A review on Pakistani drama TV series, Fraud Episode 17 (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 – Episode 17 was a mixed bag but mostly entertaining. It’s high time that the show has finally connected all the three parallel plots together, bringing a much needed sense of cohesion to the main narrative of the show. Although there were no real surprises in the episode, it did (nonetheless) move all the three plots forward. I am somewhat intrigued where this is all heading.
ii – The redemption arc of Nisar sahib’s sister was genuinely a fantastic scene. The melodrama was well timed and executed, not to mention the great performances from Mehmood Aslam as Nisar. Its a real shame that the character of Nael has been almost non-existent ever since he left Maya at the altar because he has personality in spades compared to the other two male leads of the show.
iii – Tabriaz and his recent “project” will surely spell the end of him and his money making schemes. I find the narrative connection of Tabriaz and Shaan’s sister well written and makes perfect sense (considering the sister’s character and why she could only fall for guys who could lie their way to put a ring around her finger. In the past, I have criticized Fraud for a lot of terrible writing but this is a case where the writing truly excels in the whole narrative scheme of things.
+ Low Points
i – I’m not sure if the show wants the audience to feel empathetic and sorry for Shaan’s ill fate in love or make fun of him (clearly, I have opted for the latter). Instead of sympathetic and loving, Shaan comes off as a whiny, overgrown manchild who can’t handle his personal life. It is an unfortunate conglomerate of bad screenwriting, direction and performance that truly makes Shaan the worst character on the show.
ii – The only reason the Nisar family was forced to move to Lahore is so that their narrative can finally connect with the Shaan family. And… this seems somewhat lazy writing. I really liked how the show connected Tabriaz with Shaan’s family as it felt more genuine and made perfect sense for the show. I guess we all have to wait for the inevitable confrontation of Maya and Tabriaz and hopefully, it will be as epic and melodramatic as it sounds!
+ Overall
Now that the “filler” episodes are in the past, Fraud seems somewhat interesting and fun to watch again.
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