“Habs” instantly won the hearts of viewers after episode one and has continued to impress. And yet, “Habs” has seen its share of controversy over the past few weeks and the episodes over the past month have seen a dip in quality as well. Regardless, with the finale, the team returns back to their strength – meaningful, heartfelt, conversational sequences. “Habs” stars Feroze Khan, Ushna Shah, Saba Faisal, Hina Rizvi, Janice Tessa and others. The story has been written by Aliya Makhdoom and directed by Musaddiq Malek.
In the finale, realizing Aisha may not forgive him, Basit calls her to have one final meeting before leaving the country. Hearing this, Aisha is taken aback and we can see the multitude of thoughts racing through her mind at the thought of losing Basit forever. The two share a sweet conversation as Basit tells Aisha he wants his child to grow up in his house and feel safe and secure. The way this scene is written is warm and, like much of the show, realistic. There isn’t a war of words happening here, rather it’s a conversation between two individuals who genuinely love and respect one another – regardless of what transpired between them. It’s in this moment that Aisha realizes she doesn’t want her child to grow up lacking a mother or a father, not wanting their child to live as Basit or Aisha have. And while this isn’t a genuine love confession, this is who Basit and Aisha are. These are two individuals who have been scarred by their past experiences and when together, they manage to feel healed. This is their love language – understanding and reassurance. And so there isn’t any better reunion than to see Basit’s head in Aisha’s lap, the two just being there together. This is a beautiful scene and a standout moment.
Now coming to the very end, it’s great to see a happy ending of course! Watching Zoya (Janice Tessa) and Aamir share an honest discussion about their mistakes and Zoya seeking to better herself is applause-worthy. This relationship has also been well-written, showing the immaturity with which Zoya and Aamir got married and how they are finally growing up. Bano (Dania Anwer) laying down her terms and conditions in front of Talal (Imran Aslam) for marriage initially seems strange, but when she explains it, it’s relatable. How many South Asian girls have felt this burden of having to give up their lives for a man? Why does everything have to be under their terms and conditions? Watching Bano stand up for herself and her family is a strong moment. But did we really have to end with a one-year-old baby narrating as a ten year old? This sequence and how it is presented feels oddly out of place, though who can be unhappy with such a beautiful, happy display?
All in all, “Habs” has a beautiful final episode. If anything, it reminds us of how beautiful past episodes have been and how jarring the last 4-5 episodes have been. It only goes to show that filler episodes and unnecessary characters (Soha) do not add anything to the show, rather they hinder the overall quality. Had those 4-5 episodes been rock solid, “Habs” could’ve been in the top three shows of 2022. Still, “Habs” has genuinely been a beautiful story of love, family and understanding, even touching upon how childhood experiences affect an adult’s psyche. Feroze Khan and Ushna Shah have both been wonderful in their roles and honestly, the entire cast has done justice with their performances. We can only hope Mussadiq Malek and Aliya Makhdoom come together to give us more shows like this in the near future!
