There are loads of TV shows that try to encapsulate what it’s like growing up as a millennial but to be honest, a lot of them get it totally wrong, either by being too niche or too dry.
But when they actually get it right, it’s pure bloody magic.
Enter Stan’s new coming-of-age comedy series Ramy, co-created, starring, directed, written and produced by stand-up comedian Ramy Youssef.
The series is a semi-autobiographical recounting of Ramy’s life as a Muslim-American immigrant growing up in New York, featuring actual events from the comic’s life.
But while the story is one that’s very personal to Youssef, viewers from all walks of life will find themselves relating to the series which is why you should defs jump on Stan right now and watch Season 1 which launched today.
Introducing lead character Ramy Hassan. Much like the mastermind behind the series, he’s a 27-year-old Egyptian-American trying to navigate his way through life.
Youssef has said that his goal with the series was for the lead protagonist to show what it’s like to juggle both sides of their idea, rather than resort to conforming to just one of them.
“A lot of immigrant stories on TV and film, I feel like I’m watching someone upgrade into a white lifestyle,” he told Vulture. “And this show is a wrestling match of wanting to be in both.”
Ramy was met with rave reviews from critics who praised its ability to tell immigrant stories in a comedic but poignant way. It also scored a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes which is a pretty damn epic feat.
The series was so well received, in fact, that it’s already been renewed for a second season so we’re coming at it at a good time, folks.
Have a go at the trailer below:
With the yarns being written about an immigrant millennial by an immigrant millennial, you know you’re getting an accurate look into life from the lens of a culturally diverse 20-something year old.
One of the most prevalent themes that’s explored in the series is Ramy’s relationship with his parents and his struggle to live up to their impossible standards.
Ramy is forced to abandon plans of striking out on his own and moving out when the start-up he worked for went bust.
Instead of living his best life, he now lives with his folks and younger sis and works for his uncle. Not cute.
The generational gap between Ramy and his parents is often an issue for him as his desires as a millennial conflict with his parents’ values and expectations.
Throughout the series, his folks hound him about being single and encourage him to get hitched ASAP, which will be very reminiscent of your Sunday brunch convos with your own ‘rents.
Sure, Ramy is super devoted to his faith and his family, but he refuses to succumb to the pressure of getting married before he’s ready.
Which leads us to the concept of dating in the modern era, a recurring theme explored at length in the show to serious but often hilarious results.
Ramy’s family and friends are constantly pressuring him to marry a Muslim girl but finding someone of his faith isn’t exactly a priority for him.
But despite trying not to bring religion into the equation when seeking out a girlfriend, Ramy often struggles to fulfil his desires but stay loyal to his faith.
You see, Ramy is just your average dude who loves the spoils of casual dating but he’s also a devout Muslim and with it brings a lot of rules that lead to complications in his romantic life.
You’ll find enjoyment in the cringy sex / dating scenes as they paint too accurate a picture of the awkwardness of dating in 2019.
All 10 episodes of Ramy are all on Stan right now (and it’s in 4K) so prepare to settle in for a hilarious but thought provoking binge sesh.
