Even in the event 1 / 2 of the newest sitcom’s 30 episodes appeared straight from the latest publication and you can Abdel Aal co-authored the screenplay, the brand new show don’t live up to the latest expectations of of several away from this lady members. Specific have been disappointed having Hind Sabri, within her very first comedic part due to the fact professionally effective however, hopelessly solitary leading man ‘Ula, an excellent 29-year old
pharmacist. They faulted Sabri to have overstated facial words, body language and intonation, and for telegraphing the brand new humor while failing to provide an atmosphere out of character development. In one episode one failed to are from the publication, particularly, ‘Ula toxins this lady companion and you may colleague to avoid the girl away from planning a professional appointment teeming which have possible grooms.
A number of readers was disappointed the serial failed to relay the book’s much more serious underlying content. Regarding book, amidst the girl failures in the shopping for a partner, Abdel Aal rests to question this new injustice of your own societal stress with the people so you can marry: “People needs to prevent confining lady solely for the character regarding bride to be. Because when anything break apart…they think eg worthless a-for-nothings, and they stay and complain, such I’m carrying out to you today…. ..a beneficial-for-little.” By contrast, Abdel Aal’s televised persona ‘Ula is really trapped on competition in order to wedding, at the cost of relationships and self-esteem, you to definitely she also provides no such as for instance serious reflections even after typical soliloquies so you’re able to the digital camera.
These criticisms tell you the underlying serious pain many Egyptians, despite ages, intercourse or category, become with the sensitive and painful subject that the show shallowly address contact information. Most are disquieted because of the Abdel Aal’s alot more nuanced textual story because the better. The fresh new depiction of just one woman’s search for somebody can make of many uneasy as the Abdel Aal efficiently reverses the productive-inactive digital who has got over the years dictated the rules off relationships when you look at the Egypt: Boys choose whenever you are lady comply. The new tight section from intercourse spots is additionally shown throughout the verbs accustomed describe the new act out of marriage during the Egyptian dialect: A person marries (yigawwiz) while you are a lady try married out of (titgawwiz).
On the regular Egyptian wedding, this is the possible groom whom earnestly pursues a potential bride-to-be. In the event that he has got not currently receive one on his own, then it is the guy, often together with his mommy, whom check outs their created along with her family relations (typically inside their living room, that’s the reason setup wedding is known as gawaz al-salonat, otherwise lifestyle-place marriage, in Egyptian argot). It is the guy exactly who decides in the event the she would make an appropriate girlfriend, in which he exactly who fits with her dad (or male guardian) in order to negotiate this new financial terms of the matches. The bridegroom is certainly one which arms a good many economic burdens (although rarely with no assistance of their parents or any other economic assistance). Their future spouse may or may not be present within these dealings, and may also otherwise may not display the woman view regarding choices. Although courtroom institutions and you can socioeconomic structures one to assistance wedding try create in a manner that backs this up gendered arrangement across group departments. Even if of a lot Egyptian ladies, specifically among the upper groups, prefer their partners or perhaps possess a lot more say in the whom they get married, pair do it versus the fathers’ consent. Very brides’ fathers (otherwise, within lack, uncles otherwise brothers) sign the matrimony contracts since the proxies, then strengthening the levels that patriarchal norms govern this new habit out-of relationships.