Posted:
Great episode tonight.
There wasn't much story progression, but that's alright. There was something much better which was character development and consistency, flow, and powerful dialogues. Having seen the new promo earlier today, I have to admit that I'm quite excited about uncovering what the writers have in mind for our three leads. Where is the story taking them? Where are each of them headed, character-wise? Questions, and hopefully some answers soon.
I'm hoping that Raghav was in the promo as Sia's "groom". I won't be able to stand V and Sia marrying [again] and the cycle starting over. She finally ended their relationship once and for all. Now I want to see her take up the legal battle with Raghav as her support. He has the resources to support her through a divorce battle against V.
Moving on to tonight's episode...
>> Pros:
1) Cops invade Gayatri's home in search for Raghav and Gayatri is pissed
This was an awesome scene with the actress who portrays Gayatri and that sleezy, idiot cop who got bribed. The cops invaded her home, searching for her son. I'll seriously give her credit for remaining so calm and composed while strangers went through her private quarters, knowing the kind of respect Gayatri has earned in Gurgaon.
The cop, in fact, accused Gayatri of helping Raghav escape/hide, which made her pissed and she basically told him to shut up. I loved her performance. She was fierce. This is the same woman who slapped a cop in front of a crowd, the same woman who weakened in front of Raghav at the hospital out of fear of losing him, crying. There are so many layers to Raghav's mother. She's a treat to watch.
I loved how the writers emphasized her strongest character trait -- honesty. She told the cop that if Raghav had indeed turned up, then she would've sent him back to prison. Not hidden him. She's not someone who uses the wrong means to reach an end. She is, as she said in her own words, someone who respects the law and uses the right means to reach whatever end in any given situation.
I liked how she told Komal that maybe she'd never understood Raghav. It wasn't so much that she didn't believe his innocence. In fact, it wasn't that at all. She was disappointed in him, because he hadn't considered the consequences of his actions.
2) V playing Spiderman in his room
V had some hilarious dialogues tonight. They were refreshing. I was sick of the same old "I'm coming for you, jaan" lines. Something that was evident in tonight's episode was that V is out of control, stressed, and verging on desperation. He's going psycho. If the weird Spiderman moves, the Death Mask, and his restless mannerism was any indication.
He's isolating himself, obsessing over Jahnvi and her lack of fear, which means that he's missing things around him again and again. He's making mistakes. First thing, he didn't have anyone keep an eye on Raghav in prison. And as we all know, this is a detail that V would've normally covered. But because he is so tense, obsessing over Jahnvi, he can think of nothing else.
His downfall has already begun.
In fact, I noticed how the writers stopped glorifying him completely tonight. Which I am so grateful for. V is losing his cool. He's the only one who still thinks that he's all that, but we all see how he's losing it. It's pathetic, and I'm loving it. In a way, his punishment has been set into motion. Though he hasn't realized it himself yet.
Through all his talk of pain and his tests with pain last night, it occurred to me that maybe he was never a victim of physical abuse since he doesn't understand pain, since the pain on his body actually shocks/surprises him. He can't take physical pain. One would think that his pain threshold would be high if he'd been through abuse himself. But it isn't. He can't even take a needle prick on his finger. Which makes me wonder if his mother was the one who endured his father's abuse and protected V from it [something that she did, in fact, tell Jahnvi.]
Lines that cracked me up: "he's such a gunda" and "crazy boy, idhar se udhar uchalta rehta hai".
3) "O, Raghav, O, Raghav, why art thou Raghav?"
I loved this entire scene. Raghav knocked on the window like some Romeo, and then just as he'd gotten inside, his eyes fell on Sia's burned feet. His expression went taut. I loved, loved, loved it. Something that I noticed about Raghav was that he hadn't really been able to relate to what Sia had gone through up until now. I think that he imagined things like V slapping her around -- not actual torture like her feet getting boiled.
It was when he stood there, staring down at her raw feet that he realized what she'd really meant by "V caused me pain". The realization stunned him for a long moment, and then fury took over and had him heading for the door to beat up V. I swear -- at some point V's really gonna get it from Raghav. I'm looking forward to that day.
Sia kept scolding him, oblivious to what he'd seen. And I cracked up when she said "why are you lowering your eyes now?" Priceless line and the way Sriti said it was even better. Just fantastic performances by Harshad and Sriti here.
The way that she stalled him, grabbing his arm with the "aap ko meri kasam" line, it had him stopping dead and turning around to face her. She knows just what works on him and she's not shy of using it. I like that.
Fantastic flow here as the scene switched from lightness to something heavier -- Sia said that she couldn't bear to lose her own again [note: she considered Raghav her own, but didn't realize herself what she'd said], and FINALLY she mentioned her child again. What I was grateful for was the mention of Geeta, the woman who supported her and without whom she would've never escaped in the first place. That woman's soul never got peace, because V scattered her ashes in his room and drew a smiley in them.
4) Raghav listens to Sia's thoughts and helps her soothe the pain
It was interesting to hear Sia's pondering. She said that sometimes she wondered if she'd been to blame for her past more than V [I liked that she put this thought out there, kind of like a message to viewers], which showed us that she was finally starting to break out of her victim mentality, taking responsibility rather than self-pitying. I kind of wish that she hadn't cried when she spoke of this, but being human, it made sense.
I liked how she said "kher" and moved on briskly.
Best part was when Raghav said that he'd never call her Jahnvi again. Because she isn't Jahnvi any longer. She's Sia. I loved the reverence in his voice. The way he looked at her conveyed pain. He was in pain for her, but also proud. Tears in his eyes, but not falling. Perfect. Note the smiles that passed between the two of them. Full of understanding.
Plus the message was delivered to the audience. Jahnvi is dead. This is Sia.
Raghav didn't put the balm on her feet. This was actually symbolic. He helped her with it by providing the balm, but he didn't put it on her feet -- she did that herself. It shows what kind of solid support, the anchor, that he'll be in her life. He won't cuddle her, but he won't desert her to endure her pain alone either. He'll help her through it every step of the way.
The shot of them on the bed was really sweet too. There was an innocence about it and I liked that, because it's one of the strongest trademarks of Raghav/Sia's relationship.
5) V tries to manipulate Gayatri [again] and Sia shuts him up in front of everyone
When Gayatri said "apna naashta kijiye, Viraj", I had to laugh. Of course V doesn't take a hint. He went on about Raghav being irresponsible, shaming the family. And just as I was about to throw something at my TV screen, Sia did the honors by simply shutting him up for me.
The manner in which she spoke was awesome -- quiet, voice lowered, but firm. Everyone heard her. No one interrupted until she was done. She practically accused him of calling Raghav a criminal [which he actually did], and she accused him of not supporting the truth [underlying meaning in her words], but everyone at the table got the hint, even V got the hint this time, and BOY was he pissed. He apologized [and then later blamed Sia for it, as per usual].
The smile on Gayatri's face when Sia shut him up was was appreciative, full of relief.
6) Sia brings food for Raghav in her room and tells him to turn himself in
Something I liked a lot was how Raghav apologized for needing her to bring him food as she couldn't walk very well. It was a small detail tossed in, but it said a lot about Raghav. He's always aware of other people's pain.
When they sat down on her bed and Sia watched him while he ate, it cracked me up. It was just sweet. She told him about Gayatri being upset and that made him hesitate for a second, sandwich half-eaten. Then he resumed eating, trying to ignore the guilt -- unsuccessfully. The way he said that he had to do this for Sundar and everyone that he cared about was kind of beautiful.
Sundar was remembered here. Awesome.
In general, I just love Raghav and Sia's conversations because they're always meaningful one way or another. It's open talk. From the heart.
Something else that I liked about the scene was how Sia didn't persuade him to turn himself in after he'd told her why he needed to stay out of prison. It showed how well she understood him and how much she trusted him to do the right thing for himself and his family.
The smirk that he gave her, confident, strong, reassuring, and just a bit teasing -- it was AWESOME. That is so Raghav's personality trait now. The subtle smirking. Loving it.
7) "Do I look like a villain?"
Yes.
That's what I thought when V asked himself the question. I was like "you look like a villain, you talk like a villain, you walk like a villain -- ergo, you're a villain!"
In this scene, we once again saw how frustrated and out of control V is feeling. He wasn't doing anything but lying around and obsessing over Jahnvi and her Team Raghav cheer. Plus he kept going on and on about how special he was, how irressistable. Is the man even capable of thinking of anything beyond himself? Nope. Even while thinking of Jahnvi, he somehow ends up talking about himself.
Goes to show his nature again. Self-centered, self-absorbed, arrogant. It's always about him and it always will be. It's something that characterizes V.
8) Raghav hides in Sia's bathroom while V fumes at Sia
LMAO. It was kind of funny how Raghav went to hide in the bathroom while still occupied with eating his sandwich even as he shut the door.
V strode in, grabbed Sia like he had a right to touch her at all. I liked how Sia kept staring at him, not reacting to his ranting about how she'd insulted him and how she was all for the mechanic, etc. She just kept her cool, letting him run in circles around himself without getting any response from her. Fantastic.
I'm curious to see how she'll react to him accusing her of having a sexual relationship with Raghav. Don't think she'll be quiet on that one. Plus Raghav was getting restless in the bathroom, frustrated with V's condescending talk. He might just expose himself.
9) Powerful dialogues tonight
I'm loving the dialogues for the past week. It feels like the writers are finally putting actual thoughts behind every dialogue, making it as powerful and fresh as possible whereas for the past three months,the dialogues were repetitive and flat.
>> Cons:
1) Sia still needs a new hairstyle
Self-explanatory.
2) What is going on with Taashu?
I hope that we'll find out soon. I'm curious since she's been shown behaving oddly. Plus, last time Raghav and Taashu talked, they were in a fight.
3) Where is Krish?
Um, why isn't he worried about his uncle and asking for him?
Great episode. Do watch. This feedback was written in a bit of a hurry tonight, so do bear with me. I'm a bit exhausted tonight. Will make up for it tomorrow night.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
