind of seemed relieved at the fact that the police will steer away from him but as the episode progressed, it was made obvious that the culprit actually is Wajih & Yawar’s sighed with relief because he could see that Wajih will also do what it takes to protect himself. Honestly speaking, if I keep aside all the hints & clues that have been given so far & only go by what Nayab said, I totally believe that she meant Wajih because why would she refer to an older brother-like figure Yawar or a complete stranger Shariq as Raja? For Nayab, Wajih was the Raja because that is what Mannat & her inside joke was, therefore, it is definitely Wajih!

Well, coming to those scenes that showed Wajih being in close proximity to Nayab, the first witness was the servant Saleem & the second was Shariq himself. The way Saleem painted a different picture in front of Nayab goes to show that everyone will support Wajih in this & no one will actually help Mannat out by telling her the truth. Shariq however, contacted Mannat to let her know that he saw Wajih in conversation with Nayab & I guess that will be enough for Mannat to be sure. Also, another thing worth noticing in those scenes was Wajih’s body language; he did seem confident, authoritative & fearless – as if he didn’t care much about what Nayab will think of him. Though we still can not rule Shariq out but yes, it seems Wajih took his name because he knew that Shariq saw what he did or was about to do & just wanted to get back at him.

Closing Thoughts – Saba Qamar Takes The Crown:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was packed with some amazing amazing performances. Saba Qamar is outdoing herself. In every other scene I could feel that Mannat was in pain & that is only because Saba Qamar elaborated the emotions of Mannat just so perfectly. Bilal Abbas Khan was also quite convincing in this episode, Wajih was clearly lying & he made it look pretty effortless, which was good to see. I am interested to see the role police will begin to play now that Mannat has found the missing piece of puzzle. It is quite good to see a drama like Cheekh for a change which is not only done well but deals with a totally different subject in such a convincing manner. So far the team of this drama has given this subject a kind of treatment it deserved without glorifying or sensationalizing it & I just hope they continue with the same kind of treatment in order to make an impact. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Kwep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Intelligently Tackled:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh slowly took the story forward without revealing much. So far, because the plot is so interesting, it sure is turning out to be a very engaging play. I must say, Cheekh has been tackled intelligently & so far the reactions of different characters are being used to give out a few hints here & there which keep the viewers guessing. Cheekh definitely is turning out to be such a drama that keeps you engaged & makes you think about what is being shown.

Reactions of All Post Nayab’s Death:

This episode mainly focused on the reactions of all the characters post Nayab’s death. The three people who were affected the most were Ramzan, Mannat & Haya. They were shattered & broken. Another thing that was made clear this time around was that there was a rape attempt that happened & Nayab jumped to save her life, which makes it even more difficult to get to the culprit because they couldn’t really get much information through the forensic report. Mannat couldn’t get her mind off Nayab & continued to think about the miserable life Nayab lived till she left.

Two important things that I noticed were the reactions of the driver as well as Wajih. Driver’s gesture made it seem like he was apologetic towards Nayab & kind of seemed sympathetic at what she went through & her untimely death. When Wajih came out of the room he seemed regretful not sad or anything but he kind of seemed regretful as if he didn’t actually imagine that things would turn out this way.

The police inspector tried to take a highroad & decided to make a deal to yield some personal gains but when things couldn’t go his way, he decided to change the course of this entire case. Whatever that has been shown so far is quite close to reality like the first motive of a police inspector to gain something. Mannat’s mother’s reaction when she found out that Mannat went to the police station & that she was suspecting Wajih was again very reaslitic & understandable. This has been realistically shown that in the entire family of Yawar, no one has even thought of doubting their family member, it is like no one can even conceive of this fact that someone from their family must have done this to Nayab. It is like a hardwired rule that one can not even imagine that their immediate family members can do something like this, that is why Mannat’s mother didn’t even let Mannat complete her sentence before dissing the idea of Wajih being capable of doing something like this. When I saw the actor who is playing the role of Mannat’s mother, I actually thought that when Mannat will start fighting this battle for Nayab, she will have her mother as a support system but that seems highly unlikely considering the kind of introduction she got. She will be also one of those who will discourage Mannat by pressurizing her to not do anything that will cause a dent in her marital life or create rift between her & her in laws. I really wish to see Mannat having some kind of support though!

So, Amir not only changed the entire statement of Nayab in fact he fabricated his own because like he said, he wanted to drag this case (which to me sounded like dragging a drama which I sooo don’t want). It was interesting how Amir directly contacted Mannat, it is like during these few interactions with everyone, he picked up on this fact that Mannat had it in her, where she would do what it takes to find out the truth which he will keep on twisting. Honestly, this is what I feared the most about Nayab’s actual statement not making it to Mannat & this is what happened. Amir also mentioned Wajih’s name in front of Ramzan & that changed the entire scenario.

The last scene was intense & what was even better was the exchange of glances between Mannat & Wajih. Does it mean it will shake Wajih up? Usually as far as things remain concealed, those who are guilty don’t have a problem behaving normally but the moment people start suspecting, that is what turns out to be their undoing. The fact that Mannat is suspecting Wajih will definitely shake him up if he is a culprit, it not then he won’t be too affected, let’s see.

Closing Thoughts – Brilliantly Executed & Acted:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was again very intense & brilliantly executed. What I am enjoying the most about Cheekh so far is the quotient of mystery as well as some phenomenal performances by most of the actors. Even though Shamsa is annoying but she is still important in this entire setting to break the chain of hints, clues & guessing game otherwise if would get too much or end up making the viewers feel too lost. I personally didn’t enjoy Shamsa’s scenes but I did feel they were rightly placed in the middle of all the other scenes to change the mood & show the other side of the perspective. Nayer Ejaz, Aijaz Aslam, Noor ul Hassan & Saba Qamar continue being impressive in Cheekh so far. Definitely looking forward to the next episode already. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Intelligently Written:

Ohkay so, the story of Cheekh is getting quite interesting. The fact that the writer for now is focusing on making either of the characters suspects is what is making it quite enticing & worthwhile. I think if they will keep the grip on the story just like how it is in these initial episodes then Cheekh will turn out to be a drama to remember. I kind of hesitate in praising Big Bang dramas now because it is a known fact how after the first 10 episodes the story loses the track & turns into something else. I hope with Cheekh that doesn’t turn out to be the case because keeping it to the point while making a steady progress is really important for it to work & stay impactful. They will grab the ratings anyways so here’s to hoping that they won’t go out of the way & ruin the drama for the sake of ratings.

Hints & Clues:

This episode like all the previous episodes of Cheekh was done really well. Even though they have given an introduction to all the characters but I liked how they were still giving us an insight into each & everyone’s personalities. The most endearing aspect for me was showing what Nayab meant to Mannat & how Mannat was emotionally attached to her, that is why more than anyone else, Mannat was affected the most.

Everyone got to know that there was a rape attempt & no one especially Mannat could actually imagine that something like that could happen that too under her roof. I think by showing Haya’s indifferent attitude in the beginning, they have hinted it that later when things will become harder & difficult for her family, she will also leave Mannat’s side because eventually one of her family members will be involved. It is a done deal that it will be only Mannat who will stand by Nayab & fight this battle all alone right till the end.

Yawar continued to do everything that ensured his family stayed safe, away from any kind of unwanted attention that is why the first thing he did was indirectly pressurize Ramzan to be on his side by throwing some favours his way. The way Yawar didn’t let Wajih complete his sentence & let Amir know where he was actually hinted that he was trying to protect him. One of the most interesting conversations that happened was between Yawar & Wajih. It did seem like Yawar understood why Wajih insisted on seeing Nayab – may be Wajih wanted to see her in order to portray that he was genuinely worried while trying to put his guilty heart to ease? All the things Yawar said subliminally hinted over the fact that he knew what actually happened & why Wajih was behaving such a way.

The conversation between Wajih & Shariq was again one of the most important aspects of this episode. The dialogue of Shariq that has me confused is when he said “Wajih mujhe andar bhej ke tumne ghalti kar di”, suggesting or hinting that Wajih himself was out of the house when the incident happened? Could be possible that Shariq saw Yawar crossing the line with Nayab or Shariq being the culprit himself because now he was amused at the fact that everyone will suspect Wajih? It is commendable how the writer kept on giving out clues while shifting the doubts on Yawar, Wajih & Shariq. I however feel that the driver Sadiq is acting suspicious for no good reason, may be he has some kind of history of his own but I don’t think he is involved in this entire incident, may be!

Nayab finally spoke up & told Amir what she could. The focus on the word Raja is the biggest clue that has been given out so far. Raja was also the word that Wajih & Shariq used quite a bit but most importantly Wajih used it to refer to Shariq as well, but before Mannat used the word Raja to refer to Wajih in front of Nayab. Also, another thing that actually confused me as a viewer was Nayab’s expression when she saw Wajih, she didn’t seem disturbed or distressed seeing him so may be he is not the culprit or may be Nayab wanted to ask Wajih why he did all of that? Very interestingly & intelligetly done!

Closing Thoughts – Well-Executed:

The pace of Cheekh has been good so far but then again it is in the early stages so I can only hope that they do not slow down the pace & continue with the story in the same manner. The direction so far is really good. I liked how casually some of the clues were hinted without making it too obvious. Cheekh for sure is the kind of the drama that will spark a national discussion because everyone will he talking about who the culprit is. The production value is great & I really like the art direction too. The backgrounds are aesthetically done & visually appeasing, I am glad they didn’t relt on gaudy furnishings to showcase the financial status of Yawar’s family, rather they kept it subdued while still making it look classy & elegant. I was never too keen on Aijaz Aslam as an actor but he really has outdone himself & so far along with Saba Qamar, he has stood out the most & I don’t see any other acting fitting the character of Yawar just so well like Aijaz Aslam. Saba Qamar looks ravishing in Cheekh & I can’t wait for Mannat to come to the forefront & do what it takes to get Nayab the justice she deserves. Nayer Ejaz is another perfectly chosen actor to play the role of a police inspector, right from the beginning he has set the mood right that he is in for business & is not going to sell-out. I also like the background music they have chosen, it perfectly sets the mood for a thriller that Cheekh is. Please share your thoughts.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Good Episode After Weeks:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was interesting. I have now developed an interest in this drama because I am so glad that it is finally ending. Also, it is good that they have started wrapping the story up in this episode, which means that the last episode won’t seem too rushed or illogically paced.

Wajih Is Bound To Doom:

Mannat had finally made up her mind that she will draw Wajih crazy. Mannat is not alone, she now has Shariq’s support too. At first I thought Shariq was doing all of that on his own but as the episode progressed, it was made clear that both Shariq & Mannat had joined hands to bring Wajih behind bars. Mannat has fabricated her entire plan with a lot of thought & detailing, which is nice. I wish instead of showing that everything was just happening out of whim, they had shown Mannat actually planning something properly. A conversation with Shariq would have sufficed too.

Shariq decided to give Wajih a taste of his own medicine by teasing him that he was going to harm Haya. That was actually a nice twist because I didn’t actually think that SHariq will later get married to Haya. Shariq did get married because he knew that Haya was innocent & that she needed some security as one of her brothers passed away, the other one got paralyzed & the youngest was now going to go behind bars. Haya got married & she totally understood the reasons why Shariq did that little act to actually make Wajih realize how Nayab must’ve felt too. Yawar is guilty & he is full of regrets but he knows that he is paying the price for supporting a criminal like Wajih.

So, slowly & steadily, just because everyone has realized that Wajih should be punished, they all have now started supporting Mannat. Saleem, Sadiq, Shariq are working alongside Mannat to help her accomplish her mission of not only driving Wajih crazy but punishing him too so that he pays the price for the heinous crime that he has committed. Wajih has also started to realize that things are turning against him but he was still putting up a brave face thinking he will be able to turn things in his favor yet again but he is mistaken, because the drama ends next week, lol! It was good that everyone was helping Mannat. Sadiq was always the conscious one but he changed Saleem’s thinking as well, that is why now Saleem was doing all that Mannat was asking him to do.

Closing Thoughts – Mannat Will Win:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was a good one after a very long time. I remembered that Amir Khan was also an interesting character but then he was forgotten for a long time now, but he came back. Obviously Mannat & Shariq recorded everything that he confessed & they will use it against him. As Aqilzada said that Mannat is now going to fight the case on her own & she will obviously win. I wonder why didn’t all of this happened when the actual case was in court but chalo, better late than never. I know people are raving about Saba Qamar’s acting, which obviously is well-deserved but I will definitely say that Aijaz Aslam has been phenomenal in Cheekh throughout. Even now as a paralyzed character, he has done a brilliant acting. Good to see him performing outstandingly after a long long time. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza. 

Opening Thoughts – Balaa Season 2:

Ohkay so, these two episodes of Cheekh made this drama tolerable because they have now started to wrap the story up, which is a relief, but it doesn’t mean these two episodes were amazing or what! I must say, I was being constantly reminded of the fact that the writer of Cheekh is the same as that of Balaa’s. It also reminded me of those years where all the dramas running on Star Plus used to have more or less same scenarios because there was only one person who was doing the thinking & creating stories. In Balaa, the villain was deliberately turned into a loon & now Mannat is doing the same to Wajih. Oh well, I will then say may be the karma is clapping back at Bilal Abbas because the same is happening to Wajih in Cheekh, which Taimoor did to Nighat in Balaa! Acha hi hua!

MinMinMinMinMinMinMin:

So, Mannat has finally made up her mind that she is going to use this time span of her iddat to drive Wajih crazy. Such a reminiscent of the infamous Balaa where Taimoor instead of helping Nighat with her psychological issues ended up seeking medical help to drive her crazy only to get rid of her & then marry his ladylove. When Mannat looked at those small booties, I just thought that the writer should’ve spared the life of Shayan, at least that way both Mannat & Shayan could have started afresh & started a family too but oh well, I expected something nice from Zanjabeel Asim Shah, my bad.

Shariq has proposed to Haya & as the preview showed, he will try to trap her only to teach Wajih a lesson. May be Shariq will be doing all of this because Mannat must’ve told him to, but let’s see. Haya’s character was useless anyways, but let’s hope her existence will be used at least once to hit the nail in the coffin.

Yawar was paralyzed. To be honest, I was upset for what he went through, not because of his condition, but ONLY because of the fact that Yawar was the ONLY character who was audible & delivered his dialogues properly & now, he was in the same MinMinMinMin league & it was frustrating. Both these episodes had cringe written all over them because half of the dialogues were poorly delivered & the other half were inaudible. Be it Saba Qamar or the mumbling master Bilal Abbas or the actor playing the role of Saleem, none of them were clear in their speech & now Yawar too. I guess if they really wanted all these actors to sound feeble or something, they should’ve muted the background music for the sake of audibility.

It is actually quite funny that after losing all of these people, Mannat has now gained the courage to face Wajih, whereas she should’ve done all of this when at least Shayan was alive. Shayan was always there to support Mannat but when he was alive, Mannat turned into a model who only did cat walk on the mental asylum ramp, she lost her voice, her words, everything but now, she seems pretty normal. I hope Shayan had at least seen this side of Mannat where she was still fighting courageously. I actually thought that maybe they will reopen the case but now it seems Wajih will go straight to the pagal-khana & that’s it.

Closing Thoughts – #BanZanjabeel:

These two episodes, in fact this drama in general has proved that this was made to write by Zanjabeel Asim Shah right after seeing how the ratings of Balaa skyrocketed, so since she could not come out of that mental zone, she decided to create new characters but the thought process & the plot remained the same. Now, Wajih will lose his sanity & this way, Mannat will avenge the deaths of Nayab, her baby, her mother & her husband Shayan & in the end, Mannat will do the catwalk out of the court & ta-da this drama will end. I have decided, I am not going to watch Zanjabeel Asim Shah’s heavily flawed, negative, inhumane & one-dimensional dramas ever again. I have had enough. Please share your thoughts about these two episodes of Balaa, oh I mean Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Drag:

Oh yawn, I mean Ohkay so, these two episodes of Cheekh were full of cheekhs & this drama has become such a drag that I couldn’t bring myself to review it last week, that is why I thought it would be a good idea to do a combined review of two episodes. The story has moved forward & this episode was quite happening but I could sense that they are now wrapping the drama up which actually makes me so happy that I am doing an imaginary bhangra in my head. Imagine, how desensitized this drama has made us by showing so many tragedies that even though in this episode one of the nicest characters have died but I am not feeling a thing rather I’m looking forward to the end!

Hospital Is The New Home:

In the previous episode, the only important scene was of Shariq’s meeting with Wajih, where he deliberately made him confess everything so that Haya could believe & find out the truth. Even though they have not revealed it yet & they might be saving it as a final nail in the coffin but I do hope Shariq was wise & sharp enough to record Wajih’s confession on his phone. I hope he has done that because in that entire scene his hands were in his pocket, so let’s hope that has happened. Also, if Shariq has not done that then I’m not sure why making Wajih confess only for Haya to hear was so important? But I hope some recording was done. In this episode, Shariq recorded Wajih partying only to send it to Haya so it does show that Shariq does know how recording works, so here’s to hoping!!!

Mannat was being treated so that her mental health deteriorates & she can be declared a cynic but one of the doctors saved the day & then Shayan’s dramatic move also made Yawar stop Aqil from doing whatever he was doing.

To be honest, in the quest of showing how to stand for the right & all that jazz, I feel the writer & team Cheekh has taken it toooooooooo far. This far that now anyone would think a million times before standing up for the right or challenging the powerful. I know they have shown a reality, I know this is the ghissa pitta excuse they give for churning out so much of negativity but still, I think in stead of putting the right message across, they have done enough to scare people to the core. It all started from Mannat losing her friend but then later Mannat went on a losing spree – she lost her baby, she lost her mother, she was at the brink of losing her sanity & eventually she has lost her husband!?! So not needed & so unnecessary. Also, it is funny that half of this drama was shot in a hospital! I wonder why couldn’t they show that after Shayan met some injuries, Mannat took it on her to teach Wajih a lesson because she has had enough? Why couldn’t they show that a supportive husband like Shayan was by Mannat’s side & saw her win the case. Nahi jee, killing & deaths of characters mean more ratings to chalo, aisay hi sahi. This drama might be showing how difficult the fight for justice is, but that thing is long forgotten & now it has just turned into something super depressive!!!

Finally, it has taken a loss of his brother Shayan for Yawar to now finally realize that he has been wrong all along by supporting Wajih. Unfortunately, he had to go through such a big shock to come to his senses & now when the maid testified against Wajih, Yawar knew he could not do anything because Wajih dug his own grave. I so hope that the writer doesn’t show Wajih losing his senses, rather he should totally stay mentally conscious to feel the guilt & regret all that he has done!

Closing Thoughts – I Have A Headache:

These two episodes of Cheekh were alright. This drama is popular but then, apart from negativity, there’s nothing that I see in it. It is a typical Zanjabeel Asim Shah script & next time if I see her name, I will switch the TV off because my mental sanity & health comes first. It is beyond shocking how this much of negativity can come from someone’s mind. Also, in the last couple of weeks I have had reruns of beautiful dramas like Malal & Doraha & while watching them, I really enjoyed how quiet those dramas were, even if there was a background music, it was instrumental & lasted for a few seconds & when there were conversations, there was no music. This is something that our drama makers especially those associated with ARY Digital should consider because there is so much noise & so much usage of music/OST in every single episode that it literally gives you a headache. No joke, I have been watching Cheekh on volume as low as 5 because the loud background music just gets to me & tonight was no different, I have a headache because I just watched this episode. Anyways, acting of all the actors has been good no doubts about it but this drama on the whole is meh. Zanjabeel Asim Shah needs to go on a long break & probably never return as a writer. The fact that after Balaa, she became the content head of ARY Digital is alarming. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Half Way Through:

Ohkay so, I am glad that I got a long break from Cheekh. I didn’t review the previous episode & then they didn’t air the drama for 2 weeks so I went with a fresh mind this time around to watch the episode thinking it will definitely wow me but then didn’t. However, after these 2 episodes, I think it is safe to say that we’re finally at the half way mark of the drama which is a relief in itself.

Unconvincing Story Telling:

So, the previous episode was dedicated to Mannat’s mother & how she was being mentally harassed to testify against her own daughter if she wants to see Mannat safe & this time around she ended up doing just that.

The court case proceeded & Mannat finally graced the court with her presence but what happened after that was totally unexpected & to all extents unconvincing as well. While watching the hearing, all I could think of was the fact that Mannat was introduced as a Sherni, in fact Aqil Zada & Yawar was terrified of her but now she was turned into Bheegi Billi & the way events unfolded in order to prove that was unconvincing.

This is the biggest issue with our drama makers these days, they like to pick up social issues but they only focus on one aspect & ignore the rest. In Cheekh, they had such a huge margin of making it interesting & gripping but the writer cut the corners & focused on unnecessary negativity. In stead of showing that Mannat was working along with the lawyer to strengthen her case, they introduced that miscarriage scenario only to show her weak & mentally scattered.

It was interesting to see how Wajih’s lawyer had all the minute details like Shariq being drunk & Mannat’s video where she barged into Wajih’s house to beat him but then when it came to Mannat’s lawyer, he was fighting the case with zero information. Mannat’s lawyer was not informed about what Wajih did with Mannat’s mother like locking her up in the store room. He was also not informed that Mannat had a miscarriage because of Wajih. I totally feel Wajih’s side didn’t just win the case because of their manipulation, they won the case because of Mannat & her lawyer’s incompetence in making their case strong. Why didn’t Mannat get in contact with Shehwar after her divorce asking her to testify against Wajih. Also, why hasn’t till date Haya not recalled finding Nayab’s earring & handing it over to Yawar. I know all of these details will resurface later but considering everyone knows Mannat is fighting the case so they all should be eager to help her. It is like no one including Mannat is bothered about this case as much as they should.

Mannat’s attitude & inability of being able to put up with Aqil Zada’s cross questioning just didn’t make any sense. Mannat is the one who wanted to pursue with the case in order to get Nayab the justice she deserved so please don’t tell me that she hadn’t practiced what she wanted to say all this while in the court against Wajih. The way Mannat behaved made it look like she was caught off-guard & had absolutely no idea that she will be called to testify against Wajih in the court. As I said earlier, the writer threw in that miscarriage scenario only to show that Mannat was mentally scattered whereas there was absolutely no need for it. I so wish they were airing double episodes per week so that we could put up with these unnecessary twists & turns which are only dragging the drama & not serving any other purpose whatsoever.

Well, I guess if they had shown that Yawar & Aqil Zada bribed the judge & made him give the verdict in Wajih’s favor, that still would have made far more sense than all of what has now happened. Anyways, I am glad that we’re half way through the drama & hope that the remaining half convincingly shows the re-opening of the case & Mannat’s right state of mind.

Closing Thoughts – Popular Because of Star Cast:

Overall, Cheekh had a a lot of potential to show everything in such a convincing manner but the wrier took the easier route & focused more on the negativity but because of the star cast it is working & gaining the popularity. Other than that the story-telling is unimpressive & focus on bechargi of the so-called Sherni turned Bheegi Billi is again uncalled for. Please share your thoughts about these episodes of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Hit & A Miss:

Ohkay so, Cheekh drama as a whole is more on a hit & a miss kind of stage for me currently. Where some things work, some don’t because I truly feel the execution could’ve been better or should have been totally different to make things more realistic. I also feel that in stead of dwelling more on the misery of Mannat, it would’ve been far more exciting to show her preparing the case with the lawyer & handing him out all the important details to make it stronger, but as always, our writers don’t believe in doing the hard work, they just resort to negative scenarios & think showing bechargi of the characters is going to be enough.

Ramzan Ki Life Ban Gai:

Mannat was still unwell & pretty much in the hospital that is why she could not attend the court hearings. I think it was definitely required to show that even though she could not be there, she was in contact with the lawyer, meeting him at the hospital or even in the comfort of her home preparing the case with him. The lawyer from Mannat’s side seems to be heading on with the case based on the information he is getting from somewhere miraculously as his client is just unwell & mostly absent from the scene.

Shariq finally contacted Haya & told her everything about Ramzan. I think this scene should’ve come in the episode right after Shariq met Ramzan because after that Ramzan attended the hearing twice, so not sure why was Shariq waiting for so long, bearing in mind the fact that there’s a good span of time between every court session. Anyways, Shariq not only contacted Haya, he found Ramzan a job too & due finances to get back on his feet. Haya found Ramzan a house & just like that, Ramzan’s life flipped completely, which was good but the thing which was totally not good was his incessant crying & inaudible dialogues. Ugh! Also, I wish they had also shown a session of the lawyer with Ramzan telling him to buckle up & face Aqilzada’s cross questioning confidently, seeing him shiver continuously ticked me off.

Wajih commits a crime & then goes back to see how things are working in order to seek pleasure out of other’s misery, which I think is getting boring now. I found it totally unrealistic that after Mannat’s miscarriage, no one spoke to Yawar about it, rather Yawar only warned Wajih that ‘IF’ it turns out that he is responsible for what has happened with Mannat, he will leave him too? Like why was there even an ounce of benefit of doubt? Why didn’t anyone just make it a point to convince Yawar that it was Wajih who did all of this??? At least it is good to see Wajih being in contact with his lawyer, unlike Mannat who is just MIA. Amir Khan changed Nayab’s statement & not sure why it came as such a surprise to anyone. Also, Mannat’s lawyer asked for forensic reports, but then, even before the director does, I will tell him that those reports will be changed too, plus why not as Wajih has Yawar on his side who is experienced in getting the reports changed!

Closing Thoughts – Amusing Precap:

This episode of Cheekh was alright. The director seems to be losing the direction & the story is losing its impact, which I dreaded. In stead of turning it into Balaa Bhai (male version of Balaa) they should have kept the focus on the case & showing Mannat having an upper-hand but that thing has been compromised upon. Also, it is very frustrating that half of the dialogues are barely audible. Even in the scene where Mannat was crying in front of her mother, I could not get what she was saying whereas I watched that scene twice.

I think it’s a done deal that after inflicting one misery after another on Mannat, in the last episode magically & miraculously everyone like Haya, Siddique, Shehwar, Shariq etc etc etc etc will join forces and testify against Wajih & that will be the end of the drama, but before that happens, it is pretty obvious that things will continue to get dragged. To be honest, the preview of the next episode actually left me feeling amused that out of nowhere, Mannat will be declared mentally deranged & the judge will hurriedly order her to be admitted to the mental asylum? Matlab kuch bhi? Pehle to judge sahab ko kuch samajh hi nahi aa rahi thi but Mannat ko dekhte hi he will declare her pagal, lol!?! Mannat bechari awain hi itni hairstyling kar ke ayegi court, whereas she could’ve done totally fine with Samina Peerzada wali wig from Balaa. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh!

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Intelligently Written Episode:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was well-executed & intelligently written. The initial two episodes have laid the foundation of the rest of the plot convincingly but then again, the thing I am most scared about is the story losing its direction & being all over the place like it usually happens with all our dramas these days. If they keep things to the point & just as interesting as these initial episodes, then I am sure this drama will be remembered not only for great cast but great storyline too.

Some Clues Here & There:

Even though nothing much happened in this episode but the few scenes here & there were strategically placed just to show what everyone was doing & how they all were reacting for the viewers to later connect the dots when the actual incident will be fully revealed. I liked how everyone’s reactions were covered in this entire episode where most of them were just unable to comprehend what went wrong while a couple of them were just trying to cover everything up because they were too scared.

Mannat was just beyond upset & even she thought that Nayab tried to end her life because she was unhappy with the proposal her father suggested to her. I think of all the people, Mannat knew Nayab too well so she should’ve known that Nayab could not do such a thing. Mannat tried to make Ramzan understand that he failed as a father because he just didn’t do justice with Nayab & Ramzan knew that he let the thought of a secure & better future got the better of him. Ramzan’s wife’s scenes were prolonged & seemed annoying but then they were also necessary to show how Nayab’s step mother reacted when she found out about what happened. Her argument with Mannat was unnecessary, it was like she just wanted Mannat to own Nayab & everything related to her like hospital bills & the rest of the formalities as she herself does not have the heart to do anything for Nayab as well as allow her husband to do anything for her too. It did seem like she was creating a fuss so that Mannat tries to do everything for Nayab because it is too obvious now that Nayab’s step mother feels nothing for her.

Yawar definitely acted suspicious but then again, all of this has been shown convincingly to confuse the viewers & I am definitely not complaining. It is good that the writer is showing all these scenes to pique the interest of the viewers in Cheekh. It could be two reasons behind Yawar’s behaviour – either he is the culprit that is why he is doing everything to ensure no one to able to find out the truth, or like the eldest member of the family he is just being cautious so that he can protect every single family member. I don’t know why I also now suspect Wajih too. I do think he never went inside but you never know plus the way he was showing so much of support could also be his way of covering himself up. Anyways, Yawar tried to hide all those clues that could lead the police to him or any member of his family. I am pretty sure it won’t be Wajih’s drunk friend – it would either be Yawar or Taimoor. Another suspect that they have tried to bring the attention to is the driver, it could be that he knows some secrets of this family, that is why he was scared at the sight of the police because it could mean he’d have to open his mouth & give away everything that he knows.

The introduction as well the involvement of the police was shown convincingly as well as appropriately. All the questions that Inspector Amir Khan asked Ramzan as well as Mannat, Wajih & Yawar were basic but he was trying to sketch a draft so that he could lead the investigation from there onwards. I liked how Amir knew that he was being a nuisance for everyone to deal with at that point but he continued with his probing – by being kind & civil sometimes & by being stern sometimes too. Yawar definitely tried to convince Amir to brush this entire incident under the carpet but looks like Amir is not in the mood to do that & he will see an end to this case because he did find out through the reports that someone tried to physically violate Nayab. It was interesting to note how no one even thought that something like this could happen because Mannat as well as Ramzan trusted Haya’s entire family so it definitely came as a shock for them when they heard something they could have never imagined.

Closing Thoughts – A Strong Start:

Overall this episode of Cheekh was definitely very interesting. Considering the subject they are dealing with in this drama, it would be great if they stick to it & don’t move the story around in circles because it will not only lose the impact that this drama could make but will deviate away from the subject too. I hope that the rest of the drama is tackled intelligently because when it comes to the beginning, it can definitely be said that Cheekh has had a great start. Saba Qamar’s acting throughout the episode was phenomenal followed by Noor ul Hassan’s as a helpless father who was guilt-stricken too. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Boring:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh was strictly alright which borderline was actually boring for me to sit through. I found this episode to be never-ending & a bit too slow. The events that took place in this episode actually brought back some memories from the recent drama Balaa because it looked like Wajih is the male version of Balaa in Cheekh, since he is controlling everything & no one is able to do anything.

Wajih Is The Male Balaa:

To be honest, the entire scenario where Wajih followed Mannat & then she literally had to run away to save herself was poorly executed & did not make any sense. It looked like Mannat went to the pharmacy near by her place to fetch a medicine so not sure how she ended up at a highway where she had to run to save her life. The Mannat that we know is someone who would have gathered the entire crowd normally if Wajih had tried intimidating her so not sure what happened this time around & why she ran out of the blue because it was so unlike her? Mannat also usually is seen driving everywhere so it was again unconvincing that she ended up walking that too when she herself is not really feeling well due to her pregnancy. I guess if they had shown that Wajih chased Mannat’s car causing her to crash into some fence or electricity pole, resulting in Mannat losing her child, that would have still made some sense.

The rest of the episode just focused on how heart broken Mannat & Shayan were. Haya also found out & she was shocked too. Yawar was heart broken because of his divorce but then he has Wajih, the ultimate joker who knows how to make fun of the most serious situations. This episode had a lot of flashbacks & some were never-endingly long especially the one where Shayan was recalling how Mannat used to act all cute when she was pregnant!

The court case did make some progress but it is unfortunate that such an important aspect is being treated as an afterthought. Mannat’s lawyer is mostly failing to match the prowess & level of Aqil Zada & that’s all there’s to it. It was good to hear Ramzan speaking clearly without crying. I am sure Amir will twist the truth in the next hearing & it will further drag the case making it a bit more complicated & in favor of Wajih. One more episode went by & Shariq did not make an appearance. If Shariq is staying away from Wajih at this point that is alright but at least they should have shown what he is doing to make Ramzan & his family feel comfortable, like how is he supporting them behind the scenes. Also, the scenes of the servants are fillers I know but they are repetitive & totally unnecessary. We do understand that two servants are in favor of Mannat whereas Saleem is Wajih’s pet but is there ever going to be more to their characters or their part in this entire situation?

Closing Thoughts – Double Episodes Please:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was just alright, which I somehow expected especially after the last happening & fast paced episode. I feel they have kind of steered away from the main purpose of the drama & have shifted the focus on how cunning the culprit is & how the one who has taken a stand against him is suffering on all levels. They really should show them battling it out in the court while also covering how they are having a strained relationship on a personal level too, that would actually make it balanced & meaningful. I think they are really testing the patience of the viewers now. I really do not understand why they are not airing the double episode of Cheekh, I mean they should considering how slow paced the overall drama is. They have spent enough time showing the personalities of all the characters so I guess it’s high time they should show some action & not waste too much time in showing the prolonged suffering of those who are in support of Nayab. The acting of all the actors continues to be impressive & the direction is good too it’s just that the pace is compromising heavily upon the impact that this drama would & should have made. Also, from the last couple of episodes it is good to know that Bilal Abbas can speak clearly but it does look like he is putting in a lot of effort. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Excellent Episode:

Ohkay so, after quite a few weeks, this was one happening, interesting & excellent episode of Cheekh. This episode not only took the story forward but also addressed all those scenarios which needed attention. I do think that the next few episodes will again be slow or calm but I think they should now keep up with the pace.

Fireworks After Weeks:

Mannat made sure to let Wajih know that she won’t let him off the hook if he gets involved with her family. After Shayan, Mannat’s mother is all that she has so her reaction was not only justified, it was much needed. I am glad there is some woman out there who knows how to give it back to Wajih, because the rest of them have been too busy babysitting him to an extent that it has inflated his ego so much. That entire scene where Mannat hits Wajih was well-directed & well-acted.

Shehwar finally succeeded in pushing Yawar to that limit where he ended up admitting that he can not father a child. Shehwar’s approach was definitely not something that Yawar ever expected, that is why he lost his senses as he could never imagine that Shehwar would go to that extreme to find out the truth. Yawar is a weak man, he is someone who can not practice what he preaches. Yawar did try to be the flag-bearer of women’s respect but in personal life, he thinks of them too low to literally walk over them. Yawar thought his unconditional support for Wajih would be enough but seeing Mannat’s determination, even Yawar finds himself shaking at the thought of it. Yawar never expected that Mannat would turn out to be so strong-willed that she will not backtrack, no matter what. Yawar divorced Shehwar & honestly, she is better off without such a weak man who sees woman as such objects to be used as scapegoats. Yawar never really treated Shehwar with respect & that is why he couldn’t confide in her. Shehwar expected trust & honesty from Yawar but it took her years to realize that he didn’t have it in him to offer her these basic but key factors that make the relationship strong. All these years, Yawar saw Shehwar entrapped in those thoughts, he saw that she was emotionally unhappy but still he chose to let her be in that place as far as it didn’t hurt his ego. This is worst than physical violence that Yawar directed at his wife before divorcing her.

Haya has finally come to her senses. Who would’ve known that Haya will finally use her brains to put two & two together. I will say that more than Wajih’s lies, it is Mannat’s persistence that has forced everyone to second guess the lies that Wajih has told. Yawar is also feeling the pressure & now Haya was convinced that Mannat was not making an issue for no reason. Haya closely observed Wajih’s behaviour to finally be able to convince herself that he was guilty of killing Nayab. Even though they did show that Haya was thinking about it from the last few weeks but I still found this change in her a bit sudden. I think to make it more convincing they should have shown that Haya also stumbled upon some evidence that proved Wajih to be the culprit. I however liked the fact that Haya told Shayan that she wants to see Wajih being punished, but she did not mention it in front of Mannat, rather she was focusing on normalizing her relationship with Mannat at the moment!

Ramzan was thrown out of his house & Shariq came back into the picture. It was good to see Ramzan finding an unexpected help from Shariq, however I do feel Shariq should have been present in the court too or may be he wants to stay away from this case for a while. It is good to see that everyone has started to see Wajih for who he is & they will all eventually testify against him. Even though Yawar is supporting Wajih but even at times he gets upset seeing the things Wajih does. After what Yawar has put Shehwar through, I am sure she will now openly support Mannat & will be on her side.

Closing Thoughts – Packed With Emotions & Drama:

Overall, this episode was packed with emotions & drama. I loved quite a few scenes but my favorite one has to be the conversation that Haya & Mannat had after such a long time. Maira Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Saba Qamar & the actress playing the role of Shamsa acted brilliantly in this episode. I am glad that this episode also covered a bit of the court case but I hope they shift the focus on it now rather than treating it as an after-thought. To be honest, I am a little disappointed after seeing the preview of the next episode, I think they have established the fact that Wajih is dangerous & can go to any extreme to harm others, so I don’t want to see the personal battle between Wajih & Mannat anymore, rather I want them to fight with each other legally as we have seen them having hatred against one another for quite some time now. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Filler Episode:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh had nothing to do with the actual story but it just covered the random details & developments that took over the lives of most of the characters. I am actually not sure how I feel about this episode especially because I wasn’t too appeased with the filler scenarios as the part of me eagerly wants to see the court case being pursued.

Scenarios That Had Nothing To Do With The Story:

So, the highlight of this episode for me was the shift in Shehwar’s character. It was interesting to see how she wasn’t even bothered about anyone especially Yawar anymore. Shehwar’s way of reacting might seem irrational but it totally fits the circumstance of someone who has been betrayed in the worst possible manner. Shehwar trusted Yawar the most & she got to know that he didn’t even think for a second about her while lying to her all this while. Shehwar at first didn’t seem to be in her senses but then as the episode progressed I could see how she was keen on giving Yawar the taste of his own medicine. Shehwar has thought thinks through, she knows what she is putting Yawar through & she is just deriving pleasure out of it plus she also wants Yawar to confess the truth but he won’t. Yawar’s perplexity made it pretty obvious that he was disturbed about the lie that Shehwar was telling.

Mannat & Shayan are expecting a child & even though their romance is a good mood changer in this otherwise one-dimensional story, I feel Saba Qamar’s expressions are making this equation a tad bit cheesy. It is really nice to see a husband & wife sharing such a strong bond despite their circumstances but I totally feel that in order to make it work & look beautiful, Saba Qamar should have kept it a bit subtle & not too over-expressed.

Wajih decided to intimidate Mannat by harming her mother. Wajih also decided to teach the servant a lesson, the same servant who did not buy Wajih’s lie about Mannat. I think the servants have been getting way too much coverage but then I hope it is basically a build up for all of them testifying against Wajih, I wish that’s the case because that alone will justify the screen time they got. However, I think it is getting tiresome seeing Wajih acting all KeWl & UnBoThErEd. The story has definitely become stagnant & that is not a good sign!

Haya for the first time tried to put a pressure on her tiny brain & decided to ask Wajih in order to see whether the culprit will confess his crimes? Anyways, if Haya will try to put two & two together, it will definitely be better because I would hate to see a character go to waste without not doing something beneficial & useful!

Closing Thoughts – Misleading Precaps:

This episode of Cheekh was a miss for me but I am sure it must have worked for all the avid fans of this drama. Not sure what the future holds for Mannat but would hate to see her losing any of the support system or happiness that he has especially her husband or her baby. The preview that was shown last week was again misleading because none of it happened in this episode so I am not too keen on the precap shown this week too as I think all of that will happen probably after 2 weeks. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Some Developments:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh did have some important developments to its credit but it also had some repetitive scenarios in it too. I think its about time that they begin the court case in full throttle & stop showing us whatever is happening in their households as we have seen that already. I think it’s about time that they start airing double episodes of Cheekh!

Yawar Is Torn Between Wajih & Shayan:

So, for the first time the court hearing took place of this case & the lawyer on Mannat’s side asked for some time to find out more evidences to prove Wajih guilty. On the other hand, Wajih’s lawyer started his dirty antics to weaken Mannat. On his suggestion, Wajih started off with the character assassination of Mannat & she wasn’t shocked because she knew this was expected of him!

Shayan is not only supporting Mannat but he is going out of his way to make her feel comforted & secure because he understands that the battle she is fighting is going to drain every ounce of energy, peace & calm from her body. Just when both Mannat & Shayan were celebrating each other, they got to know about the level Wajih stooped to in order to prove himself innocent.

The only interesting development in this episode was Shehwar’s evolvement from a naive submissive wife to someone who decided to question whatever she was coming across. The actual reason that forced Shehwar to make that shift was the lie that Yawar had been telling her & she now found out about. Shehwar was forced to think that if Yawar could go to that extreme & make her suffer for something she was not even responsible for, then he could not have any issue saving his brother even if he was the culprit. For the first time, Shehwar decided that she won’t allow Yawar to boss around her. For the first time she let him know that she won’t settle for his mistreatment henceforth, which I believe was a very nice shift in her character & probably the first step of courage that she’d later need to testify against Wajih & Yawar’s will.

This episode also showcased the emotional struggle of Yawar aptly. Yawar wants to support Wajih but he feels bad for letting Shayan, his brother down too. Yawar also feels sick seeing Wajih showing no remorse & the way he continues to make one mistake after another, because this way he finds it hard to support Wajih as deep down even he knows that he is supporting a culprit & a murderer. Haya continues to blindly support Wajih, that is why she believes all the claims made against Wajih are false. Haya has not even considered for a second that Wajih could have done what Mannat says, she can not even think of that.

Closing Thoughts – Show Us The Court Case Please:

Overall this episode of Cheekh was good but the pace of this drama seems quite slow. This episode only had one scene of the court whereas the rest of it was all about the way their household & personal dynamics were being affected, which I feel is what we have been seeing since the beginning, therefore they really need to change the story & proceed with the case. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Filler With A Bit of Important Details:

Ohkay so, I hope this was probably the last filler episode of Cheekh that we saw this week, however I am glad that the story has finally moved to that phase where the case has been taken to the court. I hope they don’t drag things further & carry on with the case with a decent pace. The most important scene of this episode turned out to be the very last scene but then again, that’s where it ended.

Atrocious Acts of Intimidation:

This episode mainly focused on how Mannat & her mother were being intimidated & how Mannat was fighting back. After whatever happened at Mannat’s home, she had one thing clear that no matter what happens, the police won’t be siding with her at all. It was unnecessary but more than half of the episode was dedicated to Mannat’s mother & how scared she was, which made it obvious that this was a filler episode.

The one thing that I found quite interesting to learn about was Yawar’s character. They showed how he can not father a child but has made his wife Shahwar believe that she has the complications & not him. This aspect cleared two things; the first one being the reason why he takes Wajih as his child, that is because Yawar can not have his own, that is why he has started to look for that love in Wajih’s existence. The second one being the reason why Yawar is not even thinking for a second about Nayab or even Mannat. Since he is someone who has no issues betraying the trust of his wife, probably the woman who trusts him the most, therefore for a person like Yawar, Nayab or even Mannat hold no importance at all. I kind of enjoyed how the writer has added all this depth & detailing in a supporting but very important character like Yawar. I also felt that by letting this detail lose now, the writer has kind of left a little opening, kind of a little piece of puzzle that Shahwar will stumble upon & when she will hold onto it, she will end up supporting Mannat because she will learn how Yawar was fooling her. Shahwar will also realize that when Yawar can lie to her about such a sensitive subject for years, see her suffering in misery & can make her feel like she is the culprit, then he can lie about Wajih too. I am sure for someone as submissive as Shahwar, it had to be something this big for her to be convinced to go against her husband & help Mannat. It is interesting how the writer has added these minor details & is building things up from there like first Shahwar getting to hear Wajih confess & now Yawar holding this deep dark secret in his heart.

Shayan finally warned Wajih & told him openly that even he stands against his younger brother for the crime that he has committed. Even though it was nice that Shayan told Mannat to hire a lawyer, I found it funny that Mannat was ready to fight for Nayab but didn’t even think about getting a lawyer until Shayan said so.

Closing Thoughts – Half Hit, Half Miss:

Overall, this episode was half hit half miss. I liked a few things & didn’t enjoy the rest. However I am glad that things have finally moved forward. I am interested to see who plays the role of Mannat’s lawyer. I know this is a super random guess but I feel Khalid Malik should play this role, he will fit it best. Anyways, any guesses? Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Intense & Gripping:

Ohkay so, this was one intense & very gripping episode of Cheekh right from beginning till the end. As much as I appreciate the overall execution of this drama, I totally feel it is going to come episode by episode where some will be slow & fillers while others will be intense & interesting & this episode of Cheekh was the latter.

Mannat Has Found The Support She Was Looking For:

Shayan believed Mannat, but still there was some inhibition, some hesitance which stopped him from completely making up his mind & while he was struggling, Asad came to clear any such confusion that Shayan must’ve regarding Mannat. I really like the way Asad’s dialogues were worded, he was to-the-point & told Shayan everything that he needed to hear in order to make up his mind. It was actually good to have an insight into Asad’s character & getting to know his reasons of calling this wedding off. Asad fell in love with Haya who was compassionate & humane but as he got to know her more especially after this incident, he realized that she was not only cold-hearted but lacked the sense of right & wrong. Asad must’ve felt guilty for punishing Haya for what she was not responsible for but after everything that Wajih said & did, he could feel that his decision was justified.

Shayan shifted Mannat to her mother’s place because he wanted her to be comfortable & peaceful, which was super sweet. Shayan has now made up his mind & he is not going to back out no matter what his siblings say. The satisfaction Mannat felt was the highlight of this episode, she felt safe & secure because of all the people, it was her husband who was supporting her. Mannat’s mother’s concerns are very genuine, she knows that her daughter has a long battle to fight but still, she felt very much at ease after seeing that Shayan was by her side & was not turning his back against Mannat. I like how the writer has shown Mannat & Shayan’s relationship, like in such a drama, it acts as a therapy to break free from all the negativity surrounding Mannat’s life.

The most interesting scene of this episode was the interaction between Mannat & Wajih’s lawyer. He actually went to see Mannat’s calibre & to judge whether she is the kind who will get intimidated easily but to his surprise, Mannat was far more strong-willed than he had imagined. Mannat made sure to leave such an impression on him where he knows that she is not a soft target rather she is very focused & serious. The lawyer made sure to convey it to Yawar that Mannat is a force to be reckoned with & what’s more interesting was that he could foresee Mannat making it very tough for him to win this case. Quite an impression I must say.

Another interesting scene was Shayan’s interaction with Wajih where he openly let him know that he doesn’t trust him & actually knows that Wajih is guilty. Asad really helped Shayan in making up his mind but Shayan also felt that Yawar was unduly protecting Wajih. Yawar has made it very clear that he sees Wajih as his child, that is why like an over-protective father, he is making sure Wajih stays safe.

Shehwar has also started thinking things through. No matter what Yawar says she can not take whatever Wajih said out of her mind. I think it is another important development & is more of an evolvement of Shehwar’s character where she is seeing things & paying attention to whatever is happening around her. Shehwar lived in a bubble probably because Yawar never really allowed her the luxury of having an opinion or perspective, but now she feels left out & can see that something is definitely odd. It is good that Shehwar is turning out to be someone more than just a silent spectator. Plus it was obvious that Shehwar feels for Mannat but because she has seen how much Yawar detests her, she doesn’t openly say so, which I am certain will change in the future.

Closing Thoughts – Wajih Is Boring, Monotonous & Annoying:

Overall, after quite a few weeks, I enjoyed this episode of Cheekh a lot. I must say I really liked all the different background music they used to intensify the situation, far more than the OST. I am sure the editors or the producers love the OST but I don’t think is it easy on the ears to be heard repetitively. Most of the initial scenes had the OST running in the background which I actually found quite off-putting. Saba Qamar & Emaad Irfani were the stars of this episode, but yes, just when I thought Emaad Irfani was performing brilliantly, his voice modulation in his outburst scene actually made me giggle a bit.

I don’t know why but I think they should kind of mellow down Wajih’s character a bit, like we get it, he’s an unapologetic narcissist, but to hear him passing statement at every single thing or person is kind of too much & is actually getting monotonous. We understand that he is not only aloof to what he has done but does not have any remorse whatsoever, but now it looks like he is too much of a talk because we can see that it is Yawar who is doing most of the heavy-lifting. I guess we have heard enough from Wajih so he should just take a back-seat but then unfortunately, because he is the actual villain, I don’t see him getting subdued anytime soon. I find his rants & one-liners boring & off-putting, like it almost feels as if there’s nothing more to him & he is a one-dimensional character. I feel the writer paid a lot of attention on Mannat’s character therefore she forgot to add some layers in Wajih’s character. I think if Wajih had some more personality or traits apart from intimidating people with his childish antics or also getting slapped, things would’ve been far more intense. Anyways, the direction of Cheekh is spot-on so far but yes, I wish they speed up the pace. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Double Episodes Please!!!

Ohkay so, the reason why I am posting this review late is because I couldn’t watch this episode of Cheekh in one go. Yes, this episode was decent but then again, I found it repetitive & quite hard to watch. Considering the amount of repetition & slow pace this drama has, I think it’s about time that the channel should start airing double episodes to keep the interest of the viewers in this show intact.

Mannat’s Character Was Being Assassinated:

In this episode of Cheekh, the main focus was again on everyone’s mental state & condition where some were trying to figure a way out & the others were only making sure that the truth remains untold. In this episode, there was a lot of emphasis on Mannat’s character assassination but then, those dialogues were repetitive to the point of being boring. Wajih’s character gets a lot of limelight considering he is the main culprit but then again, there’s nothing interesting or exciting about him because all he does is intimidate, lie, play the victim & repeat!

The only important little detail that was revealed in this episode of Cheekh was why Yawar was so emotionally attached to his siblings – that is because he does not have a child of his own therefore he treats his siblings as his kids & he has invested all of his energies in them, so much so that he doesn’t even feel the need to have a child of his own as well. I felt this was also the reason behind his disconnect with his wife Shehwar as he can not understand what she goes through. After that conversation between Shehwar & Yawar, it was kind of easy to understand why Yawar was being so over-protective of Wajih, he was acting like that father who makes sure his kids stay safe & unharmed, even if he knows that they are guilty. Yawar has totally forgotten that Wajih has killed Nayab, rather the only thing he wants is to make sure that Wajih doesn’t go to jail. Shehwar was presented with an opportunity to tell the truth but she chose not to say anything & that pretty much told Mannat that she was not going to find any support whatsoever from anyone in this household.

Shayan was confused & his brothers made sure to feed him the lies they had fabricated against Mannat, so that she leaves. Shayan was basically getting a chance to analyse both sides of the story but he still was not sure what to make out of it. He did see how Mannat was standing firm but then, the seed of doubt that was planted in his mind by both Wajih & Yawar made it even harder for him to blindly trust & support Mannat.

So, Wajih got a beating from his friend but he put an entire blame on Asad. I think Shayan’s decision must’ve come with a solid reason which I think is that Asad must’ve told Shayan to let Mannat go out of this environment which was only being toxic for her. I am sure Shayan must’ve told Mannat to go only because he does not want Wajih,Yawar, Haya & even the servants of the house to speak against Mannat. After getting to know Shayan so far, I feel this must be the reason why he told Mannat to leave – in order to protect her & keep her sanity intact.

Closing Thoughts – Repetitive & Stagnant:

This episode of Cheekh was alright but I guess the slow pace & repetitive scenarios are taking away the charm of the drama. Also, I think they should now move the story forward & show us the case & courts in stead of domestic politics & Mannat’s character assassination. After seeing the preview of the next episode, I am again not too sure what to expect nor am I excited because they ended the last episode on such an intense note that Shahwar overheard Wajih but in this episode, nothing much really happened. Yes, Shahwar must be doubting Wajih too she won’t say much I think till the last episode. Also, the most annoying aspect of this drama is that continuous Ho Ho Ho Ho soundtrack that keeps on playing in every single episode to showcase the sufferings of an oppressed party. I hope the editors stop using that because it is very annoying. Anyways, please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts – Long Scenes:

Ohkay so, this episode of Cheekh gave a new turn to the story, where the opponent is now going to get harrassed & this is just the beginning. Even though this episode was interesting but I found the scenes a bit too long & some conversations never-ending. It is a fact that they are going to switch the pace in every other episode so I guess the viewers will have to bear with the comparatively slow episodes. Having said that, it is definitely worth mentioning that this episode of Cheekh was definitely interesting but it could’ve been better!

Wajih Is Back:

Wajih was in the jail & Yawar was doing everything in his might to ensure he comes out as soon as possible. Yawar was also making sure to take care of Mannat because he has realized that she is a force to reckon with & now she is unstoppable. Yawar’s first attempt to pressurize Mannat was to use her mother & even she returned disappointed because Mannat clearly told her what her intentions were.

Wajih came back & the first person he wanted to talk to was Mannat, to let her know that he will not go easy on her. Mannat did face him with a lot of confidence & that was something that Wajih never thought he’d get to see. To be honest, as much as that scene was important, I didn’t feel the intensity in it & felt it kind of lacked the impact. Not sure whether it was because of the length of that scene or the way both the actors were acting it out, in stead of looking like a powerful defining moment of the drama, it kind of seemed boring where I wanted it to end quickly. Even though Mannat has made up her mind that she is going to punish Wajih, I’d have liked if she had stayed stern with him rather than fluttering her eyelashes & having a playful flirtatious take at how she is going to get him punished, it kind of took away the intensity & seriousness that moment required to make an impact. Yes, Mannat was trying to challenge him by letting him know that she is not scared of him but she could’ve conveyed that without teasing him as if she was telling him a joke, because this is what it looked like.

Asad has called his marriage with Haya quits. As much as I understand how he is feeling, I guess to add more depth to this situation, they should’ve given Asad a little coverage in every single episode right from the beginning to make it more convincing that he was struggling with Nayab’s tragic death too. Yes, they did show that he used to talk to Haya about Nayab in a couple of previous episodes, but I guess that wasn’t enough to lead it to this point where he decided to call it off because he thinks Haya’s entire family is lying. It kind of looked sudden. May be a conversation here & there with Mannat about Nayab would’ve established the fact better that Asad was deeply affected by this incident but that wasn’t the case & what he did seemed totally out of the blue.

So, Wajih has started playing dirty. Obviously, for someone like Wajih who doesn’t respect women to begin with, it was very easy to accuse Mannat of cheating on her husband with Asad. This way Wajih got Haya on his side too who already was on his side but now she’ll have all the more reason to believe Wajih & hate Mannat. Yawar is coming across as such a big hypocrite because he preached about respecting women but when it came to Wajih, he didn’t mind lying to Shayan to make him doubt his wife. It is pretty obvious that Wajih & Yawar have formed a team & in order to protect Wajih, Yawar has bid farewell to the sense of right & wrong. For him, what matters the most is Wajih’s safety & it is unfortunate that he is siding with the culprit & giving him this confidence that no matter what he does, his eldest brother will always be there to protect him.

All the things that were suggested against Mannat went to show how easy it usually is for everyone to pinpoint finger at a woman & what’s sick is that despite knowing who the culprit is, Wajih’s brother is supporting him too. Shayan kind of paid heed to what both his brothers said to him about Mannat & Asad. Not sure how long will he take to believe that his wife is innocent & that his brother is the culprit.

Closing Thoughts – Could’ve Been Better:

Overall, this episode was good but it could’ve been a lot better. The execution that this episode got could’ve been a bit more convincing if they had chopped the scenes down. I really hope that they don’t drag the story in order to make the most of the ratings. I am totally fine with Bilal Abbas playing the role of Wajih, but what I am not ohkay is with the mumbling that he does, I just can not understand what he says & it gets very annoying. Saba Qamar, Nayyer Ejaz & Aijaz Aslam are performing brilliantly & the direction is great too, it’s just that this episode didn’t make an impact that it should have. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Opening Thoughts: One Word – Brilliant:

Ohkay so, it was a brilliant episode of Cheekh & it reminded me of those initial episodes which kept me engaged right from the beginning till the end. Finally the main phase of the story has kick-started & I can’t wait to see how things will unravel in the future. I loved the way this episode was edited especially because it kept the suspense going & made it a very interesting watch.

Mannat Has Opened Up The Case:

Mannat knew she was better than this, she knew she had this in her but till now, she wasn’t pushed to the limit. Mannat mourned the death of Nayab for a long time & just when everyone around her thought that the best solution for her was a change of place, a time away from everyone here, Mannat did agree but still her heart wasn’t at ease. What pushed Mannat was her interaction with Shamsa. Even though so far Shamsa hasn’t said anything productive but this time around, she definitely deserves the credit for pushing Mannat to that limit where she finally decided to do what was right. Mannat at first thought she should help Ramzan but when she saw him in that condition, it was what convinced her that she shouldn’t turn her back towards him, she just shouldn’t run away from Nayab & the truth. The expression that Mannat had on her face when she left the police station said it all, after a long long time, probably for the first time Mannat felt at ease, she felt empowered & confident that she could do this. I loved how it was shown that even though Mannat must’ve taken the impulsive decision to file an FIR against Wajih, but as the episode progressed she regained her calm & composure & fed it to herself that yes, she has waged a war against the culprit so now, all she has to do is stand firm on her ground.

In this episode, I really liked how Yawar came to the forefront & started doing everything he could to protect his younger brother. Although Yawar knows that Wajih is a murderer, for now he only wants to save him & his entire family from getting humiliated. So, Yawar met this friend who happens to be a lawyer (Shabbir Jaan) & just that one powerful scene was enough to showcase the kind of morals & values he professionally holds. For him, maintaining his track record is what matters the most & he clearly mentioned that he will not even think twice before crossing the limits to make sure he wins the case.

Wajih thought he had won this case, with Mannat leaving, he actually thought he was in a clear & this chapter was closed but what Mannat did shook him to no end. What Wajih feels for Mannat now is sheer hatred. At first Wajih did still maintain some kind of line with Mannat because he had this idea that she won’t harm him so he decided not to be reckless with her but now when he will come back, he has made up his mind that he won’t spare her.

Yawar decided to finally call & involve Shayan in this matter because he saw how the situation that seemed in control just blew out of proportion. This was yet another way or probably one of the first attempts of Yawar to pressurize Mannat to take the case back & withdraw the FIR. I loved the little interaction that Yawar had with Mannat, it was like at that moment, he finally realized that Mannat was never going to back out. She will not succumb to any pressures, Yawar saw that in her eyes & the satisfaction on Mannat’s face after Wajih’s arrest actually distressed Yawar even more.

So, Ramzan is out & Mannat is now mustering up the courage because she knows it is going to be a long journey & this is just the beginning. Wajih crossed all the levels of tortures with Ramzan only because of one slap, so I am just wondering what he will do to Mannat now that she sent him to the jail. I am glad that from next week Shayan will be in the picture too, looks like Mannat will have a lot of explaining & convincing to do, to make him understand & realize. I am glad that they have kept things very very real & there’s not even a single character or scenario that seems overboard or unrealistic. Superb!

Closing Thoughts – Bilal Abbas As Wajih Is Convincing:

Overall, this episode of Cheekh was simply brilliant. I am glad that after a few slow episodes, they finally moved things forward & also introduced a new character. I have seen a lot such comments where viewers are of the opinion that Bilal Abbas is unconvincing as Wajih & they think some character actor should’ve played this role. Honestly speaking, ever since this drama began I never really had any opinion about him but while watching this episode, Bilal Abbas as Wajih made a lot of sense to me. I think they have done a right thing by assigning Wajih’s character to Bilal Abbas & they have given this character this kind of personality where he seems sweet, innocent & a guy-next-door because of which no one can actually imagine that he’d do something like this & this is what makes things harder for Mannat to convince people that he is the culprit. Usually, we never really know but the most innocent & nice looking people can have such evil intentions & criminal tendencies that after you find out, the first reaction is that of not being able to believe that someone like him could do something like this. In Cheekh, this is what Wajih’s character is all about too – a nice, innocent looking guy, everyone’s favourite & seemingly gentle & harmless person who has succeeded in making this impression on others, but in reality, he has this side to his personality that no one ever knew existed. So yes, I totally see Bilal Abbas as the right choice because I am glad they didn’t show that the criminal should have some kind of creepy aura or something odd about him, people who look very normal can commit such crimes as well. Yes, the only complain I have with him is the mumbling that he does & he definitely needs to work on it. Saba Qamar & Aijaz Aslam were the stars of this episode – loved their acting & expressions. It seemed like they both are two forces to be reckoned with & they both were doing all in their might to make sure they get what they want. Direction is flawless & so is the editing. Very impressed & super excited to watch the next episode. Please share your thoughts about this episode of Cheekh.

Sad Story of Mohsin Abbas Haider’s Wife Fatima

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.

Introduction:

Ohkay so, the writing of Zanjabeel Asim Shah, direction of Bader Mehmood & production of Big Bang Production; Cheekh is a drama that has promised to raise the issue of not suffering in silence. As the drama will progress, it will become evident whether the team has stayed true to the message or not but the first episode was deliberately & rightly kept light-hearted to give an introduction to the characters as well as an insight into their lives. The first episode of Cheekh was done well but it seemed that the entire cast of Balaa was immediately hired to do the image building in this drama after such a negative drama like Balaa.

Cast, Characters & Scenarios:

The binding factor between all the character happens to be Haya (Azekah Daniel). Haya has 3 brothers Yawar (Aijaz Aslam), Shayan (Emaad Irfani) & Wajih (Bilal Abbas). Yawar is married to Shehwar (Maira Khan) & Shayan is married to Mannat (Saba Qamar).

Haya has 2 best friends Mannat & Nayab (Ushna Shah) & it was Haya who convinced her brother Shayan to get married to her best friend Mannat. Nayab on the other hand comes from a lower middle class family where her father Ramzan (Noor ul Hassan) is a clerk who remarried after his wife passed away & Nayab was probably 10 years old. Nayab’s step mother is going to play the character of Balaa in this drama where she just wants her husband to get Nayab married off to any wealthy man who will later take care of Nayab’s family too. Nayab’s step mother is selfish & typical who has nothing nice to say about Nayab.

Haya, Mannat & Nayab share a very strong bond & their scenes were the most enjoyable aspect of this episode. Mannat takes care of Nayab like her sister that is why she goes out of the way to keep her step mother happy too so that she doesn’t mistreat Nayab much. Haya gets engaged & that’s when we get an insight into her entire family. They all are close knit & very warm & affectionate towards one another. Wajih & Nayab had some sort of chemistry going on which Mannat paid heed to & that is when she decides to convince Wajih of marrying Nayab. Mannat on the other hand is in a long distance relationship with her husband who is in America for his residency. Mannat has a very easy approach on the life where she is always happy & uplifted but I liked the fact that Mannat was also shown to be emotional & a good listener because of which she not only understood Nayab’s hardships but also had Nayab confide in her. Nayab did fancy the idea of being with Wajih but she was hesitent considering the background she comes from but Mannat supports her & tells her that she will do what it takes to change Nayab’s life by getting her married to Wajih.

Wajih being the youngest of all three brothers happens to be everyone’s favourite but he definitely has a personality & private life which no one is too aware of. We got a little glimpse of it when Wajih had a conversation with his friends at Haya’s engagement. Well, Yawar has made some strict rules which he wants everyone in his household to abide by & one of those rules are that the female house help will not go to the quarters of male servants in order to serve them food. Yawar did make it pretty clear once again when he got to know that it happened yet again. He wants the ladies of his family to keep an eye on all the girls who work in their house in order to protect them.

Well, the episode ended on a completely different note which no one saw coming. Nayab was pretty disturbed because her father lost his job & asked her to consider one of the proposals of a man double her age who had a daughter too. Nayab seemed pretty disturbed with the idea that her father could even suggest something like this & that is when she goes inside the house to distance herself from the crowd gathered on one of Haya’s functions. Wajih’s friend who showed up drunk was sent inside the house because Wajih dreaded that Yawar might see him & he’ll get upset. Yawar was shown to be going inside of the house as well & a few moments later Nayab fell off the first floor. Now this is the mystery that the rest of the story will revolve around as to who tried to cross the line with Nayab & what actually happened, was she pushed or she jumped in order to to save herself? I have a feeling that it would be Yawar, which will shake the entire  family up as well as turn Mannat’s life upside down, but let’s see.

Overall Execution:

The first episode of Cheekh was decent but it did have some clichés too. The sight of yet another drunk guy in ARY drama was definitely off-putting. The editing seemed a bit too choppy & acting a bit forced at times but the overall direction was decent. Saba Qamar looked amazing but she definitely didn’t look like an age fellow of Ushna or Azekah. All the actors did play their part well. Here’s to hoping that Cheekh being Saba Qamar’s drama will turn out to be good because she happens to be the selling point of this drama for me because I don’t really have high hopes with Zanjabeel Asim Shah & the rest of Balaa cast. Please share your thoughts about the very first episode of Cheekh.

Keep Supporting,
Cheers,
Zahra Mirza.