Pamaal has come a full circle this week, as Raza(Usman Mukhtar) and Malika(Saba Qamar) navigate life through Raza’s cancer diagnosis. Where he openly accepts that only death follows, Malika finds it hard to imagine a life without her husband.
Raza can be seen prioritising the little time he has left with his family, preparing them for life after his demise. He celebrates her daughter and hands over the control of their daily lives to Malika, who is in the process of accepting what life has brought her. She is expected to show strength as Raza wishes her to be an independent woman, whom he had despised earlier.
The audience, deeply involved in Raza’s evolving arc, is split in its reactions. His desire to prepare his family for a life without him is highly appreciated; however, some feel his constant control over Malika’s emotions, who is supposed to be strong for her family, is inappropriate. She has not processed whatever loss is coming for her, but has to sail through it to fulfil the last wish of her dying husband.
The viewers point out how life’s uncertainty has pushed Raza to give Malika the independence he was against. A user stated:
Emotions have struck many as they can not control their tears, as Raza now wishes Malika to be the woman before marriage; a fan posted:
Sharing her own experience, a netizen emphasised the importance of women being independent. She said:
Another fan criticised Raza’s lack of trust in Malika from the start, as he took all the liberty from her. They stated:
Viewers sympathise with Malika, noting that, now too, her independence has come at the cost of a huge loss. They posted:
Another fan pushed on the importance of letting your partner grow with you, instead of waiting for a loss to give them the reins of life. They commented:
A fan pointed out how many years of Malika’s life were wasted in fear and insecurity, when she could have been given the independence she deserved. They posted:
Where the audience can see Malika’s pain and the pressure she has to go through, Raza seems to have redeemed himself from a narcissistic, controlling husband to a caring spouse and father. Raza prefers spending time with his family, where he could have chosen to go to Singapore for his liver transplant.
Pointing out the shift in the story, a netizen stated:
Another user appreciated his strong will, regardless of his controlling behaviour. They posted:
Calling him a sincere husband, a netizen commented:
Another appreciated his determination to make his family independent before his death; they stated:
A fan went out to say that Raza’s earlier behaviour towards Malika was not narcissism but protectiveness. Criticising the ones calling him a narcissist, they posted:
Appreciating how the drama serial has shown growth in characters, a netizen commented:
