What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 3, Episode 2 “egyptian cigarettes” (B)

This was not at all a flattering depiction of Israel and Israelis, which didn’t sit entirely well with me since I felt like it took some reductive shots that aren’t backed up in reality, but what was most interesting was how Ramy still managed to say the wrong thing to both of the women he spent time with in this episode. Congratulating his new boss’ mother on surviving the Holocaust prompted an unfortunate rambling defense that only made things worse, and she got him back at the end of the episode by managing to help him with a lingering enlargement problem of his and then congratulating him when she walked away. He got mocked for asking if there was a special line at the checkpoint for people with American passports and then beaten up by those same boys when he just went ahead and stole a bike to leave somewhere by the checkpoint. I’ll interpret Ramy then getting the kid arrested as him not bothering to consider the consequences of his actions. Comparing life under occupation to having to go through the Lincoln Tunnel was also crash and thoughtless, and his genuine shock at her offer of an iPhone charger from a decade ago was rather pretentious as well. Naseem had a very different experience that unsurprisingly didn’t get him into the country, but he was all set on making a problem anyway by showing how he could hold his breath under torture, which wasn’t what happened. His interrogator actually seemed to like him and wanted him to get to experience the gay Tel Aviv scene, but all he was able to do was get him an aisle seat that Naseem didn’t even see as a kind gesture.

What I'm Watching: Ramy (Season Premiere)

Ramy: Season 3, Episode 1 “harry potter” (B+)

It’s great to have this show back, and I hadn’t realized that it’s been more than two years since the end of season two. The recap was helpful since I had forgotten how Ramy had so spectacularly messed up his marriage to Zainab almost right away and how mad Malik was at him. This episode started off on a different note, with Ramy giving this long inspirational speech about how amazing it is to get married, something that he of course hasn’t experienced but was more than happy to recount in order to sell a diamond ring. His newfound business arrangement seems to be demonstrating his skills very well to his Jewish colleagues, so much so that he might go to Israel in order to meet with his new boss in person. I was thrilled to see Molly Gordon back for the first time since episode three of season one as Sarah, who didn’t seem very impressed with Ramy’s commitment to his principles, and she wasn’t willing to stick around since he obviously only wanted to meet her so that they could have sex. Telling her he wasn’t “in a situation where he could be non-profit” and challenging her ideas as something only a rich person would say weren’t great tactics to rebuild a relationship, but then he got to take the moral high ground when his faith was co-opted by a self-proclaimed witch who claimed to have shared the same experiences as him. I was also excited to see the great Peter Macdissi from “Six Feet Under” as Salim, one of Ramy’s more sophisticated business associates. I hope to see more this season of his new girlfriend who won’t let him sleep over, Naseem’s ranked hatred of different minorities, Ahmed’s medical diagnoses, and the family discussing what to do about staying in or leaving their home. There’s also great music which I’d love to hear on a regular basis this season.

What I’m Watching: Ramy (Season Finale)

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 10 “You Are Naked in Front of Your Sheikh” (B+)

Ramy has been doing so well lately, making good choices and showing everyone that he’s finally thinking about others ahead of himself. I thought for a moment that maybe I was watching the season one finale instead that I had forgotten about when I started this episode, but the presence of a flashback to Ramy and Amani sneaking around in Egypt made a whole lot more sense when she showed up as a surprise guest to his wedding. He could have done the right thing and not indulged in the temptation, but when presented with the opportunity, he chose to give in and then dared to bring up the idea of multiple wives to his bride just after they had gotten married. Zainab responded as you’d expect anyone to, refusing to even entertain the absurdly self-involved request from her new husband, and Malik really let him have it when he showed up the next morning and started swearing after Ramy failed to appreciate the seriousness and irreversibility of the situation. Amani was not receptive to his subsequent proposal, and she didn’t even comprehend what he was trying to say when he was explaining to her what he knew he wanted. His cousin expressing an attraction to her sister was a humorous momentary subplot, and something tells me that Dena, even after everything she’s been through, will not be open to the possibility of a romantic relationship with her cousin. This has been a superb season, and I’m very glad that it was renewed for a third slate of episodes. Now it’s time for some Emmy love!

Season grade: A-
Season MVP: Ramy Youssef as Ramy

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 9 “Uncle Naseem” (B+)

I couldn’t remember when this episode started whether Uncle Naseem had been featured so prominently before, and, looking back at my reviews, it appears that he hasn’t. I know that I had thought a few episodes back that Laith Nakli really is a great actor since Naseem is so reliably detestable, and it was very revealing to see much of his background that hadn’t yet surfaced in his limited interaction with his family members. His sexual interest in men was casually revealed when he was at the gym, and though he wasn’t quite as crass as usual, he still conveyed a relatively casual attitude towards anyone else’s feelings. He pursued Paco angrily at first and then punched him in the face when he tried to kiss him, demonstrating his desire to be in control at all times. I recognized Waleed Zuaiter, who played Yassir, from his recent role in “Baghdad Central,” and he seemed very startled by Naseem’s boldness in coming over to rekindle their relationship with his wife and daughter in such close proximity. As usual, his interactions with his family members were enlightening, particularly when Farouk indicated a guilt-driven need to start recycling that Naseem immediately tried to debunk, citing his typically ignorant conspiracy theories. The ending of the episode was really terrific, with the Arabic version of “I Will Survive” formidably scoring Naseem’s forceful devouring of the cake. Could Nakli be a surprise Emmy contender? This episode would certainly recommend his abilities and make a strong case for him getting nominated.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 8 “Frank in the Future” (B+)

It’s great to see a focus on Farouk since he’s definitely the least-featured character on this show, getting even less screen time than Uncle Naseem. It was interesting to see him face his own struggles, going to a coffee shop each day so that he could apply for new jobs and not face the same of having to tell his family that he was let go weeks earlier. His response to the insanely expensive frappe was more subdued than his wife’s unintentionally blunt reactions, demonstrating his discomfort more than anything. The veterinarian got the subtext about how his dog couldn’t possibly have anything to be depressed about, and even though he didn’t fully realize it, it was a good outlet for him to be able to vent some of his frustrations. Ramy and Zainab have become so close, and it’s weird that Ramy hadn’t even told his parents about her. Farouk didn’t seem too open to the idea of meeting her or her father, and it was nice to see that Malik saw how he was acting as an indication that he was indeed a good and dedicated father. On a more humorous note, I enjoyed how Ramy handled his mother being shocked by the color of Zainab’s skin and comparing her hair, which was under a head scarf, to Beyoncé. Uncle Naseem said all the wrong things the moment he walked through the door, and Malik’s response to him was perfect. The way Farouk interacted with him was also helpful in showing Malik what kind of person he was.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 7 “Atlantic City” (A-)

I was completely wowed by the opening montage of this episode featuring romantic conversations between Ramy and Zainab, and that did not prepare me at all for some of the content that came later. I thought for a second about when we saw them both last and realized that it’s been since episode four thanks to the very worthwhile focus on Ramy’s sister and mother. It’s crazy to think that they might already be headed for marriage, but that beautiful sequence of calls showed just how much they’re opening up to each other and realizing that they may in fact be a good couple. While that means one thing for the newly religious Ramy, his friends understood it to be their last chance to get him to come out and party, something he was not at all up for at this point in his life. Not wanting to disappoint Steve and Mo convinced him to go to Atlantic City even though he knew it was a mistake, and it went about as expected. Getting kicked out of the strip club for talking about religion was hardly a badge of honor, and it just left everyone feeling disappointed. Ramy needing to help Steve finish what was started in the strip club could have been played for outright comedy, and I appreciate more that Steve was so intent that Ramy couldn’t do it if it was purely to absolve himself of sin. Steve isn’t religious but he does have certain principles, and even though he asserted his desires over his friend’s, he doesn’t appreciate the indoctrination and superiority that those with strongly held beliefs try to exert over others. The most powerful scene for me was when Ahmed confronted Ramy in the bathroom about how he had prayed for so long for Ramy to be better and wasted those prayers on someone he hadn’t found deserving.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 6 “They” (B+)

I should have known to expect a Maysa-centric episode after Dena got her own spotlight, just one episode earlier than this same point in season one. While this half-hour wasn’t nearly as powerful or emphatic as the last time we got to spend time exclusively with Ramy’s mother, it was still quite entertaining and poignant. She was awfully vocal about her dislike for Trump in her citizenship interview, though it didn’t seem to faze that particular employee. I like that she suggested to two people speaking Spanish that they should practice their English when they were there for a completely different purpose. That was far from the extent of her unintentional microaggresions (and full-on aggressions) which she thought got her flagged for suspension from her driving job. Dena was a good stand-in for the audience, asking her how she possibly felt the way that she spoke to her passenger was acceptable. Tracking them down and asking them to help her while once again making problematic statements was cringe-worthy, and I wonder if this friendly police plotline would still have been featured if this show was being filmed now. I remember an episode of “Black-ish” where the matriarch purported to be a lifelong Democrat yet echoed almost all of Trump’s policies directly, and it was nice to see Maysa respond with such a fervor for not being identified that way, dreaming of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and throwing her newly attained citizenship in Trump’s face while staring directly at his photo during her oath.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 5 “3riana Grande” (B+)

Last year’s Dena-focused episode was one of my favorites from season one, and so as soon as it became clear that she would be at the center of this one, I was immediately intrigued. We don’t see all that much of her or her parents, and Maysa’s reaction to her posting about her scholarship online was quite negative. They obviously think more highly of her life choices than they do of their son, but her mother’s request for her to cover her hair was met with negativity emblematic of a relationship often defined by friction. Her modern attitude didn’t stop her from obsessing about how she had incurred the evil eye and going to her uncle Naseem of all people for advice on how to get rid of it. That one visit with the woman who poked holes while shouting the names of all the people who liked her Facebook post was harrowing, and putting garlic and oil on her bald spot as her father had said he used to do earned her the judgment of her yoga teacher. The scene that was most powerful was the one with the tow truck driver who made ignorant comments that led into him chastising her for not “melting” into the melting pot. Getting out of there was probably the best plan, and I hope we’ll see more of Dena in this season. She barely had any lines, but I recognized actress Jade Eshete from “Billions” and “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency” as Dena’s friend Fatima.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 4 “Miakhalifa.mov” (B+)

A good amount of time passed between Ramy being given the dog and not seeing Malik, and I think that was helpful to get us to the next step, which was Ramy volunteering to drive with Zainab to Connecticut to offset some of the damage had done in trusting Dennis. His enthusiastic claims that he could speak Arabic fluently turned out not to be entirely accurate, as evident immediately by his inability to understand the security guards, allegedly because of a difference in dialect. Zainab wasn’t at all keen on his suggestion to “jam out” to his favorite Quran reciter on Soundcloud, but her impression of him definitely improved after he showed his competence with Bin Khaled. I thought that was Omar Metwally, recently seen on “The Affair,” as Khaled, who is absolutely the most eccentric personality we’ve seen so far on this show. I wasn’t familiar with Mia Khalifa, a well-known former porn star who appeared as herself, and it was interesting to see how Ramy interacted with her, especially after learning that Khaled brought her in to drink her breast milk to combat his complicated feelings of sexuality. Khaled wanting Ramy to live up to his namesake and shoot an arrow for the dog was a wild idea, and the fact that he didn’t count his practice shot that he nailed was unfortunate. Somehow, Ramy managed to convince him he should still donate, apparently because he thought it was $200 million rather than $2 million. Malik seemed surprisingly open to the idea of Ramy dating his daughter, though telling him to tell her about his “exploits” and warning him not to desecrate her should make him think carefully about whether he should proceed.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 3 “Little Omar” (B+)

Given what’s going on in the world these days, it felt refreshing to see someone whose brother was outside a mosque protesting it treat three of the people from that very mosque with respect and appreciation, even if he did make a comment about Zainab’s English being good given that she was born in the United States. She was ready to answer that ignorant remark respectfully, while Ramy could easily have punched him when he followed it up saying that, if his brother died, it would have been doing what he loved, which apparently was protesting other people’s rights to worship. Malik really is a contentious do-gooder, heading straight from the hospital to the jail to see Dennis, who seems quite broken up about what he did. In trying to control what Dennis was sharing with Malik, Ramy demonstrated that he isn’t fully committed to the truth, something that Malik noticed and made him realize that Ramy wasn’t quite as focused as he needed. The way that he said “It’s not our time” when Ramy tried to cross the street before the walk signal came on showed just how seriously he approached life, and he even managed to finish his prayer before running to the sound of the barking dog and miraculously opening the conveniently unlocked door. I’m curious about Dena’s apparent infatuation with Malik, which could be interesting to see develop now that he’s discharged Ramy from their intimate mentoring relationship. We’ll see how well Ramy takes care of his newest charge.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 2 “Can You Hear Me Now?” (B+)

I’m starting to wonder whether this show should be considered a comedy after more and more dramatic moments like the one that ended this episode. Ramy has really done an about-face recently after meeting Malik, interested in saying a prayer before meals, talking about gratitude, and asking his mother if the chicken she made was really halal enough. His friends immediately recognized a change in him now that he’s asking about them and taking the time to help others just because he feels a responsibility to do so. Malik really does seem like a thoughtful leader, wondering aloud if the marshmallows he’s putting in the hot chocolate for the Christians protesting the mosque ahead have gelatin in them before concluding that Allah knows his intentions. Ramy invested in Dennis, advocating for him and even arguing with Malik’s daughter Zainab, who I suspect will become a romantic interest for Ramy soon, to get him hired. His initial response to the call of prayer should have been a warning sign, and his eagerness to become a Muslim triggered him in a truly unfortunate way, resulting in him freaking out and running outside to beat one of the protesters in the name of Allah since Islam is peace. That’s going to have consequences, and though Ramy isn’t to blame since they all supported his hiring in the end, it’s going to eat at him that he caused this violence, however indirectly. This show does still find some room for comedy, like the phonetic explanation of how to pronounce the “s” in Muslim.

What I’m Watching: Ramy (Season Premiere)

Ramy: Season 2, Episode 1 “Bay’ah” (B+)

I’m very excited that this show is back, and it feels like it’s been more than thirteen months since its last new episodes premiered (though I didn’t finish season one until the end of June. This opener was a strong reimmersion back into Ramy’s world, providing some helpful hints about what I forgot happened when Ramy went to Egypt. He certainly is masturbating a lot since his return, and he’s much more conflicted about the contradictions of his religion and his desires than he’s ever been. I like that the imam told him that the prophet didn’t watch porn, to which Ramy replied that the prophet didn’t have porn. Michael was helpful in directing Ramy to a new imam, played by two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, who’s also a two-time Emmy nominee for his performances on “True Detective” and “House of Cards.” He seemed a bit too eccentric at first, but he showed Ramy that he was actually listening to what he was saying by not dismissing his urges and inner conflict. Discussing the conditions of the actresses working in porn and asking him if he had showered were fair things for Ramy to contemplate, and he definitely got him to open up about everything that was bothering him. Farouk drinking whiskey to impress his boss while Maysa was confusing Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba was a major development that is sure to have reverberations throughout this season for this family. Ramy having the gun Uncle Naseem gave him pointed at him in the bathroom was an intense experience that added considerably to this multifaceted episode. I look forward to experiencing the rest of this season over the next few weeks.

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

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 9 “Dude, Where’s My Country” (B+)

If there’s one disappointing thing about this show, it’s that worthwhile and fascinating plotlines from one episode are rarely carried over into the next because there’s something else just as gripping to be showcased. Ramy certainly had very different ideas of what his trip to Egypt would look like than his friends and family, evidenced immediately by the number of suitcases he had to bring with him full of iPads to sell and specially-labeled gifts for everyone he would be seeing. His cousin was all about talking to him in English and taking him to Chili’s when he just wanted to experience the glory of Egypt and go to a mosque. His enthusiasm about trying his aunt’s cooking didn’t last long when she brought out the stuffed pigeon, and it was entertaining to hear him try to debate his family members who expressed nothing but praise for Trump and thought that his immigration policies were actually helping Muslims. His uncle’s quick attachment to the iPad that wasn’t for him made Ramy look like the bad guy when he had to take it back and sell it, and Ramy wasn’t too happy with the behavior he was seeing from his Muslim relatives. It turns out that there’s nothing worse in Egypt than drinking the water, though I suppose accidentally sleeping with his cousin would probably have been more lamentable. Hearing the call to prayer as he finished throwing was telling that visiting his homeland may have been an ideal adventure, but he’s likely better suited for life at home in America.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 8 “Saving Mikaela” (B+)

After two episodes focused on other members of Ramy’s family, we’re back to the title protagonist here. Ramy getting a fidget spinner as a gift for his girlfriend’s son did not come across as the sweet, thoughtful gesture he meant it to, and he got some more judgment from his friend who told his son to refer to Ramy as a homewrecker. Steve was right to call Ramy out on only coming over when he’s feeling guilty, but Ramy was immediately up for driving him to the date he set up. He didn’t realize, however, what the nature of the visit would be, and it started poorly when the Muslim clerk judged him for buying alcohol and condoms. Steve asking his “aide” Ramy to just let him have this one despite the clear problematic age difference was the first of several moments that pushed Ramy past his comfort zone, but he really wants to be a people pleaser, even if it means compromising his own values. Kicking down the door while shouting “Allah Hu-Akbar” was an interesting experience, and even Steve was ready to thank him for taking care of the situation, both saving Mikaela and then having his friend help make sure that they didn’t get in trouble for their association with the underage girls. Ramy clarifying that his beard was grown in college was a humorous moment, but sadly one of the last before the melancholy ending. Having his father question his decision to come to America only for his son to have an affair with a married woman was pretty soul-crushing, and it’s going to be hard for Ramy to get past that.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 7 “Ne Me Quitte Pas” (A-)

Since this show started, Hiam Abbass, the only cast member I knew beforehand, has definitely been underused. After the previous episode focused entirely on Ramy’s sister and her experience in the world, it was so worthwhile to see life in New Jersey through the eyes of Ramy’s mother. Opening with her watching the yoga class and having her suggestion of joining the fitness studio promptly shut down by her husband demonstrated the boredom and loneliness she felt, especially when her son wouldn’t even come to pick her up because he was in the middle of watching a sports game. Her time in the Lyft proved to be much better than she could ever have imagined, and I like that she was next seen as a driver, trying to imitate the wonder she first felt in the back of the car. Having the doors locked and refusing to make a u-turn after driving right past a passenger were the first missteps, but having a woman get out of the car because she couldn’t stand the smell of her food and didn’t want the baklava dessert she so eagerly offered was a real blow. A friendly, complimentary French passenger who liked hearing her speak French greatly picked up her spirits, though that entrancing distraction came to a swift end when he had her pick him up with his wife in tow. A return home led to surprisingly passionate sex with her husband, though that too was over almost before it began when his favorite scene came on. This show is truly committed to featuring all of its characters, and this episode was a true highlight.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 6 “Refugees” (B+)

There wasn’t any indication that this show would suddenly be shifting to an episode devoted entirely to Dena, but I’m so glad it happened. We’ve seen the world through Ramy’s perspective thus far and how people treat him as a Muslim and an Egyptian-American, and it’s so fascinating to see the difference in how his sister is viewed by her family and others. Opening with a childhood speech from her father about how sex before marriage is the worst thing ever and that, on a variation from the typical crumpled flower metaphor, the Coke wouldn’t be good anymore the next day. Getting rushed by Ramy and her mom while she was in the shower trying to masturbate was one thing, and her hallucinated sex interruption experience was simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. I was pleased to see Jake Lacy, a familiar face from “Girls,” “The Office,” and “Obvious Child,” as the barista Kyle who seemed very into her. He was so much sweeter in person with his homemade hummus than in her dream where he read her virginity after she stumbled following his position question, but then it got really weird when he wanted her to treat him like a white infidel. Lamenting being a boring white guy was hardly a sell, and she was right to get out of there. I like that Ramy told her that she just shouldn’t listen to her parents, though she did take it a bit far by chewing Nissim out for commenting on her appearance. I hope we see more of her in the future – this has been enormously enlightening and worthwhile.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 5 “Do the Ramadan” (B+)

This was a really great episode, and it’s so interesting to see the parallels between Islam and Judaism, the latter of whichis far more familiar to me. Sarah named one, which is that she doesn’t even fast for Yom Kippur and he avoids food and other voices all day for an entire month. Watching Orthodox Jews and his uncle eating while he was at work demonstrated the way that the world doesn’t conform to or stop based on his observance, and the run-in with his construction worker classmate whose mom was sick exemplified both how religion is often tied into everyday life in a simple, casual way like praying out on the street and how people often want spontaneous prayer when that’s not a concept natural to either Islam or Judaism. “Don’t break my balls, do the Ramadan” was a memorable line, and, after everything, he found out at the end of the episode that his mother did die, a sad note on which to conclude as accompanied by the woman’s son asking him if he was a bad guy. Being interviewed by a woman seeking marriage made for the most entertaining scene of the episode, with a few backhanded compliments praising his own assessment of his flaws and suggesting the atonement that he could be doing if he actually wanted to do it. I liked his idea about taking Arabic with his kids so that he could demonstrate a commitment to continued learning, a notion she shot down brutally with a scientific conclusion that the brain stops developing at twenty-five.

What I’m Watching: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 4 “Strawberries” (B+)

I was intrigued enough by this flashback episode to Ramy’s childhood before things took a serious turn with the revelation of just what day in Ramy’s past this was. Going into a chat room to ask questions about masturbation reminded me of the very entertaining film “Yes, God, Yes,” which I saw at SXSW, and I like that someone told him to search for “nice boobs” and he ultimately chose the magazine cover to serve as the proper inspiration. It was fascinating to watch the shift that happened after news of the terrorist attacks broke and, just as that moment, he heard Arabic emanating from the walkie-talkie that his mother insisted upon calling a cell phone because its functions were essentially the same in her view. His friends casually asking him if he was a terrorist on the walk to school was insensitive but not in an entirely cruel way, though forcing him to go into the woods to masturbate to prove that he wasn’t lying about everything did cross a certain line. It somehow felt natural for Ramy to wander into the kitchen late at night to find none other than Osama Bin Laden going through his fridge looking for whipped cream before delivering a lecture about the western appropriation of strawberries. After that head trip and a visit from the woman on the cover of the magazine to provide the appropriate encouragement, it was sweet to see the roots of his friendship with Steve long before his sense of humor took a dark turn.

Take Three: Ramy

Ramy: Season 1, Episode 3 “A Black Spot on the Heart” (B+)

I wasn’t so sure about the way this episode started, with the depiction of the Orthodox Jew that had workarounds so that he could have his granddaughter pay for his watch feeling more than a bit unnecessarily exaggerated. Fortunately, after the weirdness of Ramy being asked “what is time” and then being told to take off his clothes, things got a whole lot more normal. I like that Ramy told Sarah that he was actually “the other Middle Eastern thing” and attributed his hair as belonging to the whole region rather than “Jew curls” since the Jews get the land, a humorous breakdown of the area that didn’t feel all that layered or complicated. I knew I recognized Sarah from somewhere, and that’s because she was played by Molly Gordon, who appeared in two great comedies I saw at SXSW that will be coming out soon, “Booksmart” and “Good Boys.” I hope we’ll see her again, since her Palestine comment while on drugs and her apparent dalliance with someone else didn’t feel like the proper goodbye, especially considering how much Ramy seemed to like her. His drug trip was indeed impulsive, and I’m glad that it wasn’t just a generic stoner scene like the ones featured on so many shows, pushing him instead to say some very real things that were horribly offensive to the mother of the one person just as typically offensive as he was in that moment. Steve will certainly forgive him, and I’m sure he’ll be clearer once he comes down from his first drug experience.