Back to THIS EPISODE - I think we felt very similarly about it and mentioned alot of the same things, but love the way you expanded on the details. Just a few things I thought while reading your analysis:
Ahh kareena! I didn't really have anything important to add to your post and I was feeling so lazy, but this point nagged my brain enough to force me to reply.
I don't think they are friends at all, let alone soul-sisters. They have never opened themselves up to each other - be it their true personalities, their personal lives, their problems, their grievances (esp about each other), their likes/dislikes, etc. whatever any 2 ppl in a close relationship share. And they don't have any intention of sharing any of that either. In fact, karishma and urmila (san-memory-loss) were better friends- karishma happily shared her love story, didn't hesitate to emotionally break down in front of urmila, and even sought solace in her embrace. She had promised a hug and gift to maddam sir, couldn't find a way to do it for 2 years, but finally managed to give it to urmila. Haseena, under the pretense of urmila, could shed the seniority/professionalism/colleague barrier, and actually try being karishma's friend. Although karishma instinctively opened up to urmila's friendliness, she could never really accept urmila as a friend, simply because of the facial resemblance with maddam sir.
Although its not friendship, kareena do have alot of respect, care and protectiveness for each other. I think if anyone has aptly described their bond so far, its billu - that of Ram and Bharat. Though, because of karishma's angry nature, I think Lord Ram and Lakshman suits better. The love and appreciation is there, but the maryada/boundary and one-sided idolization + obeisance is also there. Also, the only time Ram openly showed his worry about Lakshman was when Lakshman was attacked and made unconscious in the war, however Lakshman openly stood up for Ram many times - I feel like we can draw a parallel of that with haseena and karishma. Komal brought up Krishna/Arjun in another topic and that's a very good one, but personally I don't think kareena fit that bond, at least yet. Krishna and Arjun, besides mentor-mentee, were also very good friends. They spoke their mind to each other without hesitation or worry, and both were more open with each other than they were with anyone else. Karishma and haseena aren't at that comfort level yet, but maybe now, after urmila's stint, they just might get there. I feel that Krishna/Arjun would be the ideal ultimate stage of the kareena bond - friendship amongst an inevitable hierarchy, souls connected at the deepest level. (That's the kareena bond I ship, in my dreams
)
The problem with everything I said in the last paragraph is that writers have left untied ends at crucial points. The only way kareena's bond can reasonably progress from forced colleagues to Ram/Lakshman to Krishna/Arjun is if each of their misunderstandings and confrontations wrapped up completely, not only on a positive note but also with some introspection. The makers jumping right over all these important conversations, assuming actions speak louder than words, and suddenly giving them overly expressive dialogues (love you maddam sir, I can't bear the thought of losing you karishma singh) - it obviously comes off as forceful and hard to digest. Despite all these issues, there are kareena shippers because they see so much potential in this bond if it was handled correctly. Alot of them use their imagination to fill in the writers' glaring gaps.
I agree with everything you said here. People ship Kareena because they see so much potential in them that they have created their own imaginations on how they should be. The sudden love is hard to digest. Two people who couldn't stand each other are now suddenly into I love you zone. I don't say it's not possible but can we have proper growth please.
But comparison with Ram-Bharat was beautiful. BTW, do you mind telling me when did Billu say this? I can't recall it at all 😭
I think like you said, Ram-Lakshman fits more here. Even the character traits would match 🤣
Coming to Arjun-Krishna, they were really good friends but always I felt Arjun was a follower as well. He looked upto him and followed whatever was said without any questioning. The only time he questioned Krishna was at the start of the war when Krishna had to give Geeta gyan to him. But not to deny, they were extremely good friends and Arjun could confide in Krishna and leave all his worries to him.
And I hope one day we can call Kareena as another Arjun-Krishna, one of the purest friendship bond
Anupamaa
