Posted:
I am speechless. Frigging speechless. This was the AWESOMEST maha episode -- no, it was the awesomest episode -- of Saubhagyavati Bhava? to have ever aired. 
Hands down. I don't know who I love more -- RaghaVi or the writers?
WARNING: This feedback will contain the words loved it, frigging awesome a lot of times. I tried to search my vocabulary for fresh words, but my mind's not co-operating right now as I'm still seeing the episode recap inside my head.
First, I'd like to thank the entire creative team behind tonight's episode. I don't know what epiphany they had in the past few days, but they've been working hard, and tonight they delivered a power-packed episode. It was so well-scripted, so well-executed. I don't think that I'll be able to find anything wrong with it at all. And I always try, really hard, to find at least one con about the episodes.
The writers are back in their right element. Tonight, all the pieces finally came together. I feel amazed, excited, thrilled, impatient to watch the next episode. There was suspense, yes, but it was balanced and it never overpowered the flow or the emotional sequences of the episode. There was character development, relationship growth, and a moral message delivered to the audience. Evil was not glorified, but patronized. There was so much in tonight's episode character and content wise -- I don't even know where to start or where to end.
I'll try, though. But guys, I swear. The episode is a MUST watch. You do not want to miss any of it for the world. Plus in the wake of tonight's episode, RaghaVi will gain more fans. They were on fire.
Also, FINALLY Sia has reached the point where she wants to end her relationship to V as in once and for all. I am so frigging proud of her for this. Mwah!
Before the pros, I'm gonna highlight two scenes that were, well, the biggest highlights of any show on Indian TV -- ever!
Highlight #1: Raghav/Sia vs Romeo/Juliet in the awesomest lovers-seperated scene
Sia spots Raghav being taken away!
Sia fights like mad for him and Raghav makes her stop!
Raghav signals for her to be strong!
Lord have mercy. I'm speechless. I don't know how many times that I watched this scene, but it's been A LOT of times now and I can still watch it again -- and again. This was just the most beautiful, tragically beautiful, and awesomest "lovers are separated" scene that I've ever seen on TV. Ever. I swear. I don't know where to find the words to describe how absolutely fantastic this entire shot was.
From the second Sia spotted Raghav being taken to the police car to the moment that he signed for her to stay quiet, wipe her tears, and stay strong. He'd be back. There were no words spoken between them, except when Raghav shouted her name to break through to her as she was panicking. My God. What brilliant performances by Harshad and Sriti. I'm just in awe.
The desperation in the way Sia struggled with the cops to reach Raghav, refusing to back down, repeating over and over that they couldn't take him, that he was innocent. And the concern and shock/surprise on Raghav's face as he watched her fight them for him, as he realized that she was about to break again and he couldn't allow it to happen. Just loved Harshad's expressions at seeing Sia fight for Raghav's freedom like a tigress protecting her injured mate.
Gosh. Someone gimme water.
This entire scene was played out to its full potential. The performances were beyond the realm of amazing. They were MINDBLOWING. I loved how Raghav shouted her name. I loved how Sia was held back by the stick, how both were held separated even as they struggled against the restrains -- and I just frigging loved it when Raghav got into the car, locked eyes with her, and signalled for her to hush, wipe her tears, and stay strong. That just-- I don't know how to put words on it. Breathtaking. Just breathtaking. Especially as Sia did exactly what he told her to do -- no questions asked, believing in him.
It conveyed the amount of respect and love and trust she actually has in him -- even if she hasn't realized it herself yet. She's getting there, though.
For the first time, Jahnvi now Sia, has fallen in love and felt what it's like to love someone so much that you can't stand the mere thought of their absence in your life.
Harshad and Sriti's chemistry? It killed me and revived me. I loved every second of it.
I want to clarify that I always hated the story of Romeo/Juliet. I always found them childish and stupid. Which is why I'm saying Raghav/Sia VERSUS Romeo/Juliet. RaghaVi are SO MUCH BETTER. They totally redefined love for me.
Highlight #2: Sia slaps V so hard that his entire body moves with it
Sia slaps V! The irony of the scene? V ends up bowing to Sia instead! Watch his bent back xD
I screamed. In delight. Then I laughed at V. Oh, and then I did a little happy dance that I'd rather not include a gif of. What I'm trying to say is that this slap -- it was not just a slap. It was so much more than that. It was a knife in V's guts. It was a dent in his ego. It marked a new beginning for Sia, a powerful beginning for her -- Jahnvi has officially merged into Sia and transformed into a tigress who stared at V without a single tear in her eyes and then she shoved him off his pedestal until he landed facedown in the mud. That's what it was.
Sriti's performance? I have no words for it. Let's just say that I've never loved her as much as I did tonight. She frigging rocked it. The force that she put behind that slap -- my God, it had V's entire body turning rather than just his head.
I loved the entire scene. I loved her silence. I loved how she looked at him with so much hate, so much disgust in her eyes -- like she'd finally realized what a monster she'd lived with, allowed to control her emotions and thoughts and life. Like she'd finally realized that she had a will of her own. She looked like she'd finally found her feet. No confusion -- no, absolutely no confusion anymore as to what she feels for him. There was only hatred. Only disgust. I loved it.
Thank you, writers, for finally getting Sia's character straight. For giving her power without making it seem unrealistic in relation to her character.
Also, once she slapped him and once she tells him that she's ending everything between, no bond between them at all -- it'll make way for his transformation into becoming worse. This will be the blow that will make him turn completely super-duper-scary villain with no restrains, nothing to hold him back from doing exactly the worst possible things one can even imagine. I can't wait!
>> Pros:
1) V is turning his violence loose on Unniyal
Has anyone else noticed it?
V needs to oppress someone. He needs people to worship him. Unniyal is oppressed so easily because he has some kind of admiration for V, or he wants to kiss his butt and I've no clue why. V has started hitting him more and more. I do wonder where the writers are headed with Unniyal's character. Will he take it from V and continue to worship him? Or will he, at some point, attempt to run/get out?
If you notice it, Unniyal has started to react to V's violence. He's more nervous now. He's neglecting things, making more mistakes.
2) Sia's character has been given more layers now
I am so immensely relieved that the writers are finally adding layers to Sia. She has been given more depth tonight through the flashbacks of her childhood and that small incident with the coins buried in the ground -- that detail was important, because it showed a more personal and deep side of Sia's relationship to her parents. I always felt that it was a bit unrelatable, but that coin scene tonight made me feel the connection between Sia and her father.
I liked how Raghav was a part of Sia digging up the coins from her childhood again. That somehow made the scene more important and their relationship deeper, personal.
Plus, I feel like Sia is more steady and consistent now. She's not confused, swinging from scared to stupid to pretending to be strong. No, she's found her feet now. And she's been given brains by the writers in the past few episodes, including tonight.
Something else is that you FINALLY understand Sia's psychology. She panics because it's her initial response to danger and insecurity -- but now she's found her anchor in Raghav who calms her down, breaking through her anxiety attacks.
3) The Reunion with Dadi and the rest of her family at the temple
What a wonderfully emotional scene. I loved it. What I loved the most, though, was when Dadi took her hand and she didn't look shocked -- just happy, comprehending more than anyone else would have in her situation. The writers remembered the relationship or the connection, should I say, between Dadi and Jahnvi. It hasn't changed.
When Dadi saw Sia, she understood right away and I saw pride on her face. I saw pride and relief and joy. That Dadi's Jahnvi had gotten out. That she had made it away from V and that she'd lived.
I also loved how Sia's mother kept hugging her over and over. Very beautiful scene.
4) The symbolism of Ram/Raghav
Man, there can be no doubt.
I loved how they showed Raghav in front of the god, wearing that shawl [he looked damn sexy, mind you], and the Raghupati Raghav tune was back and it was just powerful. That instant, I felt HOPE like never before. Raghav represented that hope, that securty, safety. And a love that will blow our minds *blush*
5) Raghav meets Sia's family [except her other sister]
Brilliant moment. For one thing, I loved how Gangadhar thanked Raghav and how he got all embarrassed and "how do I deal with this", because Sia's father was thanking him. He is definitely not "meet my parents" material. Heh. He didn't know how to react to them and it was pretty cute. Loved it.
Wonder why Sia's mother didn't say anything to him?
6) Sia has fallen in love with Raghav
It's official. Enough said. The way that she stared at him? That was respect and trust and love. Not worshipping or "oh, he's so big and above everyone, including me" like it used to be with V. No, this was something else entirely. This was right.
7) Raghav and Gangadhar conversation
Okay, this made me laugh. Raghav was insecure around her father. He looked like one of those teens who show up to ask a girl's dad if he can take her on a date, or something. I just loved Harshad's performance in this scene. Fantastic.
Best part was when Raghav said that it's not necessary for there to be a relationship b/w two people in order to provide help. I so did not buy it, because he started fumbling and it was like someone had stamped "I'M IN LOVE WITH YOUR DAUGHTER, SIR!" on his forehead. Just too funny, and awesome.
8) Sia's mother tells her to file for divorce and Dadi supports her
I want to hug the writers for this.
I take back the part where I once said that Sia should reach this conclusion on her own. I take it back, because her mother saying it was so much more important and right. This is where the social message came in as well. It was a message to all mothers of victims out there that do NOT tell your daughter to stay in marriage to her abuser and rob her of any potential happiness. Tell her to GET OUT. Tell her to DIVORCE him. End it.
That's the right thing to do.
After three months with no social message, it was refreshing to see the writers back to the essence of the show, which is good overpowers evil and the right social messages for the girls out there, so that they make the right choices for themselves.
9) V's feeling out of control and it's making his OCPD show
I noticed this in the way that he wanted Unniyal to clean his shoes, clean his car, etc. This was realistic. When he feels out of control, his OCPD starts to really show. The stress. No one can complain that V isn't in character, because he's more in character now than he's been for the past three months.
He's back to his parmeshwar behavior, looking at himself in the mirror all the time, talking down to people, being self-absorbed and thinking that he's the center of the universe and all things revolve around him.
10) Sia has started to understand Raghav and catch onto his jokes
In the car when he joked about the thank-you and tears, she got the joke. This is actually incredibly important -- because Sia didn't use to get his jokes or pay enough attention to them or even joke back. But tonight, she got his joke and humor and she even played along. It made their relationship grow.
I'm loving it. This scene was really sweet and funny and just frigging awesome.
11) Raghav vs Cops back home and Gayatri calms him down
Man, I loved this scene with the cops. For one thing, I got really scared when Raghav did not have the evidence on him, because I'd had a bad feeling about it all night. What I just loved was 1) how Sia reminded him of it, because he was too distracted to think of it as it was a shock to see the cops there, and 2) that she ran out to stop the cab driver.
Next, I frigging loved the eye-contact Gayatri made with Raghav, holding him steady, and then telling him that she had complete faith in him, that she'd get him out of this mess. For one thing, it was in character for Gayatri, and another thing is that I just love Raghav and Gayatri's relationship. She calmed him down with one look and she knew exactly what he needed to hear from her, that he was afraid she'd doubt him.
12) Sia runs after the cab and breaks down in despair
This was an awesome scene. It showed Sia's desperation. V had targeted Raghav and it was of utmost importance to her to get that evidence for him. I loved how she just kept on running until she was out of air, and how she kept whispering "please, stop" even after the cab had gone completely out of sight.
As if it would magically reappear if she kept willing it to. Really sad scene and Sriti's performance was frigging awesome.
13) V demands that Sia bow to him
I loved how confident he was that she'd bow. The way he came down the banister, sliding and landing on his feet like a predator, singing that song. UGH. Creep.
He wanted Sia to bow to him, because more important than punishing her, he wanted her to reassure him that he was her God. That was more important to him at that time. I'm sure the punishment would've come later. He doesn't forgive that easily. Nor does he forget. And mercy is not in his Evil Dictionary.
Actually, it reminded me of a scene from the cartoon Mulan in which the villain points his sword at the emperor and says "bow to me", and the emperor answers that "no matter how loud the wind howls, the mountain will not bow to it."
14) Powerful dialogues from the entire cast, flow, no rushed sequences, all great
Self-explanatory.
15) Evil is no longer glorified
We've seen it in how V didn't catch Sia in Manali, how divine powers put obstacles in his way, how Sia slapped him. But one other evidence was when a plant cramped his style. When he stepped up on his car, calling himself Jahnvi's parmeshwar again, there was a plant to his left that ruined it for him and he smacked it away. That alone showed that he will no longer be glorified. He will be the only one who worships himself.
After tonight, we've been proven that all characters are in character and along with that, they're developing toward what they must become. Sia will become fierce now -- because she finally has something to lose. Raghav.
One final thing: We seriously need a new montage now. Raghav and Sia are equal to V in this fight. In the montage, they should be equals to V's size too 😳
