VaidyanathanVishakha

The first few episodes are like a normal drama where fl struggles because of being female…. Reminded me of Moon lovers(bad example) but didn’t dwell on the sufferings but the overcoming of obstacles.There probably were nuances of the maturity that I didn’t catch because I was not expecting it.

By ep 10 I was hooked to the story. I started watching because of a reel that explained the lack of tropes both macro or micro. The originality was mind boggling in that one could make such a complex storyline so simple to understand. The villains and jealous characters get way less screen time than women helping each other through hardships. This is how real women behave. I always wondered why women are portrayed otherwise and realised today that those were mostly show by and to men. This one has a female director and that shows in every sequence of events. Okay, I agree that the fl has way too many skills and smarts than a normal person, but let’s roll with the feminist thought behind that. Apart from that, I can’t fault any other logical loophole.

I want to go on a rant about how the ml gets himself a royal decree to marry fl without her or her parents’ consent. At first I feel sorry for the ml. That stems from the conditioning we’ve got as a drama watcher community and not any real feelings toward this issue. Imagine someone you and your parents were a slave to and struggled to finally become free of. You then start a modest life within your means and are about to wed someone who likes you just enough and your parents are ecstatic. You are guaranteed a certain amount of freedom to do as you please career wise. This master guy then swoops in on your wedding day with a royal decree to marry him…. Of course your plans have been ruined and you hate him. Who wouldn’t? No one was surprised when ml divorced his first wife for controlling his family through her family’s power. But why the double standard when the same happens with fl? They mention this in many episodes and drive the message home quite efficiently, I must say.

There is constant reference throughout the series about how there will be a time when girls and boys are given equal preference in birth, schooling, career etc. it was as if they were speaking to the audience, not just as a dialogue. Very inspiring.

I was disappointed in myself when I wanted ml to live longer. This was fl’s story. I could very well compare her to my own grandmother who’s been a widow for over 25 years now. But she didn’t have the courage or example or support. Y other grandmother was a widow for 20 years and was strongly independent and opinionated. They are extreme and the fl was somewhere in the middle but completely good to the core without the human flaws. We forget most often women live way longer than their husbands. These widows are a marginalised community and we dismiss them without much thought. This series was just perfect in depicting how to behave. Thank you all involved.

I liked that third sister has only daughters and splits her husband’s wealth among them. Also liked the closure to the first wife. I believed they would touch on her lightly but we got a good glimpse of how her life panned out and the misogyny she endured.

Overall my first 10 star series for the year