Here's a song for Syed and also for Zainab, Kat, Tanya, Whitney, Bianca and Lola - and all the other hard done-by victim residents of Walford who cannot and will not ever accept responsibility for their miscreant deeds ...
Step forward, Nitin Ganatra! Performance of the night and worthy contender for Best Actor in next year's BSAs. (Sigh, but EastEnders will probably nominate a someone who plays a Branning or Shane Richie).
Anyway, Masood gave masterclass in how to deal with and despatch a whining, wheedling, disrespectful, victim-playing spouse (and son) who were deft with hiding their inappropriate behaviour behind word games cleverly designed to shift the blame onto someone else's shoulders.
Take note, Alfie Moon, Ricky Butcher and, possibly, Tyler Moon. Alfie, this is how you tell her to go.
Masood was the mouse that roared tonight, in blazing fashion, giving Zainab every bit as good as she gave. From the very first scene when Syed returned, Zainab showed that every word she had previously told Tamwar, every reassurance she had given him that she played no favourites was a blatant lie. Tamwar knew it. He didn't need any vocabulary to express his disgust at Syed's behaviour. His face was a picture; but Zainab's deflation at Syed's reluctant admission of guilt lasted all of five minutes.
Oh boy, the operative word was "trust." How Zainab sought to make Mas feel like the ultimate piece of shit for doubting her motives and her perceived estimation of Syed's superhuman business abilities was turned on her in a trice. Syed's admission of writing a fraudulent cheque against his dodgy cleaning products was wiped aside by her - why was no mention made of the fact that Zainab had wiped out her children's savings for Syed to make an investment? Why wasn't this disclosed? All in all, Syed robbed his family of fifteen million pounds.
That is really a serious crime.
Tonight's episode absolutely showcased the Cult of the Victim that the show has become, centering on Syed and Zainab. Zainab is like every other self-perpetuating victim resident in Walford at this time - and there are a plethora of them: Kat and Whitney, Tanya, Bianca, Lola ... every one of them with a pity party story in their background which supposedly defines who they are and also gives them licence to behave inappropriately, to be rude, to dictate and demean freely, with always the rejoinder that nothing is ever their fault. Whatever happened in their background made them the way they are, and their less-than-understanding husbands/boyfriends/fathers/brothers just make them worse. All their fault, you see - Alfie, Tyler, Max, Ricky, the system, Masood ... all their fault.
Zainab's passed this attitude onto Syed, who believed from the very beginning that he could get by on his looks, charm and guile to blag his way into and out of every lairy situation and still get his own way. Syed is the oldest child but he's the spoiled brat baby of the bunch - so much so that we don't even get to see him interacting with Yasmin anymore; it's always Christian now. Tamwar's maturity showed more tonight - whereas he directly confronted Zainab on her favouritism towards Syed, Syed chose to whine and wheedly about his predicament in front of guests at the Argee Bahjee, publically shifting the blame onto Masood, whining about the fact that Masood "favoured" Tamwar, that the Masoods had bought the restaurant for Tamwar, when he was the wheeler-dealer son with all the promise.
I'm glad that Carey Andrews, who wrote this, remembered that Syed had form in this sort of behaviour before, which was why Mas was doubly put out at this discovery ... his "yet again" moment was absolutely precious, especially since a couple of crocodile tears landed Syed right in the middle of his mother defending him as per usual.
What was the most brilliant piece of work about the episode was Masood's consistency, how he held firm - from the moment when Syed and Zainab followed Mas home, when he intimated that Zainab was toast and could leave, he held firm in his convictions.
He wasn't browbeaten into an assumption of guilt by Syed's further whinings, in response the home truths Mas finally told his oldest son, things which needed to be said both to Syed and to his mother. It's quite one thing to hear Tamwar, a younger child accuse his mother of favouritism toward his older brother; it's another to hear a husband accuse a child of driving a wedge between his parents. But that's exactly what Syed did. From an early age, he was a manipulator, and Zainab was the overbearing, overprotective, overpossessive mother, sinking all her hopes and dreams into Syed and inadvertantly shifting her other children away. She thought nothing of dipping into an education fund for Tamwar and Kamil to accommodate and protect Syed.
And in a way, Masood was right about Zainab not respecting him. She had forfeited a marriage to a man who went onto become a doctor, in exchange for someone who worked as a postman and a teaching assistant (is he now doing both?). Masood forfeited his education and his reputation to marry Zainab. Now she lives vicariously through Syed, pushing and prodding him, encouraging him to believe him better and more capable than he actually is - really, it's Tamwar who's the intelligent and talented Masood. Syed is the blagger, the liar, the cheat, with no moral compass when it comes to thinking of himself. Syed hates Masood because he fears becoming like Masood - an honest man, content with his lot and looking for a peaceful life.
It was enough for Masood to stand by and watch Yusef, via Zainab, marginalise him to the point that he was driven from his family, and it was the last line of victimisation and despicable for Zainab to accuse Masood of "cheating" with Jane Beale, when - in fact - it was Masood, who stopped the intended tryst with Jane because he loved Zainab, and he didn't begin his real affair with Jane until he had divorced Zainab. That was a ripe piece of hypocrisy, but Masood gets highest kudos for holding firm when, alone, Zainab sought to wheedle her way back into his favour.
It dawned on me, in that scene, that she really didn't fully comprehend the breach of trust that she and Syed had inflicted on her family. She'd been stashing a horde of ten-pound notes, and the thought that by thrusting these in Masood's face and promising to build an empire on a wad of notes, starting the very next day, that everything would be made ok. All Masood had to do was drink a cup of tea and promise to forgive Syed for his little bit of misbehaviour, sweep it all under the carpet and everything would be all right. Ne'mind Tamwar, ne'mind Kamil, Syed was still the most important thing in Zainab's life. All the stashes of cash, all the tears, the kisses and the promises, wouldn't make Mas lose his resolve. Zainab had breached a trust and Zainab had to go. Alfie, take note.
And no excuses for Syed either - told succinctly to go ruin his own new marriage, having driven a wedge in Masood's for so many years. Think about Syed - he's ruined his first marriage, he's helped to ruin his parents' marriage, and chances are, he's on the road to ruin in his current marriage. Even now, even his apology to Christian had a temporary air about it, leaving on honeymoon with a piecrust promise to Tamwar that he would get the money to buy the Argee Bahjee back ... after his honeymoon. How? Syed wouldn't say, because he couldn't say.
And in this way, Syed's become like all the rest of the self-perpetuating victims in Walford. Kat with Alfie, Whitney with Tyler or whoever becomes Mr Nice Guy, Tanya's co-dependency on Max, Zainab's on Masood ... Christian has now become Syed's "dependable bloke," someone to pick up the pieces and wipe away the tears, someone who'll believe the promises not to misbehave again, until the next Danny swans through Walford or until the next big chance to make a fortune confronts Syed.
Once again, Denise's situation was light relief in her effort to keep her affair and infatuation with Arthur under wraps, yet brought into awareness of Zainab's situation enough to show concern. Kim, as usual, was not funny.
This has been a brilliant week of episodes, compared to the inconsistency of other weeks, which highlighted characters who are proving to be anything but popular, played by actors who are mostly inept. Next week, with its teen emphasis again, holds out little promise. What a shame they're winding this storyline down in the next few weeks as a sacrifice at the altar of Branningdom.
The Masoods always deliver.
Update: Two things ... when Syed returned to his flat, Christian was just putting Yasmin to sleep. Then the two showed up at the Argee Bahjee, who was watching Yasmin? Not Roxy, because Roxy showed up at the restaurant too.
Also, Yasmin's second birthday was the first of October. Big birthday party last year, but not a mention this year.
Step forward, Nitin Ganatra! Performance of the night and worthy contender for Best Actor in next year's BSAs. (Sigh, but EastEnders will probably nominate a someone who plays a Branning or Shane Richie).
Anyway, Masood gave masterclass in how to deal with and despatch a whining, wheedling, disrespectful, victim-playing spouse (and son) who were deft with hiding their inappropriate behaviour behind word games cleverly designed to shift the blame onto someone else's shoulders.
Take note, Alfie Moon, Ricky Butcher and, possibly, Tyler Moon. Alfie, this is how you tell her to go.
Masood was the mouse that roared tonight, in blazing fashion, giving Zainab every bit as good as she gave. From the very first scene when Syed returned, Zainab showed that every word she had previously told Tamwar, every reassurance she had given him that she played no favourites was a blatant lie. Tamwar knew it. He didn't need any vocabulary to express his disgust at Syed's behaviour. His face was a picture; but Zainab's deflation at Syed's reluctant admission of guilt lasted all of five minutes.
Oh boy, the operative word was "trust." How Zainab sought to make Mas feel like the ultimate piece of shit for doubting her motives and her perceived estimation of Syed's superhuman business abilities was turned on her in a trice. Syed's admission of writing a fraudulent cheque against his dodgy cleaning products was wiped aside by her - why was no mention made of the fact that Zainab had wiped out her children's savings for Syed to make an investment? Why wasn't this disclosed? All in all, Syed robbed his family of fifteen million pounds.
That is really a serious crime.
Tonight's episode absolutely showcased the Cult of the Victim that the show has become, centering on Syed and Zainab. Zainab is like every other self-perpetuating victim resident in Walford at this time - and there are a plethora of them: Kat and Whitney, Tanya, Bianca, Lola ... every one of them with a pity party story in their background which supposedly defines who they are and also gives them licence to behave inappropriately, to be rude, to dictate and demean freely, with always the rejoinder that nothing is ever their fault. Whatever happened in their background made them the way they are, and their less-than-understanding husbands/boyfriends/fathers/brothers just make them worse. All their fault, you see - Alfie, Tyler, Max, Ricky, the system, Masood ... all their fault.
Zainab's passed this attitude onto Syed, who believed from the very beginning that he could get by on his looks, charm and guile to blag his way into and out of every lairy situation and still get his own way. Syed is the oldest child but he's the spoiled brat baby of the bunch - so much so that we don't even get to see him interacting with Yasmin anymore; it's always Christian now. Tamwar's maturity showed more tonight - whereas he directly confronted Zainab on her favouritism towards Syed, Syed chose to whine and wheedly about his predicament in front of guests at the Argee Bahjee, publically shifting the blame onto Masood, whining about the fact that Masood "favoured" Tamwar, that the Masoods had bought the restaurant for Tamwar, when he was the wheeler-dealer son with all the promise.
I'm glad that Carey Andrews, who wrote this, remembered that Syed had form in this sort of behaviour before, which was why Mas was doubly put out at this discovery ... his "yet again" moment was absolutely precious, especially since a couple of crocodile tears landed Syed right in the middle of his mother defending him as per usual.
What was the most brilliant piece of work about the episode was Masood's consistency, how he held firm - from the moment when Syed and Zainab followed Mas home, when he intimated that Zainab was toast and could leave, he held firm in his convictions.
He wasn't browbeaten into an assumption of guilt by Syed's further whinings, in response the home truths Mas finally told his oldest son, things which needed to be said both to Syed and to his mother. It's quite one thing to hear Tamwar, a younger child accuse his mother of favouritism toward his older brother; it's another to hear a husband accuse a child of driving a wedge between his parents. But that's exactly what Syed did. From an early age, he was a manipulator, and Zainab was the overbearing, overprotective, overpossessive mother, sinking all her hopes and dreams into Syed and inadvertantly shifting her other children away. She thought nothing of dipping into an education fund for Tamwar and Kamil to accommodate and protect Syed.
And in a way, Masood was right about Zainab not respecting him. She had forfeited a marriage to a man who went onto become a doctor, in exchange for someone who worked as a postman and a teaching assistant (is he now doing both?). Masood forfeited his education and his reputation to marry Zainab. Now she lives vicariously through Syed, pushing and prodding him, encouraging him to believe him better and more capable than he actually is - really, it's Tamwar who's the intelligent and talented Masood. Syed is the blagger, the liar, the cheat, with no moral compass when it comes to thinking of himself. Syed hates Masood because he fears becoming like Masood - an honest man, content with his lot and looking for a peaceful life.
It was enough for Masood to stand by and watch Yusef, via Zainab, marginalise him to the point that he was driven from his family, and it was the last line of victimisation and despicable for Zainab to accuse Masood of "cheating" with Jane Beale, when - in fact - it was Masood, who stopped the intended tryst with Jane because he loved Zainab, and he didn't begin his real affair with Jane until he had divorced Zainab. That was a ripe piece of hypocrisy, but Masood gets highest kudos for holding firm when, alone, Zainab sought to wheedle her way back into his favour.
It dawned on me, in that scene, that she really didn't fully comprehend the breach of trust that she and Syed had inflicted on her family. She'd been stashing a horde of ten-pound notes, and the thought that by thrusting these in Masood's face and promising to build an empire on a wad of notes, starting the very next day, that everything would be made ok. All Masood had to do was drink a cup of tea and promise to forgive Syed for his little bit of misbehaviour, sweep it all under the carpet and everything would be all right. Ne'mind Tamwar, ne'mind Kamil, Syed was still the most important thing in Zainab's life. All the stashes of cash, all the tears, the kisses and the promises, wouldn't make Mas lose his resolve. Zainab had breached a trust and Zainab had to go. Alfie, take note.
And no excuses for Syed either - told succinctly to go ruin his own new marriage, having driven a wedge in Masood's for so many years. Think about Syed - he's ruined his first marriage, he's helped to ruin his parents' marriage, and chances are, he's on the road to ruin in his current marriage. Even now, even his apology to Christian had a temporary air about it, leaving on honeymoon with a piecrust promise to Tamwar that he would get the money to buy the Argee Bahjee back ... after his honeymoon. How? Syed wouldn't say, because he couldn't say.
And in this way, Syed's become like all the rest of the self-perpetuating victims in Walford. Kat with Alfie, Whitney with Tyler or whoever becomes Mr Nice Guy, Tanya's co-dependency on Max, Zainab's on Masood ... Christian has now become Syed's "dependable bloke," someone to pick up the pieces and wipe away the tears, someone who'll believe the promises not to misbehave again, until the next Danny swans through Walford or until the next big chance to make a fortune confronts Syed.
Once again, Denise's situation was light relief in her effort to keep her affair and infatuation with Arthur under wraps, yet brought into awareness of Zainab's situation enough to show concern. Kim, as usual, was not funny.
This has been a brilliant week of episodes, compared to the inconsistency of other weeks, which highlighted characters who are proving to be anything but popular, played by actors who are mostly inept. Next week, with its teen emphasis again, holds out little promise. What a shame they're winding this storyline down in the next few weeks as a sacrifice at the altar of Branningdom.
The Masoods always deliver.
Update: Two things ... when Syed returned to his flat, Christian was just putting Yasmin to sleep. Then the two showed up at the Argee Bahjee, who was watching Yasmin? Not Roxy, because Roxy showed up at the restaurant too.
Also, Yasmin's second birthday was the first of October. Big birthday party last year, but not a mention this year.
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