Faiza Hasan plays another iteration of the manipulative sister-in-law that producers and audiences seem to lap up, as Aapa Shameem. The never-married, eldest daughter Shameem is the queen of her father’s household, supporting the family as a nurse at a local clinic. She pushes her brother Abdul Bari (Fahad Sheikh) to marry the assertive Dr Kashf (Zoha Tauqeer), the daughter of her wealthy uncle. With no husband and few other opportunities, Shameem is a disappointed person who takes joy in manipulating others. After ruining Kashf’s sister’s life by pushing her towards a terrible family of abusers, Shameem decides to take the assertive Kashf down a notch. Her main obstacle is her own brother Abdul Bari (Fahad Sheikh), who is a sweet, conservative young man and also very fair-minded. This is an example of a really well-made soap; a strong story that illustrates some very relatable cultural issues, but does lose a little by making one person an arch-villain. Writer Asma Sayani has worked hard on the character sketches and motivations, building an engaging, addictive story with director Zeeshan Ali Zaidi. Zoha Tauqeer is surprisingly good, holding her own in her first role opposite an established and talented actor such as Fahad Sheikh. Javaria Saud is yet another actress who plays the same role over and over again, and this time she is Bajjo (Mussarat), the eldest daughter of a joint family system that has been left on the shelf. The show is written by Javaria Saud and tailored to showcase her ability to swing from bitter, wounded soul reeling off long dialogues to a fun-loving YouTuber. The sudden, breakneck shifts in mood should be a case for psychiatric intervention but, here, they are presented as admirable coping skills for life’s difficulties. This is a family comedy with a regular burst of pathos thrown in for contrast and effect. Audiences tired of the constant materialism and Cinderella stories of marrying into the elite class in prime time shows, connect with characters and situations where joy can be found in everyday lives. Arez Ahmed and Samina Ahmed are really the ones who are keeping this serial grounded and watchable. Unfortunately, even an experienced director such as Mazhar Moin is giving Javaria Saud a free hand, whereas a more controlled, steadier performance would have been easier to watch and would have captured a wider demographic. This action-packed drama turns on a dime after lulling the audience into a romantic cliché of enemies to lovers. Writer Radain Shah brings us back to the ugly realities of revenge and dynastic loyalty above all else. Nawabzadi Ana (Ramsha Khan) betrays Shahmir Adam (Khushhal Khan), giving him up to her father and turning the ever-shifting balance of power back into the evil Nawab’s favour. “I have the weight of the corpses of four brothers on my shoulders,” she screams. Nothing is ever simple in Duniyapur and everyone is expendable. The levels of political deals and changing loyalties is, at times, hard to track but leave the viewer breathless for more. Khushhal Khan and Ramsha Khan are fantastic; whether it is as conflicted lovers or adversaries, they are always in control of their characters. Naumaan Ijaz and Manzar Sehbai are wonderful antagonists, with Sami Khan providing an excellent “voice of reason” and moderation track. As the series progresses, the character development has improved and excitement for each episode has built up under director Shahid Shafaat. This is the perfect time to binge-watch this entertaining show. Azaan Sami Khan, Komal Mir, Gohar Rasheed and Hina Chaudhry star in a multi-layered story about abuse and shifting relationships.