A Black Spot on the Heart

Ramy is working for his uncle and has to deliver a watch to an elderly religious Jewish man at Shabbat.

Ramy learns the distinction of how to conduct business without breaching religious rules. He also meets Sarah who thinks Ramy is Jewish because of his curls.

It is an episode where Ramy dithers about breaking his taboo about taking drugs at a party Sarah invites him to.

Ramy could has taken drugs and had a great time with Sarah. Instead he leaves and then feels bad. He takes drugs the next day, gets high and insults Steve's mum.

In a packed episode there is a lot of interaction with Ramy's friends. They feel freaked out by Steve and when Ramy takes them to Sarah's party. One of them is the life and soul who happily drinks alcohol. The other nips out to pray.

You can see why Ramy is treading a confused line, he seeks solace at the local mosque.

Ramy has the knack of showing more rounded characters.

At first I had the impression this show was shallow and sitcommy but this episode really shows how much substance and daring it has.

The party scene wasn't about Ramy the Muslim being uncomfortable or otherwise at a "Jewish" party but about the challenge of anyone having a modern social life while eschewing drugs and alcohol. Ramy could just as easily be a committed Mormon (and not even allowed to drink a Coke) and face the same issues.

Then the scene with Steve and Steve's mom, wow. It takes real daring to write and act in something so raw. But the kicker was the conversation with the white guy who's apparently a convert to Islam. He saw right through Ramy's egotistical BS with laser vision. Okay Ramy, I'm sold.

I just finished watching Atlanta, also on Hulu, and was looking for a replacement. This show is like Atlanta minus the Twilight Zone stuff and with more emotional rawness and directness.