So now we know this: Nina Wadia, who plays Zainab Masood, is leaving the show. According to the article in The Daily Star, not only is Wadia leaving, but leaving imminently - as in filming her final scenes in the next few weeks. That means she's actually leaving in January, but will be on screen until sometime in March.
Interesting to note, as per the article, that Wadia's character won't be killed off, and that Nitin Ganatra (Mas), Phaldut Sharma (Ajay) and Himesh Patel (Tamwar) are staying put, according to she-who-thinks-she-knows-best.
O-k-a-a-a-a-y-y-y.
That means that Zainab is actually really leaving Mas, which - with Max and Tanya on the obvious split - puts Kat and Alfie into number one contention for the next successor to the yo-yo couple on the Square.
Be that as it may, I think it bodes bad for the Masoods. Before I say why, I want to say that it's yet another situation where the viewing public have been advised that a major actor is leaving only weeks before they actually leave off working properly. TPTB must have known since July - indeed, there have been vague rumours floating about - that Nina Wadia was leaving.
I don't know why she's leaving, but she had a professional life before she was Zainab and she'll have one afterwards as well; but I don't think this bodes well for the family left behind.
They could try the Odd-Couple-meets-Men-Behaving-Badly route, with sloppy Ajay lolling about, annoying uptight Tamwar, and Mas keeping the peace. In other words, make the Masoods the resident sitcom family. But then there's the presence of Ayesha, who surely wouldn't be allowed to live in a household with three men. Will she even be there? Newman seems to thrive on "guest appearances" lately, and the actress is quite big in Bollywood films.
A lot of viewers are saying this will mark the end of the Masoods, sooner rather than later, and I'm inclined to agree. In fact, Jark on Walford Web kindergarten will probably have an attack of the vapours to find out that I agree one hundred per cent with his assessment that Zainab was the glue who held that family unit together. In its own way, albeit on a smaller scale, this will have as much impact on the Masoods as Peggy's departure had on the Mitchells.
It would have been far easier for her to have been killed off.
But, I daresay that TPTB went into overdrive on this one and - if what Sweet Lorraine says is true and they have storylines planned a year or even 18 months in advance - they know exactly where Masood is going ... straight into the arms of Ava.
Right age, and she's a deputy head teacher. And teaching has been a career Masood has always wanted to follow. Now that Zainab will be out of the picture and can't whinge, whine or moan about him taking courses and leaving his job, maybe at first, he'll receive some guidance from Ava, which will lead to another sort of guidance (nudge nudge wink wink).
I don't think this will work. Maybe if Jane were still around, that would have been a relationship to explore. But pairing Masood with Ava means one terrible consequence for the Masood family: they then become Branning satellites.
My prediction is that by the year's end (2013, that is) Mas and Ava will have done the deed, and the Brannings will be about to go global.
When are they changing the name to The Branning Show?
Interesting to note, as per the article, that Wadia's character won't be killed off, and that Nitin Ganatra (Mas), Phaldut Sharma (Ajay) and Himesh Patel (Tamwar) are staying put, according to she-who-thinks-she-knows-best.
O-k-a-a-a-a-y-y-y.
That means that Zainab is actually really leaving Mas, which - with Max and Tanya on the obvious split - puts Kat and Alfie into number one contention for the next successor to the yo-yo couple on the Square.
Be that as it may, I think it bodes bad for the Masoods. Before I say why, I want to say that it's yet another situation where the viewing public have been advised that a major actor is leaving only weeks before they actually leave off working properly. TPTB must have known since July - indeed, there have been vague rumours floating about - that Nina Wadia was leaving.
I don't know why she's leaving, but she had a professional life before she was Zainab and she'll have one afterwards as well; but I don't think this bodes well for the family left behind.
They could try the Odd-Couple-meets-Men-Behaving-Badly route, with sloppy Ajay lolling about, annoying uptight Tamwar, and Mas keeping the peace. In other words, make the Masoods the resident sitcom family. But then there's the presence of Ayesha, who surely wouldn't be allowed to live in a household with three men. Will she even be there? Newman seems to thrive on "guest appearances" lately, and the actress is quite big in Bollywood films.
A lot of viewers are saying this will mark the end of the Masoods, sooner rather than later, and I'm inclined to agree. In fact, Jark on Walford Web kindergarten will probably have an attack of the vapours to find out that I agree one hundred per cent with his assessment that Zainab was the glue who held that family unit together. In its own way, albeit on a smaller scale, this will have as much impact on the Masoods as Peggy's departure had on the Mitchells.
It would have been far easier for her to have been killed off.
But, I daresay that TPTB went into overdrive on this one and - if what Sweet Lorraine says is true and they have storylines planned a year or even 18 months in advance - they know exactly where Masood is going ... straight into the arms of Ava.
Right age, and she's a deputy head teacher. And teaching has been a career Masood has always wanted to follow. Now that Zainab will be out of the picture and can't whinge, whine or moan about him taking courses and leaving his job, maybe at first, he'll receive some guidance from Ava, which will lead to another sort of guidance (nudge nudge wink wink).
I don't think this will work. Maybe if Jane were still around, that would have been a relationship to explore. But pairing Masood with Ava means one terrible consequence for the Masood family: they then become Branning satellites.
My prediction is that by the year's end (2013, that is) Mas and Ava will have done the deed, and the Brannings will be about to go global.
When are they changing the name to The Branning Show?
This has to be a first! Usually you are on the button!! :p
ReplyDeleteProfessor Plum
Two blog posts that have been an absolute pleasure to read! Appropriate tone, appropriate language choices, making the good points in a considered, mature & respectful way. If they were all like that then respect for your views, which are often very pertinent once one gets past the inappropriateness of how they are expressed, would be sky-high & you would be removing yourself from the kind of tone and language you yourself say you dislike so much in others.
ReplyDeleteFor a clearly intelligent woman, your 'justifications' for posting as you do makes for disappointing reading. I share many of your views, but I would never express myself as you do, in any situation, for any reason - it is a cheap shot to try and excuse it. You will disagree with me, as is your right, but I cannot find any redeeming reason for using foul, abusive & crude language just to emphasise a point, or to 'give others a taste of how it feels to be spoken to as they speak to me', or for any other reason you might think you justifiably have. Our language is powerful enough already; one does not need to abuse the use of it to make a powerful point.
Most readers/lukers/occasional posters on fora (and many of your readers) do not have strong opinions on any characters or actors one way or the other, certainly don't 'live through' any characters, and are able to separate fact from fiction. Many viewers only go on to fora to extend their enjoyment of a show they like watching. I'd guess some of those people (many of whom will not know of your 'previous life' as a fellow fora member - I didn't) may initially have hoped your blog would 'speak for them' in some way, especially if time is short and they want a 'one-stop-shop' for EE news/comments, only to be shocked at some of the unpleasantly personal nature of some of the comments made towards both actors and disliked fora posters.
It's no good making pertinent points if readers have to wade through a sea of unpleasantness to find them.
Many readers, like myself, are part of the 'silent majority' of fora reades who rarely post (sometimes for fear of being shot down by an ill-mannered response, possibly from one of the vociferous regulars you have identified) but we live by a "do/speak unto others as you would have them do/speak unto you" mantra. That is why, for some of us, your blog entries leave a nasty taste in the mouth.
The bigger person (and the more intelligent person) surely must be the one to break the cycle by showing the others how it's done. Continuing in the positive vein of your two most recent posts would be the strongest message you could give those you have identified as being in need of being 'brought up short' (for want of a better expression!).
Thank you. Point taken. It would have been nice, however, had you chosen not to go the anonymous route.
ReplyDelete"They could try the Odd-Couple-meets-Men-Behaving-Badly route, with sloppy Ajay lolling about, annoying uptight Tamwar, and Mas keeping the piece."
ReplyDeleteThe piece.. of what? ;)
Thank you. My mistake. This was done well past midnight and by me with a raging case of bronchitis. Corrected.
DeleteTotally agree with the long-winded post by Anon above. Some very pertinent points there.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy your analysis of the show very much, could do without the vitriol though.
As for Mas and Ava... I never saw that coming, but I didn't know Zainab was leaving. It makes sense now you've suggested it!