With 9 episodes down, this Saba Qamar starrer is set to wind up. A 10 episode mini series, “Serial Killer” has been following a number of murder cases, which initially seemed unrelated with the frequency and gap in locations – but now appear to be the work of a serial killer. Directed by Fahad Noor, “Serial Killer” also stars Faiza Gillani, Sabeena Farooq, Danial Raheel, Amna Malik, Ahmed Randhawa, Fahad Hashmi and others in prominent roles.
In episode 10, Sarah (Saba Qamar) continues her hunt for a killer who she has already identified as Barbara (Faiza Gillani), but has yet to prove as the perpetrator. With no concrete evidence, Sarah makes an incredibly rookie move, visiting Barbara’s home to inspect her CCTV footage quietly, expecting Barbara to wait patiently. Why would any intelligent police officer visit a suspected serial killer alone without help? While she manages to get out of the disaster, Barbara does in fact attack Sarah and attempt to strange her to death – though only after first offering her poisoned tea. Overlooking this one ridiculous moment, the rest of the show plays out on an intelligent, compelling level. With Barbara now in custody, the hunt continues for evidence to pin her down and convict her for the four committed murders. But is there one more murder? In this episode, the greatest breakthrough is the now looming suspicion that Barbara’s fifth victim could have, in fact, been her own daughter.
Saba Qamar is a natural, as always, a true talent to watch. She fits into the role of Sarah Sikandar with ease, commanding her team and holding just the right amount of humanity vs. strength. However, it must be said that “Serial Killer” is a Faiza Gillani show through-and-through. Faiza Gillani as Barbara is excellent, her presence taking hold of the viewer. Barbara is smart, manipulative, calculating and fearless, along with being well-aware of the hold she has over men. What’s great about Barbara as a character is that she never drops the face, even if she’s worried on the inside. She has her moments of panic, her moments of worry, but at face value, she is a rock – and one that few would suspect with her easy smile and confident eyes. Now under arrest, this confident does not break, as Barbara is well-aware that the police do not have any concrete evidence or an eye witness. If Sarah is our foreign-educated, clean protagonist, Barbara is our complicated, troubled antagonist and both are even more enjoyable to watch while sharing screen space together.
It’s honestly a joy to watch Saba Qamar, Danial Raheel, Fahad Hashmi and Ahmed Randhawa work together as a team. Honestly speaking, Pakistan is lacking in the crime series department with a long-running crime show on the level of “Criminal Minds,” “Law and Order” and “Mind Hunter,” a show which explores different cases each week with a core cast. Watching this talented group of people work together and share this interesting sort of chemistry with moments of bonding has us wishing “Serial Killer” could have been more than simply a mini-series and could have possibly run for longer, exploring different cases. Still, the limited amount of time we’ve had has been excellent. With only one episode left, “Serial Killer” is going to be deeply missed, a show which we wish we’d had more time with.
