Hello! Today I will dedicate this article to talk about one of the best series on Netflix, for many reasons. It is about "Al Rawabi School for Ladies". But before I start I want to make a ***SPOILER*** alert, because it is a complete analysis of the series and if you haven't seen it yet and want to find out on your own, you are warned. Now let's get started!
Al Rawabi School for Ladies, is an Arabic drama mini-series, with a touch of humor, made by Jordanian comedian Tima Shomali. It consists of 6 episodes. It tells the story of a group of girls living together behind the walls of a prestigious and demanding Jordanian school. Things start to get out of control when three girls from the institution attack a classmate and she seeks revenge. So far, it seems to be a typical teenage series with problems such as bullying, but no, the series is really fascinating and fresh, with a totally unexpected final twist.
Hola! El día de hoy dedicaré a este artículo para hablar sobre una de las mejores series en Netflix, por muchas razones. Se trata pues de "Escuela para señoritas Al Rawabi". Pero antes de iniciar quiero hacer una alerta de ***SPOILER***, porque es una análisis completo de la serie y si aún no la has visto y quieres enterarte por tu cuenta, quedas advertido. Ahora sí ¡Comencemos!
Escuela para señoritas Al Rawabi, es una mini serie de drama árabe, con un toque de humor, realizada por la comediante jordana Tima Shomali. Consta de 6 episodios. Nos relata la convivencia de un grupo de chicas detras de las paredes de una prestigiosa y exigente escuela Jordana. Las cosas empiezan a salirse de control cuando tres chicas de la institución arremeten contra una compañera de clases y esta busca vengarse. Hasta aquí, pareciera ser la típica serie juvenil de adolescentes con problemas como el bullying pero no, la serie realmente es fascinante y fresca, con un giro final totalmente inesperado.
Layan, Rania and Roqavya represent the popular girls of the school, with power over everyone. Even over the headmistress of the school, who is persuaded by Layan on more than one occasion. Of course, we know all this because Layan's father is a wealthy man who gives generously to the school. Her classmates do not escape this domination, except for Mariam, a young girl who excels in her studies and who will be the focus of their attacks. The first encounter between Layan, his entourage and young Mariam occurs when the latter causes Layan to be punished in a sports class. This was not on purpose, however Layan does not forgive the incident, hits her and warns her not to mess with them. Mariam decides to report this case but Layan makes up a story about how Mariam sexually harasses her in the changing rooms. No one believes Mariam (she is supported by the headmistress) and Layan gets out of the mess in triumph. Mariam's family is shamed and she is marginalized. From this moment on Mariam decides to take revenge and finds a couple of classmates (also Layan's victims) who will help her carry out the plan to bring down each of the girls who bothered them.
However, Mariam and her group commit the first blow and realize that they have gone too far. Roqavya, is the first to fall. She is a Muslim and her family is very conservative, and she always carries her jihad with her. Although she seems to be unwavering, Roqavya is a very shy, innocent and sweet girl. The girls play a joke on her by pretending to be a boy who is interested in her and ask her for pictures. She, still hesitant, decides to send the photos of her without her jihad. The girls share the photos all over the networks. Roqayva is taken out of school by her mother and is sentenced to stay at home without any visitors, having tarnished her family's honor. It is touching to hear a song in the background that talks about how some people have hearts of silk and Roqayna was marginalized for life.
Layan, Rania y Roqavya representan a las chicas populares de la escuela, con poder sobre todas y todos. Inclusive sobre la directora de la escuela, quien se ve persuadida por Layan en más de una ocasión. Claro, todo esto lo sabemos porque el padre de la joven Layan es un hombre rico que otorga generosos aportes a la escuela. Sus compañeras no escapan de este dominio, excepto por Mariam, una joven sobresaliente en sus estudios que será el foco de ataques de estas. El primer encuentro entre Layan, su séquito y la joven Mariam sucede cuando esta última produce que castiguen a Layan en una clase de deporte. Esto no fue adrede, sin embargo Layan no perdona el incidente la golpea y le advierte sobre no meterse con ellas. Mariam decide denunciar este caso pero Layan inventa una historia sobre cómo Mariam la acosa sexualmente en los cambiadores. Nadie le cree a Mariam (es apoyada por la directora) y Layan sale triunfal de este embrollo. La familia de Mariam queda avergonzada y ella marginada. Desde este momento Mariam decide vengarse y encuentra un par de compañeras (también víctimas de Layan) que le ayudarán a llevar a cabo el plan de derrumbar a cada una de las chicas que las molesto.
Sin embargo, Mariam y su grupo cometen el primer golpe y se dan cuenta de que han ido muy lejos. Roqavya, es la primera en caer. Ella es musulmana y su familia muy conservadora, lleva siemore consigo su yihad. Aunque parece ser inquebrantable, Roqavya es una chica muy tímida, inocente y dulce. Las chicas le juegan una broma al fingir ser un chico que está interesado en ella y le piden fotos. Esta, aún titubeante, decide enviar las fotos de ella sin su yihad. Las chicas comparten las fotos en todas las redes. Roqayva es sacada de la escuela por su madre y es condenada a permanecer en casa sin visita alguna, al haber manchado el honor de su familia. Es conmovedor escuchar de fondo una canción que nos habla sobre cómo algunas personas tienen corazón de seda y Roqayna quedó de por vida marginada.
The second to fall is Rania, when Mariam exposes her location in a discotheque and she is with her boyfriend is discovered by the school tutors. All this happened on a weekend school trip where the girls went to a resort. This chapter is important because it shows us a side of Layan (one of the bullies) that we had not been able to see, as it prevents Noaf (one of the girls who is planning revenge with Mariam) from being sexually abused by a man who was near them. Noaf decides to no longer participate in Mariam's revenge. At another point, Mariam is becoming more and more blinded with carrying out her plan by any means necessary. Rania ends up being beaten by her father for running away to the discotheque.
Finally, we have the revenge against Layan, which is undoubtedly the strongest and most radical of all. Mariam is left alone. Her friends no longer want to participate in this because they think she has gone too far. Mariam is full of anger and hatred and knows that what she will do is not reversible... and she does not intend to regret it. Layan has a boyfriend and is constantly running away with him. One of the teachers calls Layan's family to report that Layan has not been attending. The angry family tells the principal that if anything happens to Layan, the school will collapse. The issue escalates when Mariam decides to rat Layan out to her brother, an ultra-conservative man who will do anything to maintain honor in his family. Rania, Noaf and Dania insist to Mariam that she please not tell on Layan. Rania apologizes for all the damage done and tells her that it is a matter of life and death. Mariam does not forgive them and sends the message to Layan's brother anyway, giving the location of Layan and her boyfriend. Finally Layan's brother, armed with a gun, finds them and in a shot that we cannot see, we hear the sound of a gunshot. Mariam has achieved her goal... There we also realize that Layan's boyfriend was the director's son, which is why she was so overprotective of Layan. Everything has fallen.
La segunda en caer es Rania, al Mariam exponer su ubicación en una discoteca y ésta estar con su novio es descubierta por las tutoras de la escuela. Todo esto sucedió en un viaje escolar de fin de semana donde las chicas fueron a un centro turístico. Este capítulo es importante pues nos muestra un lado de Layan (una de las bravuconas) que no habíamos podido ver, ya que evita que Noaf (Una de las chicas que a esta planeando la venganza junto a Mariam) se ha abusada sexualmente por un hombre que se encontraba cerca de ellas. Noaf decide no participar más en la venganza de Mariam. En otro punto, Mariam está cada vez más ciega con llevar a cabo a como de lugar su plan. Rania termina siendo golpeada por su padre por haberse escapado a la discoteca.
De último, tenemos la venganza contra Layan, la cual es sin duda la más fuerte y radical de todas. Mariam se ha quedado sola. Sus amigas ya no quieren participar en esto pues creen que ha llegado muy lejos. Mariam está llena de ira y odio y sabe que lo que hará no es reversible... y no pretende arrepentirse. Layan tiene un novio y está se escapa constantemente con él. Una de las profesoras llama a la familia de Layan para informar que esta no ha asistido. La familia enojada le dice a la directora que si algo le llega a suceder a Layan, la escuela se hundirá. La cuestión se intensifica cuando Mariam decide delatar a Layan con con su hermano, un hombre ultra conservador que hará lo que sea por mantener el honor en su familia. Rania, Noaf y Dania insisten a Mariam que por favor no delate a Layan. Rania le pide perdón por todo el daño causado y le dice que es cuestión de vida o muerte. Mariam no las perdona y de todas formas envía el mensaje al hermano de Layan dando la ubicación de donde se encuentra esta y su novio. Finalmente el hermano de Layan, armado con una pistola, los encuentra y en un plano que no podemos observar, se escucha el sonido de un disparo. Mariam a logrado su cometido... Allí también nos percatamos de que el novio de Layan era el hijo de la directora, de allí que esta fuera tan sobreprotectora con Layan. Todo ha caído.
A series that tells part of the reality of the Arab community. How women are oppressed and subjected to strict rules and often end up dead because of them. The same violence with which Layan, Rania and Roqayva were treated is transmitted to their companions. Doing the same as they do to them. A power struggle. Of realities. Without knowing that they all live under the same reality and finally none of them was really bad or good.
The aesthetics of the series is beautiful. The pastel tones. A completely pink school and the uniform of the girls, as a reference to femininity, is very well done. It almost looks like a fantasy of the ideal girl's school. The actresses embody the characters perfectly and each one is authentic. I love the fact that Mariam we see her during the whole beginning of the series with a ponytail and her head down, but the last day (when she eats the last blow) she wears her hair loose with a ribbon, that is, she wears the hairstyle that Layan always wears and her head this time goes up. A detail that makes the series great because it affirms that Mariam is indeed the new bully of the school. The soundtrack totally beautiful and something that will make you shudder is the school hymn, which plays at the beginning (start of everything) and at the end (death) of the series. The theme of talking about bullying and violence from a new perspective, which is the Middle Eastern view in front, make the series totally different from others.
I'm not a fan of watching Netflix series but I have found a gem or two on this platform. By chance of life, I found this one and gave it a look and from there I was hooked. I thought series a thing like Elite (please no) but I'm glad to see that wasn't the case. So, if you want to watch a good series, I fully recommend this one. Without further ado, thank you so much for reading and stopping by. Super big hugs.
Una serie que relata parte de la realidad de la comunidad árabe. Como las mujeres son oprimidas y sometidas a reglas estrictas y que muchas veces acaban muertas por estas. La misma violencia con la que Layan, Rania y Roqayva eran tratadas lo transmiten a sus compañeras. Haciendo lo mismo que les hacen a ellas. Una lucha de poderes. De realidades. Sin saber que todas viven bajo la misma realidad y pues finalmente ninguna de ellas era realmente mala o buena.
La estética que tiene la serie es hermosa. Los tonos pasteles. Una escuela completamente rosa y el uniforme de las chicas, como referencia a la feminidad, esta muy bien hecha. Casi parece una fantasía de la escuela ideal de chicas. Las actrices encarnan perfectamente a los personajes y cada una es auténtica. Me encanta el hecho de que a Mariam la vemos durante todo el inicio de la serie con una coleta y con la cabeza abajo, pero el último día (cuando cómete el último golpe) ella lleva el cabello suelto con una cinta, es decir, lleva el peinado que Layan lleva siempre y su cabeza está vez va en alto. Un detalle que vuelve grande a la serie pues nos afirma que efectivamente Mariam es la nueva matona de la escuela. La banda sonora totalmente hermosa y algo que te hará estremecer es el himno de la escuela, que suena al principio (inicio de todo) y al final (la muerte) de la serie. El tema de hablar sobre el acoso escolar y la violencia desde una nueva perspectiva, que es la visión del medio Oriente frente, hacen a la serie totalmente diferente a otras.
No soy fan de ver series de Netflix pero he encontrado una que otra joya en esta plataforma. Por casualidad de la vida, encontré esta y le di un vistazo y desde allí me enganché. Pensé que serie una cosa como Elite (por favor, no) pero me alegra ver que no fue así. Así que, si desean ver una buena serie, les recomiendo completamente esta. Sin más que decir, muchas gracias por leer y pasar por aquí. Un abrazo súper grande.
Maybe Layan is alive...
Quizás Layan sigue con vida...
I love that you wrote about this show - I just finished it (binged it in two nights hah) and am only sad because I want to know what happens after the cliffhanger at the end! It was so beautifully done, and even better that it was made by women. Love your analysis of it, I didn't notice some of the small details you mentioned, like the hairstyles, but you're totally right in how that added to the characters. Such a great show about women, and also very relatable to women in many places in this world - even though it was culturally specific.
Hello! Yes, I also watched the series very fast hehehe it was a morning marathon. And indeed, this series manages to connect with women from all over the world because much of what happens there, has happened to some of us at some point. It really is a beautiful series. I hope they bring out the second season to find out if Layan is alive or not. Best regards. Thank you 💜
Hi carminasalazarte,
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It really warms my heart knowing that people outside of our Arabic world appreciate this work. Sadly, this work was actually viciously attacked in Arabic media because of how the girls were portrayed, which oddly proves one of the show's points correct.
Great work with the post. I hope more of these are made for Arabic works so hopefully we could see more of them on international platforms.
Wow! I am so happy to read your comment. And you are right, I read related articles about the series and found that it was not well received by the Arab public. And that, as you say, only affirms that what is shown in the series is a reality. Reality trumps fiction. In fact, the director claims that the story of the vhicas is based on real events.
I like the fact that thanks to platforms like Netflix we can learn about different cultures and that unifies. Also, as I mentioned above, what happens in the series is something that has happened to more than one woman. I send you a big hug, thanks for stopping by. The series is beautiful.
Esta serie se ve super interesante y me encanta, porque además es una serie arabe y casi no he visto material de ese tipo, es muy diferente a lo que estamos acostumbrados ver, y se nota que es algo fresco y eso me encanta. Creo haber leido el titulo en Netflix pero no me decia a verla, pero ahora si después de tu reseña.
Hola Dayna 💜🙌 Sí, te recomiendo que la veas, es muy hermosa y entretenida. A pesar de contar un drama, tiene ese toque de humor necesario para hacernos reír. Un abrazo.
Vale muchísimo la pena 🙌💙