Posted:
Fantastic episode tonight, man. Just frigging mindblowing. Must watch.
It was such a substantial episode tonight. I don't know where to begin. There was power-packed dialogue, flow, character growth/consistency, relationship progress, every single scene was played out, focused on, and all actors performed flawlessly. The screenspace was well-balanced between the three leads. Wonderful.
I'd specifically like to point out how priceless Krish's performance was. He'll make it really big when he grows up, I swear. That kid knows how to emote with his eyes. I've never wanted to dive into my TV screen and protect anyone as much as I wanted to do when Krish was standing in that red bucket, scared crapless.
The writers did a fantastic job with the screenplay as well.
Without further procrastination...
>> Pros:
1) Raghav/Sia, one room and one bed, hello awkwardness
This was a sweet and awkward moment. I liked how Raghav shut the door and didn't turn around. It was a confusing situation, awkward one, for both of them, and he's dealing with a woman who's a victim of domestic violence and marital rape. What I sensed was a kind of hesitation on his part, bewilderment as to how to make the situation as comfortable for Sia as possible without freaking her out.
Sia, on the other hand, seemed okay with being alone with him in his room. Perhaps she was preoccupied with his confession, but I also think that her trust in him is strong, solid, powerful, that uneasiness doesn't even cross her mind regardless of their situation. She's comfortable around him. She trusts him. Perhaps more than she trusts herself.
When Raghav broke the ice, telling her to sleep on the bed and that he'd remove the rose petals for her, I had to smile. That was another attempt at easing the tension. He's such a considerate guy, I swear. The details of her nature don't escape him. Note how careful he is with his movements around her in this scene.
2) V imagines Raghav/Sia SR and has a melt-down
This is what Komolika meant when she said that it would drive him insane, losing his most prized possession to Raghav. He was out of control tonight. He couldn't think straight and obsessed over the closed door and what they were doing in there [note how this tells us a lot about his lack of trust in his "jaan" -- even knowing that it's a fake marriage, he actually thinks that she'd sleep with Raghav].
Next, you saw him attempt to calm himself down because he was losing it. Didn't work. It ate away at him that she was in there with Raghav, alone, and that he couldn't enter. The delight of watching his melt-down cannot be expressed in words. It's great seeing evil be check-mated two episodes in a row.
Komolika is right. When he's out of control [which Raghav/Sia match make him be], then he's unable to make a bulletproof plan -- so he'll make mistakes and they just have to be there when he does.
3) Sia tells Raghav that she has nothing to give him and apologizes for using him
It was a much needed and awaited scene for me.
For one thing, it clarified a lot of things on Sia's front. She felt that she'd used him and it didn't sit well with her. She apologized. She tried to explain her feelings, thoughts, as well as she could without hurting him. That showed a genuine care from her side. For the first time, in a long time, you saw Sia genuinely caring for someone else to the point that she'd leave him than hurt him further.
I don't think that she realizes it herself, but this means that her heart isn't as vacant/numb as she claims it is. No, there's still room for emotion, for care, for love. She loves Krish. That kind of powerful emotion would not have been possible if she'd been numb. She, at least, cares immensely for Raghav and worries for him -- that kind of room wouldn't have been possible if her heart was closed.
What was interesting to me was how she said that "I have nothing to give you in return for your love" and how she kept emphasizing it throughout her speech. Actually, the truth is that she's afraid. You see, her entire marriage she's been made to feel that she couldn't live up to anyone's expectations, that she wasn't good enough. Now she's afraid that she might never be able to give Raghav anything, to live up to his expectations, and somehow end up disappointing him -- that really scares her. What she has to realize is that Raghav doesn't demand/expect anything from her. She needs to overcome this fear, because she can love. And Raghav doesn't care for her flaws at all. He loves her as she is and that is enough for him.
She needs to understand, to realize, that love isn't cruelty/violence. Which she hopefully will at some point.
I liked how Harshad's face was never still throughout her speech. He was expressing the entire time, and that's something I appreciate in an actor. That when someone else has a long dialogue, the other actor still acts and expresses, reacting to her words throughout. I saw his eyes expressing, his smile, and his hair was away from his eyes -- it was perfect.
I'd also like to compliment Harshad's dialogue delivery in the wake of her speech. I would have hated it if he'd had tears in his eyes during this shot, but the way he delivered the dialogues just mindblowing. Note the glint in his eyes and the lightness of his speech. He conveyed it to her that it was his problem and that he wasn't bitter. And he supported his words with his expressions.
He practically told her to lighten up. I loved his mood in this shot. Nice change. And also, the "I'll give you the bedsheet to wipe your tears" was hilarious. It was nice to see a smile on Sia's face as well. Very sweet and deep moment between.
Addition: One of the best parts was when he fidgeted, telling Sia that he didn't know what to tell her, needing her to tell him what she wanted him to say.
4) Raghav asks for her friendship and leaves her another choice
The most beautiful handshake ever. Heh. Enough said. And once again, it was Sia's choice.
Plus, friendship is the beginning of a relationship, so I'm thinking "good step forward". To be honest, I loved how Raghav reassured her in this shot and her genuinely happy smile.
5) V plays Peeping Tom and is caught by Gayatri
This was incredibly funny. For one thing, V was so desperate that he seemed to be trying to magically make himself acquire an X-ray vision in order to see through the door. What really cracked me up was how Gayatri's steps faltered when she saw him there, and the strange look that she gave his ponytail.
He's starting to slip up.
KB's performance in this shot was fantastic.
6) Raghav/Sia playfully argue over sleeping arrangements
There's one thing I'd like to say about this entire scene before everything else, and that's how Raghav will have gained a larger fanbase as of tonight, because his scenes and performance tonight will have charmed the ladies at home. If the writers continue to provide scenes like the sleeping arrangement scene in which you saw a charming side of Raghav and the playfulness b/w him and Sia -- people will get addicted to the show.
This was a sweet and cute moment between them.
First thing, Raghav's jokes were finally absorbed by Sia and she joked back. That was a huge step for her, and one that shows how she still hopes and dreams that maybe...
You see, if she'd meant what she said about her heart being numb and there not being a chance of her letting Raghav in, then she would've kept things serious, raised a wall b/w them rather than joke with him, tease him, and even fight over the bed arrangements.
She does like the thought of what could be. She only needs time.
Second thing, I loved the entire scene because it was playful, Sia joked and fought with Raghav [playfully, of course], and Raghav was just frigging charming. The chemistry b/w Harshad-Sriti increased another notch because of this new facet, this new side of them. I'm hoping to see more of a playful Sia in the future.
Third thing, I enjoyed Sia's thoughts on Raghav as she watched him. The fact that she is able to think beyond her own pain and worries, consider his, shows me once again that her character has grown stronger -- and it makes her much more likable too.
7) V hunts down Krish and forces him to play Judge/Criminal in his room
This was an incredibly disturbing scene to me. It's not a con, because performances [both Yash and KB] were awesome, and the scene was significant to V's character growth. You saw how, in order to regain control over something, he'd captured Krish and exercised his power over him [which was pathetic because Krish is a kid and, like Raghav said, V can only oppress those weaker than him].
It was all about control in this scene. He needed an outlet as well and who better than the heart of Raghav and the love of Sia? Krish.
I was sickened and wanted to hurt V badly. He further traumatized an already traumatized child, and Krish couldn't even scream for Raghav or his mother or anyone. Wah! The cowardice of V.
His dress-up as the Judge was interesting because it once again showed him as the very superior force in a game controlled by him while he oppressed another victim. He gained pleasure from it, control from it. Just like Komolika said he would.
V has become unpredictable, frightening. They finally have his character right.
Did everyone else catch the irony of V's accusations? He accused Krish of keeping silent, and all the things he said had, in fact, taken place -- only V was the perpetrator.
8) Raghav/Sia burst into V's room and find Krish
This shot was frigging brilliant. I loved how Krish ran to Raghav and curled around him in fear, shaking like a leaf. How Raghav placed his hand on his head. His furious expression as he glared at V, as if he could beat him up with his eyes alone.
The best part was when Sia shut him up. She was fierce. Because, this time, she wasn't only fighting for Krish -- she was fighting for Raghav's Krish. She knows that Krish is Raghav's lifeline and Raghav will not tolerate anything happening to Krish. V did the worst possible thing by harming Krish tonight -- he killed whatever mercy Raghav might've been able to show toward him.
They finally have Sia's character established. They finally have it right. I'm not going to comment on the precap, because I want to do it tomorrow when we get the full scene.
>> Cons:
1) Why isn't Gayatri suspecting V at all?
I wonder why Gayatri isn't finding V's behavior even a tiny bit bothersome. Especially after his Peeping Tom stunt tonight.
That's the only con that I can think of.
I am dying for tomorrow's episode! So many hours yet to kill. Also, I apologize for this somewhat weak feedback tonight. Am immensely exhausted.
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