A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Fraud Episode 11 & 12 (2022). The new TV series is directed by Saqib Khan and written by Zanjabeel Asim. Fraud is a story of love, innocence and treachery as our protagonist is manipulated into marrying a forged personality. Fraud is an iDream Entertainment and ARY Digital Production.
+ Crew
- Directed by Saqib Khan
- Written by Zanjabeel Asim
- Produced by Abdullah Seja
- Production by iDream Entertainment
+ Note
Fraud is a case study of Pakistani families who always strive for betterment of their children. Obsession with wealth and power almost always ends up leading to unfavorable consequences. The director Saqib Khan is known for his numerous television projects and his upcoming cinematic film Ghabrana Nahi Hai (2022).
+ Main Cast
- Saba Qamar as Maya
- Ahsan Khan as Tabriaz
- Mikaal Zulfiqar as Shaan
- Rabia Kulsoom as Maila
- Adnan Samad Khan as Nael
- Mehmood Aslam as Nisar
+ Plot
Fraud is a story of Maya whose father wants her to marry into the richest family that he could find. But wealth does not equal character as she ends up marrying a wealthy man named Tabriaz who, through his trickery, makes life for Maya full of deceit and fraud.
+ High Points
i – These past few episodes have brought Fraud into a new narrative direction and a whole new cast of characters. As Tabriaz and company gears up for their next victim, Maya and family struggle to get back to normality as the Policeman falls for Maila. While not as enticing as the first five episodes, Fraud is settling down on a narrative path and evidently down the line, the paths of Maya and Tabriaz will cross once again. It’s at least intriguing to see how the show plays this “double narrative” (or even triple) between Maya’s family, Tabriaz’s new con job and Shaan’s post separation woes.
ii – The newly introduced Police Officer Talal could potentially be an interesting character, a stark contrast to Nael and Tabriaz if the show plays their cards right. What the show does right for me at the moment is its vast cast of characters with their own personalities and problems that could contribute well into the show’s narrative.
iii – A well thought out decision by the show runners to move the next setting to the rural areas of Pakistan. It brings a much needed visual change for the audience as well as a fresh frame of mind for them.
+ Low Points
i – Unfortunately it is becoming increasingly clear that Fraud’s big hurrah was indeed the Revelation of the ‘Fraud’ job done by Tabriaz (and company) and the Betrayal of Nael. Since then, the show is not as engaging as it used to be. Sure, there are a few subplots pushing the main narrative forward but nothing seems fresh as it once was. How many times will we see the Nisar family being betrayed or Maya contemplating her fate when it comes to men. The only way the show can work now is that they make Maya the center of attention. She can’t constantly stay in the shadows and complain about her life. With repetitive misfortunes, it very quickly turns into a farce and in the end, comical. I also can’t understand how the Nisar family is again so eager to get their Maya married off when they just suffered such public humiliation… twice.
ii – Speaking of humiliation, the Rishta scene in Episode 12 just did not work. So apparently Talal and Maila studied together and spent most of their academic time together. Talal just had a brief chat with the older sister Maya in the hospital waiting room and for some reason, the Nisar family thought that he was interested in her and not the girl he spent most of his time with? This really just felt like forced drama/ misunderstanding to prolong the life of the show and felt unnecessary.
iii – With reference to the scene above, Rabya Kalsoom as Maila felt as if she was trying too hard to make the scene work. It has now become a trait of her character that she starts lecturing everyone who she comes across, regardless of Age, class or situation. Also Talal apparently just walked into her room without ever knocking or permission… Seriously, who does that?
iv – The Shaan subplot still lacks any motivation for me to comment upon. Moving on.
+ Overall
An entertaining watch but the show already seems like a shadow of its former self.
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