I was waiting for your post today AY...because I legit have sooo much!!! After a long long time I found myself connecting to these two...
First things first, NM SC were amazing today. And I can't say this enough...these two bring Shivaay Annika alive...not the story..not the aesthetics.. those help..but it's these two! And NM was phenomenal today... the earnestness on his face to just 'know' the truth was so real...the glistening eyes...the voice modulation and of course the small nuances like head shakes.. trembles...proud fan girl today! ❤️
Second, like you mentioned..it was a slow gradual build up in the 'truth' scene...and this was beautiful. Almost like ShivIka's journey itself... gradual with so many detours...building up to an inevitability. If this was meant to be a symbolism in a way, I applaud the layered writing in this instance. Specifically, it was the transition from their small carefree grins to the residue of angst between them.. to finally opening of the 'truth'.
Third, again as you mentioned, I too liked the fact that Annika actually told him about Pinky and the blackmail without the 'kasam'! Thank god for small mercies 😆
Of course, both of them later sprouting dialogues about Pinky being more important than bhagwaan had me cringing..but because this scene was so brilliant I am not going to nitpick through it 😛😆
Fourth, I absolutely ADORED Shivaay for apologising to Annika for holding her face too harshly by getting carried away in his emotions. The small things like this... from the careful caressing of her wrist that was hurt in the first scene to this...all of it just exemplies just how far Billu really has come in this journey.
Fifth, Annika's cuteness was so adorbs today too!!! "Shivaay toh chantomayi se bhi aage nikle" and her classic Annika expressions were so pretty and again so adorbs! Like, how do people actually justify not liking her character in these moments man?
Sixth, since Shivaay was shown to be having flashbacks and stuff..and obviously asking all the right questions.. I think the only way to justify the precap is all of this somehow adding up to be some form of SSO plan (almost like ML plan...but I don't know...haven't thought this through...but then ML track hardly made full logical sense anyway...)! Plus, with all speculations being on ShivIka ending up getting married at the end of this track.. adds to this explanation too.
Seventh, there were some face palm moments too of course... biggest one being the graphics of the "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar" sequence...LOL..what was that? Major editing fail...and I think I prefer their other 2 drunk dances.. but maybe this was meant to be different because Annika wasn't technically drunk in this one? LOL, I can't believe I am actively making excuses for the CVs today...😆..guess I am waaay more forgiving when they actually sit up and give us some actual good story progression and scenes!
Anyway, hope these rambles made sense! And thanks for sharing these caps... beautiful pictures! After a very long time, might actually rewatch the episode.