📺 Ab W Laken, starring Mohamed Farag, is a Ramadan series that stands out for its social message, but also for its notably weak direction and exaggerated acting. Positioned as a series that spotlights custody conflicts and the often-overlooked impact of divorce on children — a respectable attempt by its writers to grapple with an issue many face — the show was among the season’s most anticipated, only to disappoint with its stark flaws.

Mohamed Farag leads as the father, Adham, who is desperate to see his daughter Nour (Lolia Hisham Sultan), but is prevented by his ex-wife Nabila (Hagar Ahmed). From the get-go, the episodes start with an overly emotional reunion between Adham and Nour, while an annoyed Nabila stands in between. We then see Adham get a job as a graffiti artist at his daughter’s school in an attempt to see her more often, only to devise a plan to take Nour from school for a brief hour.

This dramatic turn of events culminates in Adham being accused of kidnapping… his own daughter. From here, the show’s controversies take shape, with audiences online debating the validity of a father being charged with kidnapping his own child. It’s then revealed that Adham is falsely accused of domestic charges involving his ex-wife Nabila in a case pushed by her morally corrupt lawyer (Ahmed Keshk).

The rest of the show unfolds in a similar fashion — relying on an unrealistic sequence of events and excessive spoon-feeding of both plot and character intentions. The show is driven more by emotional, soap-opera-like spectacle than by cinematically meaningful, intentional storytelling. Much of the dialogue feels sappy and cliché, and the character studies are reduced to oversimplified good-vs-evil dynamics.

The series, however, does shed light on Nour’s emotional struggles, often overshadowed by the tensions between her parents, and the blurred lines between relationship-fueled revenge and child protection. Acting performances across the cast vary, with Mohamed Farag delivering a solid portrayal of his role — though a noticeably weaker one compared to his standout roles.

Overall, the show’s weighty theme falls flat due to a plot that’s stretched too thin and an overdependence on emotionally charged scenes. Compared to season standouts like the currently airing and highly promising Hekayet Narges and the solidified season-favorite Ein Sehreya, Ab W Laken comes across as an overly ambitious series that delivers only in part.

WHERE TO WATCH- Ab W Laken is available to stream on Watch It and Shahid. Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:09).

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