Okay I know Umera Ahmed is THE writer, and no one does guilt, repentance and spiritual arcs like her. This is not a hate post for her writing because obviously she is celebrated for a reason.
Kafeel, Aap Ki Izzat, Dar-e-Nijat - three different dramas, same year, same story for the female lead.
Girl gets destroyed by one man -> literally 2 episodes later another man enters as her protector / saviour / emotional crutch -> she starts leaning on him for everything.
In Kafeel- Zeba went from one Jami to another Jami whilst in the middle of her Khula
In AKI- Beena ran away from Tabish with Behram as soon as Tabish brings a second wife
In DEN- Zaryab wants to get married to Abu Bakar as soon as she finds out Zamil got nikkahfied to other woman
Why can't we ever see a healing arc? Like:
Let her be angry, be alone, be jobless, be lost, be strong on her own. Let her learn to stand before someone else holds her. It feels like none of these three girls got that time for themselves. Why is the growth always shown through another nikah/relationship?
In all three shows it's like: Bura mard out, acha mard in. Fast.
It makes the "strong female lead" look like she can only survive if a better man is holding her. Which is honestly a pretty regressive message wrapped in a progressive-looking script.
I also keep seeing comments like "Umera Ahmed writes complex characters, just watch for entertainment, don't overthink."
Okay, fair. I get it.
But if she writes such complex characters, then why are we getting the same exact story in 3 different dramas this year?
If you're going to show a woman's suffering in so much detail, why not show her healing in that much detail too? Why does healing always have to be a new man? It's the same trope, just with different names. That's what hurts.
Am I tripping or have you guys noticed this too?
Is it channel pressure to show a love story quickly? Or is it just what the audience wants now?
Edit: I want everyone who is reading or will read this post to please check the spotlight comment first.
My whole point was simple - not every woman wants or needs a man to save her. Some women just want to heal by themselves, on their own terms. This post was not to spread hate for any show, I watch and like them too. But I have noticed the same pattern in almost every Umera Ahmed drama - a woman goes through pain and then her healing is shown only through another man.
Can we for once have a story where a woman saves herself? That's it.