Ramy S2 Review: Stay Woke and Watch This Show!
Ramy S2 is another really fun collection of episodes, with the same comedic spirit from Season 1 and even better writing than ever! Ramy’s family is back again in New Jersey, up to their same old tricks while also slowly growing as they face new challenges. To be honest, while Ramy, the character, is funny and great for the most part, some of the things he does is infuriatingly stupid and self-centered, especially in S2. But not to give away any spoilers, overall, I thought S2 was amazing and full of hilarity, with the exception of maybe 2 episodes that I found boring.
The brilliant Mahershala Ali plays a supporting character in this season, and it was such a treat! He always seemed like such a serious actor to me, and while he does play a serious sheikh (leader of a Muslim organization) in Ramy, the way he is also able to pull off humor and comedic timing is laugh-out-loud funny. He brings a levity to the show and is such a joy to watch on screen. Speaking of an awesome cast, Hayam Abbass as Maysa Hassan, Ramy’s mom, does it again, because her episode was my favorite out of the whole season. I found it hilariously written and acted, and I hope that she will always always get her own featured episode for as long as Ramy is in production. The story in S2 starts out really strong with the character development and the introduction of new characters like Sheikh Malik and his daughter, Zainab. This season explores hard-hitting topics like hate crimes, racism, and even the non-acceptance of homosexuality in the Muslim (or Egyptian) community. I think that one of the most interesting episodes of the entire season was the one that was focused on Ramy’s Uncle, Naseem. In S1, Uncle Naseem was kind of accepted as just the racist asshole in Ramy’s family, but in this season, he really has an opportunity to shine as a complex character. A recurring theme in this season is again the topic of love and marriage. As Ramy is in his later 20s or early 30s, marriage is becoming top of mind. But as a millennial, getting married and settling down is not an easy feat. The final episode is a whirlwind of events and major decisions that will set the stage for S3. I honestly finished this season feeling a bit bummed out, but I did appreciate how loose ends were tied up from the end of S1.
In conclusion…
S2 is definitely not a season to be missed if you enjoyed Ramy S1. And if anything, watch it for Mahershala Ali being an iconic Sheikh. I love how the internet immediately started referring to him as “Hot Sheikh” just like Fleabag’s “Hot Priest.” What’s with shows and casting extremely attractive religious leaders??