The best TV series of Ramadan 2021 (so far)

The holy month is, amongst many things, a time for togetherness, and year after year, that means eating a meal with your loved ones and then sitting down on the couch for a great TV show—or at least, that’s the idea anyways.

Ramadan has long been the biggest moment on the Arabic content calendar, the time when the biggest stars in the region debut their most important content, the series that will make millions or Arabs laugh, cry, argue, discuss, mock and meme.

This year has shaped up to be no different, with Ramadan series all-stars such as Mona Zaki, Karim Abdelaziz and Mohamed Ramadan all dominating the conversation as they often do.

Here’s the best shows of the month so far:

1. Lebaat Newton (Newton’s Game)

Egyptian film and television megastar Mona Zaki has returned to television after a four-year absence, and from the reaction so far, it was worth the wait. The show is about a couple, Hana and Hazem, who plan to secretly have their child born in the United States, but the situation quickly gets out of hand. People have debated the show’s deliberate pacing, but it’s beautifully shot, featuring well drawn characters and complex writing that has made it the stand out of the month so far.

2. Al Ekhteyar 2 (The Choice 2)

The year’s biggest sequel has been extremely well-received thus far across the Arab world, which is saying something considering the hype that its predecessor, 2020’s The Choice, had left. The Choice 2 has been arguably even better, with both Karim Abdulaziz and Ahmed Mekky both lighting up the screen.

3. Hagma Mortada (Rebel Attack)

Tackling a divisive subject in Egypt with aplomb, it’s been a favourite with audiences all month thus far, due in a large part to Ahmed Ezz’s performance, backed by fellow Egyptian superstar Hend Sabry.

4. Molouk Al Gad’ana

Is this the year of the duo? Here, Amr Saad and Mostafa Shaban star in a series that explores friendship and family with a violent edge. Thus far, it’s been better than audiences have expected, with a storyline that’s both novel and engaging.

5. Nasl Al Aghrab

Ramadan series are star-driven, and the popularity of Amir Karara is what Nasl Al Aghrab runs on, and he’s proven just as must-watch as ever in his latest. While the first episode gifted us one of the best memes of the year, a moment in which a nonsense rhyme got out of hand, it has been overshadowed by a solid plot that has kept viewers coming back for more.

6. Cairo Kabul

Tarek Lofty is back with a series from renowned Egyptian producer Tamer Mursi that was initially shrouded in secrecy, telling the tale of a terrorist group with unclear motives has so far kept viewers dying to find out what will happen next, with Lofty setting off to international locales, and murders and assassinations abound.

7. Bab Al Hara

One of the most watched shows in Arab television history returned to streaming only this year, with Bab Al Hara’s 11^th season exclusively in the region on Starzplay. . The latest season covers the French occupation of Syria, and the Syrian youth as they prepare to resist their occupation. The series has featured both old characters and new, and the Ramadan tradition has proven to be just as enticing as it always was, as many in the region rewatch old seasons and discover the new season’s twists and turns.