📺 There’s no shortage of heavy, blood-boiling dramas this Ramadan season, but Hekayet Narges, directed by Sameh Alaa, definitely takes the cake for the most uncomfortable. Starring Riham Abdel Ghafour as Narges, the series is based on the real-life story of Aziza, “Bint Iblis,” a woman who struggled to have children, leading her to kidnap several and raise them as her own.

The series kicks off with Narges back at her parents’ house following a sudden, unexpected divorce. We discover that Narges’ husband left her for failing to bear his children. It’s natural, then, to sympathize with the young Narges, and her initial meek demeanor makes it easy to do just that. As the episodes progress, it becomes clear that Narges is no innocent bystander, but a deceitful mastermind.

Seeking to hide the shame of her infertility, she devises a plan to woo a past suitor, Awni (Hamza El Eily), gets him to marry her, doctors papers gaslighting him into thinking he’s infertile, and thus begins a masterplan of playing the victim — a role Narges slips into most effortlessly. After finally convincing Awni to foster a child, their request gets denied on account of their social class, a fact she keeps hidden from him… because she has other ideas.

You won’t be rooting for anyone — and frankly, you shouldn’t. Hekayet Narges isn’t just meant to entertain, it’s meant to raise awareness. The show tackles one of the most infamous crimes in recent memory, diving deep into the depravities of the human mind and the lies people tell themselves to justify their actions. The entire cast, which features industry veterans Ahmed Azmi, Samah Anwar, and Arfa Abdel Rassoul, alongside others, deliver stellar performances, each portraying deeply flawed characters.

Despite the heavy subject matter — and the utter rage felt upon watching it — the show is shaping up to be one of the best in the second half of the Ramadan season. Abdel Ghaffour delivers one of her best performances to date, and the rest of the cast isn’t far behind. From the cinematography and the soundtrack to the tight-knit plot, this is a show you won’t want to miss out on.

WHERE TO WATCH- Hekayet Narges is streaming on Watch It and MBC Shahid.

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