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Jama Taqseem started off really well with its representation of the many problems with joint-family setups. Its representation of the culture shocks women experience after marriage was relatable for so many people and the storyline showing abuse and harassment between cousins broke our hearts and was praised for highlighting an important issue.

The latest episode of the show, which aired on Thursday, seems to have put all the praise to rest and once again proven that, “You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

After episode nine gave us a powerful performance from the show’s youngest cast members, episode 28 revisited Zeeshan’s abuse of his cousin Sidra and almost attempted to give him a redemption arc.

A user on X posted the scene from the drama, with Zeeshan telling his cousin, “Sidra, in all this time I have understood that it wasn’t just lust, it was love that I had for you.” He then falls to her feet presenting his “honour” to atone for “taking hers”.

The reactions flooded in soon after, with netizens calling the show out for the very problematic concepts being shown.

Users who were exhausted at seeing troubling themes being reused on Pakistani television shows said this was nothing new.

Somebody said people were making romantic edits out of the scene for Instagram and we have just one question: What…?

While Sidra essentially tells Zeeshan to get lost before he ‘confesses his love’, the episode ends with a harasser staring at a survivor with puppy-dog eyes and asking to be forgiven. It’s only in the teaser for the next episode that we see her mother telling Zeeshan to “leave us alone”.

Many users on X felt the show was being dragged and should’ve ended by now. One even talked about how HUM TV’s recent paranormal rom-com, Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi, which ended last week after starting around the same time as Jama Taqseem, had much better pacing.

Pakistani dramas have a history of normalising absurd plot-lines in the name of ‘love’ and presenting audiences with half-baked redemption arcs for abusive men.

Just this year, Khalilur Rehman Qamar’s Main Manto Nahi Hoon had a professor fall in love with and then marry his student and was dragged through the mud for it by netizens.

Meri Zindagi Hai Tu, another drama airing currently, shows an entitled brat set a girl’s car on fire, fall in love with her, stalk her, refuse to take her rejection as an answer and drag his parents to her home to ask for her hand in marriage, in that exact order.

When she’s finally had enough and slaps the daylights out of him for trying to fight her dad, he pulls a complete 180-degree turn and becomes the most responsible man in the show. No process, no struggle, he just woke up the day after getting whacked on the noggin and transformed.

Pakistani writers can do better — they often do! — but if we keep seeing them drag shows because they’re popular or writing plots that don’t really make sense, audiences will naturally move towards other media.

In the case of Jama Taqseem, it’s unfortunate to see this old trope come into play and we hope the show doesn’t allow Zeeshan to get off the hook because he ‘loves’ Sidra. PS, you don’t harass and abuse the people you love.