After Guru, Parizaad took on another set of gendered issues with Bubbly. As the drama serial showcases the young character pummeling gender stereotypes, Netizens were full of praises.
Twitter is all praise for Saboor Aly as she portrays a character in the drama serial.
Parizaad has been providing a voice to marginalized voices over the past few episodes. From Guru to Bubbly.
In the last episode as the drama serial tells the story and struggles of transgender people. Additionally, the drama serial discussed and educated viewers about being ‘two-spirited‘. This of course talked about the social pressure to conform and fit into neat gendered boxes.
As Bubbly’s parents end up at Guru’s house trying to find their child, they try to convince him to come home. However, Bubbly breaks down about how he doesn’t want to because he doesn’t want to be treated and seen as a girl when he actually is a man.
Bubbly’s mother has the usual response, blaming herself for being the reason why Bubbly is ‘confused’. That’s when Guru educates her about being ‘two-spirited’ and how it isn’t a crime.
“No sister it isn’t your fault. The world is full of people who are divided into two people. And it is only one or two people who have the guts to address this torment inside them. Society treats it like a curse rather than a sentiment or a perspective. And our family tells us to treat it like a sin and hide it.”
Absolutely mind blown by this scene in Parizaad which speaks of being two spirited and queer.
Please don’t @ me telling me what’s problematic in the drama I know all of that yet I believe this is just so phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/yZhhoEJQtq
— Tooba (@Tooba_Sd) October 26, 2021
While the drama serial didn’t overtly explain transgenderism and the science behind it, it made the information palatable by Pakistani standards.
https://twitter.com/Unapologeticurs/status/1453179717356457984
Of course, Netizens are swooning over how the drama serial tackled yet another sore spot for Pakistani society.
Today’s episode was so powerful. https://t.co/KFZgV1FP1i
— ملنگ (@serastragedy) October 26, 2021
Twitter is surprised by the empathy with which this scene was written and portrayed.
https://twitter.com/Haleem_naan/status/1453311237463347209
This is a major milestone for television.
https://twitter.com/OzymandiasPdf/status/1453092183419068416
Much praise for the writer Hashim Nadeem.
Just here to add that Hashim Nadeem wrote this drama and the source material for it and he's from Quetta!! Born and raised! And works there as well. Super proud of him. (Yes he has written problematic hypermasculine texts but this drama deserves all the hype it's getting). https://t.co/PBX2dHKZaf
— Rabia (@damselindupatta) October 26, 2021
The episode even highlights how suppressing people with minority identities that don’t ‘fall in line’, is suffocating for many in society. Asking people to not explore their identity but rather repress it doesn’t lead to any good. It infacts gives way to a plethora of mental health problems that come with this generational trauma.
“And this is how suffocation begins. Which further goes on to become a problem for the coming generations in the future. Maybe all that one needs to do is try to understand this perspective.”
this is the first time ive seen someone who looks like me, speaks like me & has my struggle. i dont know how to process this, how to analyse it, how to feel about the fact that there is visible trauma, that the first visual of this character is sad etc. this is too close to me https://t.co/wdr1yIn65L
— bond, samad bond (@dozakhiii) October 27, 2021
Despite the off-putting fact that the drama serial had a light-skinned actor use blackface make-up to play our protagonist, the writing made up for that shortcoming. The content has been so progressive throughout tackling one toxic societal norm after another.
