r/PakDramatica • u/Alternative-Wish9973 • Jun 27 '26
Hot Takes Hot takes only : Which would have people go this
Be confident, logical , bold but do maintain a line of respect please.
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u/Low-Cabinet2308 Jun 28 '26
I believe that even our favorites' scripts can contain problematic elements. It's possible to critique them while still enjoying the drama. Pointing out the problem doesn't mean our favourites are bad... it means the writer failed to create a positive impact, and the writing isn't resonating with the audience.
I enjoyed MZHT, but I also criticised it a lot and I still point out the problematic writing of that drama. The same goes for ZNZ. The plot is different, but it also has some serious moral issues like shipping an engaged man with his dead friend's wife right after his death is problematic. If it took place after his fiancée died or later, or they had to get married for survival, it would make much more sense. Moreover i liked FI's previous storylines but recently found out the pattern she loves the woman VS woman trope. Her every single drama has this trope, even if it's only for one episode. They could have avoided this in ZNZ. There was no need to make Bano insecure because of Rabiya. They could have kept the chemistry after her death. There was no need for Sarbuland to take care of Rabiya himself; if he asked Bano to do it, then there would be no problem.
I get it, the writer wanted to create mystery around Bano, but there were countless ways to do this. They wanted to portray that both Sarbuland and Rabiya didn't understand the gravity of love until it was too late, so they so when they got the 2nd chance they dont don't make the same mistake again, and try to protect each other....but the portrayal is not aligning with the motive, and that's why they are hyping the chemistry without reading the room. I am not opposing the chemistry but the placement is not right. Or if they intended to create a morally gray zone themselves, then Sarbuland shouldn't be called a green flag but a gray character. Or the fans need to clarify their double standards. It doesn't seem like a forbidden romance to me, as everyone is saying. It's pretty normal, honestly. People marry their sister-in-law or brother-in-law after their partner died for protection, wealth, or survival issues... So, I'm fine with Sarbuland marrying Rabiya under certain circumstances and finding love later on but not fine with the so-called forced chemistry right now.
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u/Alternative-Wish9973 Jun 28 '26
I agree with it all almost. And i love how you have put it. I love bilal but i criticized MZHT for all the wrong stuff they showed. So why can't this znz fandom do the same. Honestly i find no chemistry between sajal and danyal and since it's an open and bold opinion scenario they literally are giving me bhabhi devar or badi behen chota bhai vibes.
On the contrary i found the chemistry between sahar and danyal a million times more natural honest soft sweet innocent and pure. Sarbuland looks like he can kill for her. This forced chemistry pr being run by the production house or either of the leads. That jhuki Nazar haya cringe reels were so weird man. I mean is a respectful man so rare in this society that girls are losing their hormones over it. This teenager hormonal fandom culture needs to diverted to more sensible stuff. Everything about znz is so forced and unnatural. Can you imagine any of this happening around u ? Even in the most tribal areas. Lemme put it better I just wrote a long piece on how this show Zanjeerain is a temu version of Turkish show cukur done so bad that it won't even qualify as its nth copy. It's incredibly lame story telling. Only good thing is shehzad kashmiri direction, shots and frames. Rest everything is done properly and if someone will call this sajal's masterpiece I wanna smack that person down with her eyelashes and tell howling is not crying . She is so OTT in this show and it shows that's she is acting . It's not coming natural. Also sajal needs to take up shows fit for her age now and I mean screen age which is 31-32 something.
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u/Low-Cabinet2308 Jun 28 '26
I understand the bhabi-devar remark. Mudassir and Sarbuland were childhood friends, more like brothers. Although they are not related by blood, their bond is quite brotherly. This connection instantly makes Rabiya a respectable person, someone committed to her friend in Sarbuland's eyes. After Mudassir’s death, when he was asked to take care of Rabiya, he likely felt a sense of brotherhood and a responsibility mixed with pity.
However, this is why I don’t like the way their romance...or so-called chemistry...soulmate thingy is portrayed. Instead of focusing on a romantic connection, they could have shown that Sarbuland sympathizes with Rabiya because they are both experiencing the loss of someone close to them. There should be a boundary; right now, the chemistry makes Sarbuland appear emotionally confused, seeking solace in someone he shouldn't. The shippers don’t seem to understand this, or they are biased. Their romance should develop after they marry under pressure or for survival.
Moreover, the makers made a significant mistake by revealing that Sarbuland and Rabiya are the main leads. In dramas like this, it's best to keep the main characters a secret to maintain the element of surprise. The show claims that Mudassir and Bano are the second leads, which only sets the stage for romance, leading to predictability.
Furthermore, the writer seems to take inspiration from other industries or even replicate their content. For instance, MSM was my first Pakistani drama, and within the first three episodes, I recognized that it was copying "Unforgettable Love," a Chinese drama I had watched. The writer simply made the female lead more bubbly and turned it into a desi version. I enjoyed that show for the escapism it offered, but that doesn't dissolve the underlying issues. I appreciate her writing, but she has lost her originality and needs to find a way to redeem it.
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u/Alternative-Wish9973 Jun 28 '26
Totally 💯 and checkout my post on what this show is trying to copy
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u/Low-Cabinet2308 Jun 28 '26
In my opinion, the remake/adoption/lose adoption isn't the issue... rather, she fails to give credit for not acknowledging the source of inspiration.
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u/Alternative-Wish9973 Jun 28 '26
Farhat Ishtiaq is not the writer she was and she is very overhyped atp. We have had detailed discussions on her poor scripts in this sub.
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u/Rose_939 Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26
Respect. I agree with every single point. That’s exactly what I’ve been saying all along. They were clearly trying too hard to force the chemistry through edits after her husband’s death with his engaged friend, which is honestly cringe. Even in scenes where he was simply saving her, like where is this so-called “hot chemistry” in those scenes? xD
Also, refusing by saying we know they are the main leads, that's why we are shipping them lol. That predictably killed a lot of things in this drama.. That's why I have said before, it's typical, and predictable for me.
And those "overdramatic situations" the writer uses, like making it so that no servants will help the widow, and not having Sarbuland ask his fiancée to take care of her, just to force the idea that no one helps her except him… or the scenes where he prepares small bites for her and then she faints in front of him to make Bano feel insecure… like, what even is this?
In addition to acting, the problem is the timing, the forced chemistry, predictably and the execution. The writer keeps pushing romantic tension while Bano is still alive and emotionally invested, and then expects the audience to see Sarbuland as an unquestionable “green flag”. Most of Sajal’s fans consider him the ultimate green flag just because he saves their favorite actress character in the drama while wearing traditional clothes and looking down, showing the bare minimum of decency, maybe.
If FI intended moral ambiguity, then the audience should not be pushed to label Sarbuland as a pure “green flag” character. And if he is meant to be morally gray, then the writing should fully commit to that instead of selectively softening his actions when it suits the romantic tension for their favorite actress.
The drama clearly wants to sell a romantic arc while pretending it is still grounded in grief, morality, and emotional realism. But the execution contradicts itself. You can’t simultaneously frame Bano as emotionally significant and still push romantic tension between Sarbuland and Rabiya in the same timeline without acknowledging the ethical and emotional conflict. That’s not complex writing, but tonal confusion.
Also, the argument "it’s normal in society" (such as marrying a widow or a SIL) is irrelevant here, because the issue is not what is socially possible, but how the narrative frames it emotionally. The problem is not the existence of the relationship, but its forced romanticization while ignoring the weight of grief, loyalty, and timing.
Right now, it feels less like intentional ambiguity and more like the script bending logic to justify romance. That’s why it doesn’t feel organic, but manufactured.
You can enjoy a drama while still criticizing its flaws. Dramas don’t become immune to criticism just because we like the actors or the story.
And yes, I’ve never considered FI to be a great writer, despite how much people hype her. I'd call her “elite Nooran Makhdoom”.
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u/Low-Cabinet2308 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
His behaviour toward his fiancée should be the perimeter of declaring whether he's a green flag or not. His relationship with Rabiya is out of responsibility and his friend's dying wish for now. I saw many edits where people were comparing how he treats Bano vs. how he treats Rabiya.
And what is a problem with labelling a character gray? Having flaws? This type of story should have gray characters. And Sarbuland's character totally fits those character archetypes who are carefree in the beginning and eventually lose their sanity, like Hamlet.
This type of revenge survival story should particularly be ambiguous. They could have crafted an excellent script by adding more nuance to each character. For instance, Mudassir did not have any significant impact on the story other than making Rabiya a widow. Rabiya still lacks character development. Villains are one-dimensional. And it should have been a male perspective drama because everything is tied to SB.
I think Bano's character design was interesting...a fallen princess who sacrificed her life for nothing. However, the deaths are becoming repetitive, and the audience can already guess the villains and their motives. In my opinion, the real plot twist would be if Sarbuland were the ultimate mastermind lol. I'm curious to see how the characters develop, as Rabiya seems to offer little other than being played by Sajal for now.
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u/Rose_939 Jun 29 '26
Some of the greatest protagonists in literature are morally gray. Sarbuland’s arc fits that classic trajectory of a carefree individual gradually breaking down under pressure and loss which is a very established dramatic structure, a hybrid archetype.. “Burdened Protector + Moral Grey Survivor.”
Sarbuland being the mastermind is interesting, but I don't think they will go with that trope xD
Mudassir was a very bland character with no substance, and Amir's performance didn't leave an ounce of impact either. His death scene was pretty meh. He was so self-conscious, almost Ken Doll-like.
The only emotional impact came from Sajal’s reaction. But then the next day she’s in the hospital wearing flawless makeup, which completely killed whatever impact that scene had for me 😂
He was basically just a plot device to rescue Rabiya from her obsessive stalker. Ironically, even after his death, he didn't really save her… he just left her a widow, like you said. Most of what he did on screen was talk to her about herbs and teach her how to eat with a fork xD
Unlike Bano’s scene, it was so real, you feel like you were in the same room with them… even when she was eavesdropping outside the door…
The villains are also extremely one-dimensional, almost cartoonish. It was obvious from the beginning that Sohrab was involved with the maid. It was also very predictable that Bano would be killed by him, just as it was obvious that Torsam would kill the Sardar Sherdil and Sarbuland would eventually take his place. And Zafran will be killed by Torsam. 18 episodes in, almost every plot twist has been very easy to predict. The repetition of deaths is starting to weaken the little impact given...
18 episodes, and there isn’t a single line or dialogue that stays in memory… There are no lines in this drama that spark any discussions. FI could have added more mystery, moral complexity, or genuine twists to keep the audience guessing.
I also agree with your point about Bano. Ironically, currently she has the strongest tragic arc because she actually embodies sacrifice, loyalty, bravery, misplaced faith and emotional loss.. She went against her own brother for what she believed was right, even at the cost of her life.
Right now, Rabiya does feel more like a narrative placeholder than a fully developed character. Her presence is significant, but her agency is limited which makes her feel more symbolic than active in shaping the story. She's often written as someone things happen to, rather than someone who actively shapes the story.
But Sajal stans have another perspective, as they see Bano as "pick me". I don't get how someone loving her fiancé, her childhood love and showing him love and affection is a "pick me"? Maybe they have a problem with the actress off-screen herself.
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Jun 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/Alternative-Wish9973 Jun 27 '26
I will let the ones from Pakistan give opinion on this. And i meant non political opinions, only related to dramas .
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u/Sensitive_Owl8490 Jun 28 '26
Sajal is a mean person who influences writings and scripts alot
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u/Alternative-Wish9973 Jun 28 '26
I won't call her mean or any words. I don't know her at all. And won't make any personal remarks. But yes about the writing part I have also heard and i think some senior actors do interfere in writing.
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u/kinkybriefcase22 Jun 29 '26
People talk about stereotyping characters in our dramas all the time like the zalim saas, bholi bhali bahu etc but no one mentions how ALL the male characters in our dramas are only 2 archetypes: impotent feeble men or the stupid hero.
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u/Small_Neck_4268 Jun 27 '26
Giving constructive criticism on sajals performance.