What an analysis Sam…kudos to you.
To me Episode 1, set the tone of the serial GHSP….at least till the original story and character sketch was maintained. It showed how well the original team had visualized and scripted the series. Probably the reason for it's success in golden days.
As you said, we are doing it backwards, so probably it is easier to identify with the symbolism.
Starting scene…I still remember when I first saw it. I had goose bumps thinking initially that it was Geet. The lady acted so well and then the way she says "Veerji". To me that defined the Handa family. For them, family Honour was above family relationships including sacred brother-sister relationship.
And then other members of the family. Women conditioned to their men…already upholding the same family honour. I actually loved Tayi's character. It was bang on. A strict elder bahu of the family who is trying to balance the expectations of entire family. They way she asks Rano to take care of Geet was like hitting nail on the head.
I always felt Dolly's character was underdeveloped. They never showed the complexity in a relationship she must have faced married to a man like Brij. Her exuberance over a new suit and fear of her husband were just small glimpses of that complexity.
What surprised me though was meekness of Geet's mom. Later, we saw that Mohinder Handa tries to at least fight for safety of his daughter. But Rano was completely at her family's mercy. "Bas woh Haan Kardein". It still rings in my mind. They did say yes, but see where that led Geet.
Even in episode 1 there were glimpses that though Daarji and Brij had same philosophy, Daarji still had some bare morals behind it whereas Brij was just a psycho who was reigned in by his grandfather.
And then entry of Geet. Oh dear….it felt like a fresh breeze of air, cutting thorough the suffocation of her family. Her never say die attitude, zeal, love for Punjabi food, love for her sister, her always helping nature….all that was laid out upfront in that introduction. But what touched me was the way she gave into Tito's demand. She was worried but her nature to please her loved ones took better of her fear of her family.
Last but not the least – "Dev". I could have never guessed that he was going to be a villan. Paami and NT had that look but Dev. Dear me, even I fell for his charm. He tries to help her and give her back her dupatta. For few moments he just seemed so smitten by the raw innocence of the village girl. Loads of time, people have commented that he did not know how to act. But I will say this, for me he acted a two faced man perfectly. I fell for his charm just like Geet. It was so believable and that just heightened the disgust I felt when he wronged Geet in the worst possible way.
Last scene where Daarji punishes Geet even after it was clear that it was Titi's fault. That was heart wrenching but the message was loud and clear – "It is always a woman's mistake. And if by chance it is not, even then , it is always a woman who has to suffer"
And a story was born. Story of a girl who fought that very message.
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