Ramy is one of my favorite shows, and one of the things that makes it interesting is that while the main characters are Egyptian-American Muslims, suffering under a variety of societal prejudices (Isalmophobia, homophobia, misogyny, etc.), the show isn't afraid to portray them as unlikable in their own ways. Ramy is a softboy narcissist who destroys everything he touches. Uncle Nasim is a virulent racist with a massive streak of self-loathing. Rami's friends are varying degrees of oafs and neurotic basket cases. Even Steve, portrayed by an actor with severe muscular distrophy, gets an episode where he tries to get a questionably-legal girl drunk so he can lose his virginity.
It's doubly interesting especially because the show is both open about Islam serving as an opportunity for grace while also being a place where charlatans like Abu Bakr Miller can thrive. As a leftist, I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to have a break from "Islam is a religion of peace" cant that, while understandable in the context of the GWOT and persecution of Muslims in the US and abroad, rapidly becomes tedious.
Ramy is one of my favorite shows, and one of the things that makes it interesting is that while the main characters are Egyptian-American Muslims, suffering under a variety of societal prejudices (Isalmophobia, homophobia, misogyny, etc.), the show isn't afraid to portray them as unlikable in their own ways. Ramy is a softboy narcissist who destroys everything he touches. Uncle Nasim is a virulent racist with a massive streak of self-loathing. Rami's friends are varying degrees of oafs and neurotic basket cases. Even Steve, portrayed by an actor with severe muscular distrophy, gets an episode where he tries to get a questionably-legal girl drunk so he can lose his virginity.
It's doubly interesting especially because the show is both open about Islam serving as an opportunity for grace while also being a place where charlatans like Abu Bakr Miller can thrive. As a leftist, I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to have a break from "Islam is a religion of peace" cant that, while understandable in the context of the GWOT and persecution of Muslims in the US and abroad, rapidly becomes tedious.