A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Parizaad Episode 26 (2021). The new TV series is directed by Shehzad Kashmiri and written by Hashim Nadeem. Parizaad is a Momina Duraid Production.
(Note: If you’ve already read the review of the previous episode, you can skip directly ahead to the High points section).
+ Crew
- Directed by Shehzad Kashmiri
- Written by Hashim Nadeem
- Produced by Momina Duraid Productions
+ Note
Parizaad is based on a novel by Hashim Nadeem and is a case study of a protagonist who cannot seem to find his place in a world where illicit behaviour and exploitation is rewarded over truth and kindness. The show explores the lower middle class societal problems of Pakistan and how a wallflower like Parizaad is never appreciated by our society.
The director of the show Shehzad Kashmiri is a well respected cinematographer who then moved towards directing TV shows. He also directed a feature length film Bin Roye in 2015 which earned him a nomination for Best Film Director at 15th Lux Style Awards.
+ Main Cast
- Noman Ejaz
- Ahmed Ali Akbar
- Syed Muhammad Ahmed
- Urwa Hussain
- Ushna Shah
- Yumna Zaidi
- Saboor Ali
- Mashal Khan
- Tipu Shah
- Kiran Tabeer
+ Plot
Born in a world of neglect and hurt, Parizaad is an innocent soul that differs from everyone. He is kind, thoughtful and a gentle soul who due to his nature and appearance, does not fit the societal norms of Pakistani culture. Will the devious modern society engulf Parizaad into its darkness or will he remain a beacon of hope and all that is good in Life?
+ High Points
i – This week produced yet another great episode. The pacing was great, we also got a new revelation which could significantly change the dynamics of the last few episodes of the show. The episode also contained some great dramatic scenes, particularly in the later part of the hour. Although the conclusion of the series still remains to be seen, the show has done a fantastic job in potentially bringing the events and relationships to a satisfying conclusion.
ii – It is admirable that whenever Parizaad needs to make an important, moral decision, he always goes back to his old friend Nasaaz. Someone who gave him courage in the past, who made him believe in himself. So it is obvious that with the decision of sacrificing the love of his life, Parizaad would once again fall back to his old friend yet again. But perhaps this time, he has gone to the well once too often and might have ended up interpreting the advice in the worst possible way. Absolutely brilliant writing by Hashim Nadeem!
iii – The moment of solitude for Parizaad was undoubtedly the highlight of the episode. This sans dialogue moment packed in a lot of emotion and heartbreak that the show Parizaad is so excellent at displaying. The urge to grasp and hold onto his “happiness” is burning inside him. Why does he always get the short end of the stick? Why do people who display kindness and empathy also end up last? No, for Parizaad, this time is his. He will seize his moment…. By any means necessary!
iv – And this led up to the shocking turn of events at the conclusion of the episode. Will Parizaad really go through it? Will he finally succumb to the dark side? One of the finest cliffhangers this show has ever produced!
+ Low Points
i – Since his introduction, I was questioning why the character of Sharjeel has been introduced so late into the show and now, we all know why. He plays a foil, a roadblock to Parizaad’s path to eternal happiness. And that unfortunately seems a bit too convenient for the plot of the show. Could they have not introduced him a bit earlier (or even mentioned him at some point) because this is not the most skilled way of creating obstacles for our protagonist. Just like real life, characters and events should evolve naturally from the plot of the show and not just for the sake of convenience for our character to react because the script wants it to be that way. I do not mind Sharjeel’s introduction into the show nor his hidden love for Annie but this all could have been much better presented.
+ Overall
Episode 26 proved to be a catalyst that could potentially lead up to something to a shocking finish!
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