#al rawabi

[froggiestfroggy]

AlRawabi School for girls: Season 2

[effervescentpigeon]

Not gonna lie, when I first started watching season 2 of Alrawabi I was so disappointed they just moved on to a new story. But as time went on I started liking it more. Especially the memorial of Layan with all the characters. I really need a season 3 now. When I tell you I sobbed. So. Much. Especially at the memorial scene and the end of the series.

AND THE SOUNDTRACK. BANGING AS ALWAYS.

Crossing my fingers for a 3rd season. Have my doubts though as they didn't confirm it in the credits like in season 1.

[engelsmediablog]

Shams in Alrawabi School for Girls ep 2.2 'Fancy Purple'

[cheesecherrykay]

Some musings on Shams.

I don't condone her video. She recorded and used shots of people without their consent, and she also made some demeaning comments about them, especially about Farah who would "do anything to be popular and make friends", essentially deliberately humiliating her in front of the whole school when she already struggles in her social life and confidence.

But at the same time, I get her point. Shams is an outsider, possibly by choice, although we don't know because we didn't see much of her backstory. I think I know what she was onto, because I know what it's like to be her, insanely curious about the world that excludes you; the world which is all around you, into which you are expected to fit in but no one taught you how. You see people and wonder how they do it, how did they know how to do it? Who taught them? Often, observing others acutely and finding ways to look down on them is a coping mechanism for those struggling with loneliness and FOMO. Its a way of convincing yourself that you're better off because at least you don't have the problems that come with that kind of life, even though you do still have other problems of your own. Her execution was poor, her methods unethical and her intentions may have been subconsciously selfish, but Shams' message accurately portrayed that it often looks like there's only one image you must live up to in order to deserve being happy, to be of any worth. That image is made of beauty standards, social circles, hobbies and lately social media followings. In chasing that image, young people risk losing themselves.

The other girls in the series like to dress up and do makeup, they all are active on social media and like to follow trends on TikTok, they admire the same idols like Karen Wazen, and they seek to be in the same places as the popular kids, like the parties and the bowling alleys. We don't see Shams using social media at all, or doing any of the above-mentioned, but we do see her having fun: when she takes Nadine to the skateboarding park, she's most in her element then. We see that she has friends here, and a hobby she enjoys, and we see her genuinely smile. It looks like this isn't the most socially accepted activity, because none of the popular kids are doing it, but that's alright, because you don't have to do what the crowd tells you is fun, and you don't have to stop doing what the crowd tells you is not fun.

Loving your individuality can be a challenge, especially at that crucial high school age. My take on Shams is that she finds it hard to fit in and become "normal" as opposed to the "loner weirdo", and thinking that she could never gain proper acceptance from the world that surrounds her, she antagonised it, and used that to boost her own ego and her self esteem as much as possible. She is another side of Farah- both girls who feel unseen and are made to feel unimportant when they simply be as they are. Farah kept trying to fit in, hoping it would be possible for her to do so without having to change too much of who she was, and these efforts were brutally shot down by Hiba in the last episode. By the time we meet Shams she had already given up, and had alienated herself from society and made the very fact that she doesn't fit in her whole identity. Shams really wasn't trying to make friends- she would not have made that video otherwise- although she admits to not having friends who weren't chasing her brother and we can sense sadness in that. I think it's possible she wanted to be seen at last, and seen as someone who is actually above the rest.

[reeve-in-a-suit]

WAIT FUCK I JUST FOUND OUT THAT AL RAWABI'S SEASON IS NOW OUT!? LIKE??!!! OUT NOW????!!!! *GLASS SHATTERING SCREECHING*

[moonjong-starboy]

Tasneem's mom is so fucking fine holyshit

[reallyshyalpaca]

Shams really has to mind her own business

[niconebula]

and speaking of punk goth lesbians, no matter what the show tried to say you cannot convince me that noaf wasn't gay because she was simply too queer-coded to be a straight woman