“Mere Humsafar” has been a hit show, viewers flocking to watch Farhan Saeed and Hania Amir’s chemistry as the downtrodden Hala and her knight in shining armor, Hamza. Along with these two charismatic actors, the show also stars Wasim Abbas, Saba Hameed, Samina Ahmed, Zoya Nasir, Omer Shahzad, Tara Mehmood, Amir Qureshi and others. The story has been written by Saira Raza and directed by Qasim Ali Mureed. Unfortunately, in the past few episodes, we have seen Hala and Hamza needlessly separated, their misunderstandings continuing long after she has left Hamza’s toxic household – and for what reason?
In episode 36, Hala (Hania Amir) is still hysterical after Shah Jahan’s (Saba Hameed) visit. Having just been threatened by Hamza’s (Farhan Saeed) mother, told that she and Hamza are conspiring together to get her child before throwing Hala to the curb, Hala is crippled with fear and anger. And while we should all feel for Hala due to the years of torment, torture and abuse she has endured at Shah Jahan’s hands…..there isn’t anything sympathetic about this moment. Why would Hala, a woman who knows Shah Jahan has been plotting and conspiring to kick her out of Hamza’s life, suddenly mistrust the man who has done everything in his power to give her love and validate her feelings? Hysterical with fear or not, this is entirely out of character for Hala. She, of all people, knows Shah Jahan. Adding to the lunacy is Hamza’s reaction after hearing Hala spell it out for him, all of his mother’s words and actions. Hamza asks Hala, a woman he knows is an honest one, to be silent despite knowing she has been deeply mistreated by his mother. Instead, he has created this false narrative in his head that Hala loves Khurram (Omer Shahzad) and refuses to hear anything else. This is essentially like watching two people yelling at a brick wall. Hala refuses to recognize that Hamza is not involved while Hamza refuses to believe that Hala does not have any feelings for Khurram. This is bad writing at its best and it’s upsetting to see the Hala and Hamza relationship damaged in such an unpalatable way. Hamza and Hala love and trust each other. That’s the basis of their relationship. And that has now been tarnished.
The highlight of the episode this week are all scenes featuring Sameen (Zoya Nasir). Her moments with her parents as she prioritizes education over marriage, consoles her parents over their financial situation and fights for her independence are wonderful scenes to watch. Sameen has emerged as the strongest character on the show, a young woman who is ready to move forward in life – with or without a man. Ironically, even Khurram (Omer Shahzad) has changed for the better thanks to Sameen and is trying to become a good man worthy of her. The scenes between Hamza and Khurram are downright ridiculous, only because of Hamza’s reaction. Khurram is spelling out the entire situation and Hamza is adamantly yelling that he’s lying. Why would he lie? Where is the logic? How does any of this make sense? Does Khurram have any reason to lie? Why would a man educated abroad come back and accuse his wife and her ex-boyfriend of lying that they don’t want to be together…..in order to be together? Make it make sense.
The highlight of the episode are honestly the performances by Zoya Nasir, Omer Shahzad, Tara Mehmood and Amir Qureshi. This group of actors perform their roles in a way that we, as the audience, can feel for them and connect to their current circumstances. Wasim Abbas is also wonderful as Raees fights off Shah Jahan as she attacks Rumi. The role of Raees is a disgusting one, a horrible man, but the way Wasim Abbas has performed in this role is applause-worthy. It’s unfortunate that there isn’t any praise for any Hala-Hamza scenes this week…..they are all simply nonsensical. Hala and Hamza, as characters, desperately need their brains restored. Please writers, restore Hamza and Hala’s characters. Do not damage this show simply for high ratings at the cost of diminishing the show’s quality.