What I’m Watching: Ramy (Season Finale)

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 10 “Cairo Cowboy” (B+)

I wasn’t sure if this episode was still going to take place in Egypt or if Ramy would have returned to New Jersey, but I guess it’s fitting that he remained there as part of his self-exploration. He did get to experience something real about Egypt, which was his uncle’s refusal to do anything to get his car fixed and instead just wait in the middle of the hot desert for a few hours while it cooled down. He appeared to be hallucinating quite a bit as he was wandering aimlessly towards his grandfather, and it was sweet to see just how touched he was when Ramy finally found him. Having him die just moments after they met and he imparted some of his wisdom was an unfortunate development, one that just underscored how Ramy wasn’t any closer to finding himself. His friends noting how attractive his cousin was and that he should get with her definitely messed with his head, and the fact that she invited him to a deeply moving religious experience that showed him what he had been looking for the entire visit only made him feel much closer to her. There’s something immensely intoxicating about being in Egypt, and therefore he made the questionable decision to express his feelings for his cousin, which she appeared to reciprocate even though she was just as cogently conflicted about them. This episode ended on a perfectly imperfect note, with Ramy halfway across the world thinking about whether he can have a relationship with his cousin. I’m very excited for season two – now, let’s get this show some Emmy love!

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Ramy Youssef