I skipped the whole track as it was too illogical for me. but I thought it was ridiculous and awful that madhav was just an afterthought and instead imlie alone got the long emotional sorry from aryan. but madhav isn't important in CVs eyes, so we just have to chalk that up to bad writing where they refuse to give scenes and meaningful arcs to side characters.
keeping that aside, I went from being absolutely intrigued over aryan and the arylie story to being downright bored. there was no bridge that showed me the progression of the love story. there simply isn't.
instead, it really feels more like one of those arranged marriage dramas where each character is doing their own thing and they are still not a couple even though they live under the same house.
now I am not talking about agreeing to everything your lover says -- that is really unhealthy and super toxic. it leads to dramas like anupama where the wife has no power and is ignored in the house.
the impression of this couple for me is that they are not together together emotionally and there is something missing. the lack of discussions when it comes to decision making and small aspects like calling each other before stepping out -- those are striking.
even in hate-lovers trope dramas, you see a lot more fire and spark where the characters are fighting over an issue -- because they are trying to figure out how to be on the same page.
the issue with imlie is that she is continously on her own emotionally -- that is the feeling for some of us viewers. so much so that she feels like a single woman almost. I would also say that aryan supporting her too much at the cost of his own feelings is also unhealthy. he is coming across more and more like a prop rather than someone with their own story and arc.
shabia said that it is common in ITV where the ML's arc gets reduced. I will admit that I don't watch enough as I go through phases where I watch a lot of ITV and then drop it altogether for a few years. however, in the dramas I do manage to watch and enjoy, the ML had an arc of his own and a very strong presence. there was never a sense that he is a silent partner and his only job is there to support the female lead whenever she needs hugs.
there are huge flaws in how they built this love story -- but the impression for some of us viewers is that aryan is more in love with her while she loves him but not in love with him.
for me, the potential of the love story for arylie was wasted. 🤷