With the first half of the Holy Month over, so are many of the mini-series we’ve grown attached to over the past two weeks. One of the most talked about shows this season is undoubtedly El Harsha El Sab’a, with viewers dissecting and reading between the lines of several of the show’s scenes. From the downfalls of marriage to the challenges of parenting and, above all, the psychological impact of it all, the series tackles a variety of societal issues.

Here’s a comprehensive list of all the taboo topics that we watched the highly acclaimed show tackle bravely:

Honeymoon Phase Is a Myth

We finally witnessed a series showcasing the not-so-pleasing side of the first years of marriage. Almost all shows have focused on the deterioration of relationships over the years because of routine or stress. This time, we saw an actual representation of the ups and downs from the very beginning, giving huge credibility to the show.

Cohabitation Before Marriage  

Sherif, a Westernised man, asked his girlfriend to move in before marriage, leading to outrage among viewers. Although she rejected his proposal, the mere fact that she turned it down out of fear of what society would think rather than for religious reasons caused much backlash. However, the couple found a religiously and socially appropriate solution: they moved in after their katb ketab and postponed having a wedding until they were sure of their relationship.

The Impact of Therapy

The more progressive couple of the show, Sherif and Salma, was filmed engaging in their regular therapy sessions, both in person and online, and even underwent couples counselling. The normalisation of therapy on Egyptian television is a monumental movement that has been ongoing for a couple of years now, and we’re certainly here for it!

Finding Love at Any Age

With multiple relationships in the series, we saw various love stories linked to all ages, from high school sweethearts that married only to realise there’s more to marriage than love to seniors who decided to end their marriage after over 30 years because what they once had has faded. And lastly, we learned there is no shame in finding love as a senior widow after dealing with years of solitude.

Grooming of a Teenage Boy

A considerable shock factor to the audience was when Sherif discovered he had a teenage daughter. It was later revealed that he had got someone pregnant at the age of 18, and the consequences of a mistake made by the adolescent boy and the deal he made with the mother not to have anything to do with the unborn child that would come back to haunt him years later. While many pointed fingers and blamed him for his part in the situation, we witnessed the mental toll it took on him to relive the traumatising experience. It was clearly a case of predatory conduct by a manipulative and much older woman on a young boy.

Emotional Cheating Is Cheating

Adam and Dalia’s relationship might have had zero sexual intentions, but the emotional connection still counted as cheating. At that time, he and Nadine were still married, yet he was head over heels for someone else. Getting called out by his wife for it supported the argument and broke the silence over whether emotional cheating is considered cheating.

Divorce Is Sometimes the Answer

To prevent their kids from being raised in a toxic household, Adam and Nadine chose to end their marriage. What started messy, with the couple getting into multiple fights in front of their toddlers, finished with a healthy case of co-parenting. Upon setting boundaries and prioritising their children’s well-being, they were able to find the right balance.

Accurate Portrayal of Panic Attacks

Salma had been through much already, from dealing with childhood traumas due to her parent’s abandonment to her husband’s negative stance on having babies. Throughout the episodes, we watched her struggle with her mental health and seek therapy, but it wasn’t until she found out about her husband’s long-lost daughter that she broke down. In a highly intense scene, we see her spiral into a panic attack, with her husband using breathing exercises to calm her down.