'Airlines': Episode 9 (26/10) - My review:)

AIRLINES- 26 Oct, 2014- My review

Whew! What an episode!!!😳

Honestly, though, I had mixed feelings about it. 🤔Brace yourselves for a long write-up.🤓 And I mean, LOOONNNGGG😆

Here goes.😳

THE HIGHS

WELL-CHOSEN THEME:⭐️

Ananya with many passengers at the Jaipur airport is caught in a hostage situation when a distraught and mentally disturbed security guard opens fire.

I found the situation to be quite relatable, considering the senseless acts of violence that we read about in the papers every other day, when someone with a gun loses their precarious mental balance and unleashes their fury on hapless, innocent victims. Only yesterday, we had the reports in the newspaper of a teenage boy gunning down two of his school mates in a high school in the US.

The episode also served as quite a chilling reminder of how shabbily we treat our personnel from the armed forces, border security forces and many others. Their long durations of work, often extending for months without a reprieve, not giving them enough holidays to connect with families and friends. And adding insult to injury, the measly recompense for the selfless services they render to us. Kudos to the writers for bringing this up and delineating it so perfectly.👏

THE UNEXPECTED FOLLOW-UP...

To the Akash-Ananya situation. I mean, none of us saw that coming! I thought the episode would begin with Ananya at the airport, leaving behind the room keys at the reception or something. But what do we have here- they have a confrontation! My, My! Be still, my shipper heart🤪

THE...DISPLAY...😃😳

Clearly there was a lot on display for us mooning, awestruck Akash fans.😉

Akash. In a shower. Topless. And water cascading over his broad shoulders. Enough said🤪

A million thanks to Yudhistir Urs for giving us our daily share of eye candy😉⭐️And BTW, did our man get a similar...display when he unexpectedly popped into the hotel room without knocking😉😳 I guess that bit is left to our fertile imaginations😆

GIRL POWER⭐️

Ananya was on a roll with yesterday's episode! A true embodiment of woman power indeed!👏

First, the emotional strength she demonstrated by giving Akash a piece of her mind in the corridor. I totally agree with Ananya's attitude in yesterday's episode. She has clearly had enough, and is not willing to put up with Akash blowing hot and cold without an explanation. I applauded her when Akash was rambling about Natasha and how he needed to be there and blah, blah, blah..and she left without speaking a wordAnd the way Akash follows her, anxious to clear the air, while she shakes him off (literally), saying "You don't owe me an explanation". You go, girl!..😎

And of course, the way in which she remained calm throughout the stressful situation and was at her empathetic best, trying to help her fellow detainees. Her concern for the child's mother, the newly-wed couple, etc,. And how smartly she kept leaving behind clues- making a call by the phone, giving the rescue team an audio input, or leaving a code in blood. Awesome.👏

SHIPPER BITS❤️

Lot of AkYa moments to heart for us shippers- the writers went on a rampage, and I am not complaining!😊

- The song, "Kuch Khaas hai" Very appropriately chosen and timed, considering the changing dynamic between Akash and Ananya, as the two of them ponder about their changing feelings. Something special, khaas, IS indeed brewing. And the two seemed to have woken up to it. But the attitudes of the two are considerably varied. In the beginning, Akash had his heart closed, while Ananya was more open and demonstrative. But now we have a role reversal, with Akash eager to woo his ladylove, while she seems no longer invested in giving them a chance.

-Akash fingering Ananya's batch. Very telling, because it is their common love for flying that has made and strengthened their bond.⭐️

-Ananya addressing Capt. Saluja as "Akash".

-Akash losing his cool head and becoming reckless when he sees the gunman pointing the trigger at Ananya.

- The many epiphanies that Akash had in the span of one episode.

- Firstly, his recognition that Ananya was in danger and how much that shook the very core of his soul. He took charge immediately after getting Shefali's call, and as much as admitted to the immensely self-centred Natasha that one of his loved ones is inside, and he can't be an inert and passive spectator.

-Secondly, his love confession. Yes, because he admitted something to the effect after the corridor scene that he can't carry their relationship further because of his assignment.

-And perhaps the most important one- his heartbroken admission that he has lot more at stake than he realized, when he sees what he presumes to be Ananya's blood on the floor😭

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LOWS

Though my listing of the highs seems to be quite lengthy, there were quite a bit downsides to the episode as well. And in my humble opinion, these shortcomings considerably lowered the quality of the episode.

THE TREATMENT OF THE THEME

For a show that has built itself to be quite an engrossing thriller, the depiction of the hostage situation was quite a downer.

For one, I fail to understand how a single gunman could fire so many bullets, opening fire continuously, and yet manage to have many more in his arsenal.

The hostages were twenty or more in number, but even a small airport must have had more in its main area! They should at least have shown the other passengers being evacuated or fleeing from the scene. And though they were pointed references to Jaipur being a small airport, I find it plain incredible that there were only THREE! security guards on duty.

POOR DIRECTION AND EDITING😡

I am observing this a lot nowadays, but the episode seemed so rushed and poorly edited. The pace wasn't steady, and there was absolutely no time for the emotional impact of the scenes to sink in. It all happened so quickly!

There was absolutely no time for us to empathize with them- the victims just came and went in quick succession- the child and his mother, the young man who was beaten mercilessly, the asthmatic man and then the newly wed couple.😕 And though the husband was shown as being helped by his wife and Ananya, you were left to wonder what happened to the injured youth and the asthmatic man lying on the floor.😲

The Akash-Natasha scene left much to be desired and it seemed to be chopped off abruptly. It would have been satisfying to see Akash giving the clueless and entitled Natasha a piece of his mind! You kind of wonder how that clingy girl let him go to the airport in the first place.😲

THE DUMBING DOWN OF AKASH😡

Yes, you heard it right! 🥱I wasn't really pleased with how they depicted Akash in this episode, he cut a sorry figure. The way he endangered the lives of the hostages in his moment of recklessness, for example. You could argue that he is a man in love and all that, but he did not behave the way a cool-headed military man and an intelligence agent to boot, was supposed to.

And I did not appreciate how Akash was praising Ananya's negotiation skills. There is a reason there is a special training in place for that, since such men are loose cannons and cannot be tackled by talking continuously. There are tactics to be specially adopted for the situation, and they should've shown Akash using them than making Ananya the smarta** as always.

On the contrary, they showed him a fool- I for one disliked that. As much as I want our ladies on TV to be smarter, I don't want it done at the expense of our heroes.🥱

And is Akash letting all his secrets unravel without a thought- because he is opening up his heart for all to see by acknowledging that he has a lot at stake when he spots the pool of blood, which he presumes to be Ananya's. And how he pretty much showed that he is not an ordinary commercial pilot, by getting all sorts of clearances, and contacts at high places. Even that clueless Kaul was able to ask all the right questions about who exactly Akash is and what he does. Wonder what these revelations will bode for Akash's super-secret (NOT!) assignment.🤢

THE AKASH-ANANYA DYNAMIC

I was like, whoa! What the hell happened? Did I miss an episode or two?😲 The changes in their dynamic seemed to be too quick for comfort. I would have liked to see more of Akash's conflict in his mind about Ananya, and some angst on both sides as well. But all the revelations, insecurities and jealousies were dealt with in one swoop! There are still a good 17 episodes left, writers. Please slow it down!!!

The only hope is for Rohit to come and mess things up. Or it seems like these two will be running around trees and singing duets and serenading each other. What's the hurry?

THE THRILLER/ROMANCE IMBALANCE

As I said before, the romance has been paced too quickly, while the thriller elements are taking forever to be explored. The writing should balance the two so that ALL viewers, whether of one or both genres, are satisfied.😳

THE GUNMAN...

With a horrible Rajasthani accent, and poor acting skills to boot. Couldn't they have chosen someone more convincing, considering that this is an important part?👎🏼

THE HAPLESS RESCUE TEAM🤢

The rescue team was completely inept. Yes, they were. Though they had a map spread out and all that, there seemed to be enough vantage points to strike and kill the gunman. And they miserably failed. And the leader, Kaul, was all talk and no show.

NO ROHIT😲

I guess we all got a pachka because we were eagerly anticipating his entry and it was very disappointing not to see him😭

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But all is not lost, because of...

THE PROGRESS, AND THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:

1. We learnt that Ananya has a bone to pick with her father. Apparently the girl has daddy issues. She does not even like to hear her father being mentioned. Does it have a link to the conspiracy that Akash is unravelling? Was her father a military man himself? How did he die? Lots of exciting possibilities!⭐️

2. The misunderstandings between Akash and Ananya will definitely be cleared, considering that Akash pretty much put his life at stake for her, which was seen by Ananya clearly. Perhaps it will remove her apprehensions about a possible relationship with the man.😃

3. Ananya now KNOWS that Akash holding a gun is not a mere co-incidence. He knows its way around it too well. Will she realize that there is more to him than meets the eye? What will this bode for their relationship?

4. Rohit's entry, and how it will change their dynamic.😉

MY EVALUATION OF THE EPISODE- Five out of ten

Yes, that's how much I was disappointed.🥱 But again, it's just me. How did you guys feel? Please do share your valuable opinions on this thread.😃

Originally posted by: -Amri-

^ Thanks a lot, Khushi. I agree completely with what you have said.'

Have an assignment to complete, will give a detailed reply later:)

Originally posted by: KHUSHI-99

Amri this was really a detailed analysis👏,,What I liked was:

The slight transition ..I mean in their relationship..no I mean we know its gonna happen so..they are showing it slowly ...and heading towards it, The song selection,and the corresponding scenes were good.I guess thats the ONLY MAIN thing in short that I like the most.

The idea of a terrorist attack was good but it could have come out more well..I also feel that always showing Ananya at an upper hand is pissing off at times.Akash actually risked lives running like that ...Yup I know people can say that that was a spontaneous reaction BUT what he did was not expected out of 'AKASH THE COOL MAN'.

And not introducing Rohit till now...was also a bit disappointing.

It could have been better...Just waiting for the next epi, If you ask for rating..I would have given a '5'..

😊 Thanks for reading .

I was very happy with the episode because my guess turned right.Akash is the savior. I knew Akaksh would save and it would have nothing to do with Rohit's entry. It might be a separate track which will merge in a episode or two.I think the writers have two many things to close in just another less than 18 episodes so they might hasten up tracks.My gut feeling says the next few episodes will be focus more on the investigation and Rohit.There are still hijack and flight attacked by birds track to be shown.

Originally posted by: -Amri-

AIRLINES- 26 Oct, 2014- My review

Whew! What an episode!!!😳

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