If you’re new to watching Arabic series or want to watch something new to pass the time, let the first Kuwaiti series, The Cage, intrigue you! It’s an added bonus if you’re someone who is keen on psychology or learning more about Arab culture, or working on polishing your Arabic language skills.
The Cage is more than just your typical dramedy series since it can make you laugh or cry; here are the top reasons you should binge-watch the show, and you won’t regret it!
Contents
- 1. They are groundbreaking for Middle Eastern society
- 2. Fun to watch and comedic
- 3. The show will give you a glimpse of traditional Arab culture
- 4. The show has a unique storytelling format
- 5. The great chemistry and acting of the actors are enticing
- 6. The show will give you an insight into psychology and marital issues
- 7. You’ll find yourself rooting for other characters in the series
1. They are groundbreaking for Middle Eastern society
In the Arab culture, mental health issues, let alone therapists or relationship counselors are taboo. The show is innovative since it introduces the importance of seeking help and working towards your differences as a couple when challenging. Like any relationship, marriage also requires hard work when it’s easy to resort to divorce; the show emphasizes breaking stereotypes and stigmas.
The show also tackles other mental health issues like anxiety and kleptomania, which is what the characters have in the show; it sheds light on these issues that are commonly swept under the rug until today. The show will help you know the importance of therapists or addressing mental health issues.
2. Fun to watch and comedic
The show is heartwarming, fun, and comedic; it will make you laugh with its theatric feel. It will also make you feel kilig for the love story of Rawan and Zaid before when they were dating in the time of pagers and cassette tapes and the Gulf war. You’ll also feel nostalgic with the time traveling when the two protagonist tells their story in the past. You’ll also laugh at the mishaps their therapist is having in life.
If you’re done watching Dubai Bling and are looking for other Arabic movies and series that will satisfy your cravings, then let The Cage give you a slice-of-life feel on marriages and mental health in Arab society.
3. The show will give you a glimpse of traditional Arab culture
Yes, the movie will transport you back to the early 90s when there were cassettes and pagers. It will help you see how Arab households were highly patriarchal, and women had different career options back then. Fortunately, the show is heavily modernized, making Rawan educated and wanting to have a career in teaching and not just having children.
If you’re not familiar with Arab culture and history in Kuwait, especially if you’re planning to work or study in the Gulf or the Middle East, then watching the series is a great way to learn a thing or two! A bonus point is it will help you smoothen your Arabic.
4. The show has a unique storytelling format
Jasem Al-Muhanna does a fantastic job at the helm, switching between handheld and steady shots to capture the emotional highs and lows of the couple’s reminiscences.
Watching the show will make you feel reminiscent of Mr. and Mrs. Smith or The House Arrest of Us since it tackles relationship counseling, digging deeper into a couple of problems, and starting the story from their perspectives.
5. The great chemistry and acting of the actors are enticing
Yes, the love story of Rawan and Zaid are the typical love story of two lovers who are against the world, well against the usual Arab traditional household since its usually arranged before. There’s also drama between each other’s families that every households can relate to, such as comparison, miscommunication, and other familial problems a couple usually faces.
The nature of Hussain Al-Mahdi Zaid is reluctant to reveal the dirty laundry of his marriage to anybody, not even his counselor. He thinks marriage is a prison. Nothing ever stays shiny forever; all metals rust.
Rawan, played by Rawan Mahdi, his wife, appears to be indifferent about saving the marriage, likely due to her husband’s petulance, but insists on going to therapy anyhow. After all, therapy is the very last option they have. Khaled Ameen’s character, the therapist, mediates their arguments and reminds them of why they fell in love.
The three leads are all seasoned actors who have performed extensively in Kuwait. The comedic skills that AlMahdi brought to the role complemented his dramatic abilities, and were especially noticeable in the flashback passages. Ameen, meanwhile, delivers a nuanced performance as the counselor, but while breaking the fourth wall and promising some degree of openness with the audience, many issues about his character remain unresolved even after four episodes.
6. The show will give you an insight into psychology and marital issues
This show is perfect for people who are already wedding planning or plans to get married in the future, its a great preparatory course for what married life is like. It may not be heavily accurate, but most of the problems and issues in the shows are real; it will encourage people from all walks of life to understand the psychology between a man and a woman, marital life, and what goes beyond the life of a counsellor.
If you’re also someone who is keen on learning psychology, then you should add this to your to-watch list. Of course, there are other factors to consider, such as traditions and cultural differences, but it offers universal insight and wisdom on what marital life looks like.
7. You’ll find yourself rooting for other characters in the series
Aside from the couple and the therapist, there are other characters in the series that you’ll gravitate toward, such as the nosy assistant of the counselor, the close friend of the counsellor that he couldn’t have a relationship with due to commitment issues, and a love triangle between a life coach and said close friend. You’ll also see other characters that are compelling, like the sister of Zaid, who is a feminist but suffer from mental health issues.
What is a good show without other characters to find yourself rooting for? Amidst the drama between the couple, Zaid and Rawan, the world seems to be tied to complexly with other characters that make the story complicated yet real-like.
