Another fantastic review for a great episode! 👏Sorry I had posted earlier but IF decided to wipe my slate clean and I lost my entire account. Anyhow moving on, I loved your descriptions of Ruqqu and Jodha in particular. Just a few points I wanted to make regarding the episode:
1. As you labelled it so well, yes, it was poetic justice that Ruqqu be the one to save Jodha but I thought it was also symbolic. Her shedding her blood to save the riwayaat and prestige of the Mughal Sultanate from getting ruined was a foreshadowing of sorts. She doesn't care about Jodha - in fact she dislikes her but she put herself second and placed MS and Jalaal first. Goes in line with the historic representation of her as far as Jalaal and Jodha's children and future waaris of the empire are concerned.
2. I found that particular scene where Jalaal and party were welcomed back a symbolic one too. Both Bhagwan Das and Jalaal sat side by side, as equals. Both victorious, both injured. Brothers in arms. Unintentionally, invariably, this was glimpse of the unity Jalaal or rather Akbar has been seeking.
3. I bet it was painful for Jodha to watch her captive and injured brothers return home, victorious yet not welcomed home with the proper rituals of the triumphant. The lack of Rajput customs would have hurt too and I thought the juxtaposing of it was brilliant. Jalaal and Jodha's brothers left with a Rajput tilak, they returned home but only Jalaal was greeted with a Moghul ritual. Painful.
4. Jodha's breakdown in front of her brothers was startling. She has always held her head high and only ever confessed her internal turmoil to her Kanha or Motibai. For her to openly tell her brothers of what she has been going through and how she felt, knowing fully well that word would travel back home to her parents was alarming. To me it meant defeat on an internal level. She had just lost her will to live. She didn't care who found out what and how, she would just end this trauma. She would finally listen to her 'mann' and commit Jauhar. Only this time at the hands of the Shahenshah.
5. Jodha meltdown when Jalaal confronts her was nothing short of a dam breaking. She stood there shaking in rage and pointed out everything she had endured. The way she spoke, fearless and reckless, and the things she said - I felt like she was wiping the slate clean. For someone who was contemplating death a few moments ago, she was ridding herself of all her burdens. She was letting everything out. Now, I hope she goes into her indifferent mode with Jalaal. Nothing would give me more joy than to watch Jodha completely ignore Jalaal's presence and see how he reacts. She had no will to live left. It would do well to show her exercise that now.
6. The most brilliant scene of the show was when Jalaal went to confront Jodha instead of Saleema begum. Aside from the fact that he is clearly obsessed with her, I think it was also because he knew she had a death wish and he needed to know why. Just the thought that she would be driven to end her life and that he was going to do it too would have had him flying off his handle. The fact that he didnt run to her tent in itself is an achievement in his self control 😆
7. Saleema is clearly being framed. I loved your description of her. She couldn't hurt anyone and just because she doesn't need to. She's too calm, serene and at peace with her life to care or go through the trouble to do so. I would make sense if MA was the mastermind behind it. Even though I wish it wasn't because her confession to Resham a few days ago really did move me. But I can see her motives. It would make sense to frame Saleema so Raheem then isn't a contender for the throne. That would leave Adham Khan. Besides she was the one who headed the search operation. It would all make perfect sense!
8. And how intertwined are Jodha and Sukanya's lives? Even when she has no say in it and is unaware of it, Jodha does invariably end up hurting her sister and causing her anguish.
Anyways, thank you for a brilliant review. Looking forward to more! 😊
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