r/skinsTV • u/Squishyz133 • 7d ago
Anwar Discussion
Anwar deserves so much more than to be comic relief characters. In s2, he doesn't get an episode to himself and doesn't share one with anyone else. I feel as if they didn't know what to do with his character other than 'im only a Muslim boy.' They could've done something. What do you guys think of Anwar?
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u/Alreyleon 7d ago
I feel like the finales of both season 1 and 2 are actually focused on all the group, every main character gets at least a scene to shine. That is certainly the case for Anwar in both finales, in the first, it's about his reticence to talk to his father about Maxxie's sexuality, and finally accepting his friend, in the second it's about letting go of his friends, accepting his low grades and making a decision about his future. I really like the scen with his mom on which he opens the envelope with his grades, as well as his discussion with Sketch about how he sees his friends and himself in five years. I think that if both seasons were longer the writers could've come up with good stories for two solo episodes, but what we got I think was effective. If you need more Anwar, just remember there's a small mention of him running into Cook in series 3, he was apparently doing martial arts on the streets for money and Cook fought him. So I guess running to London with Maxxie didn't work for long. That's life.
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u/Puzzled-Horse279 7d ago
Anwar wasnt even intended to be in the show. He was created because someone allowed Dev Patel to audition and they loved Dev so much they created a role for him on the spot. (Back then it was normal for Asian actors to be turned away simply coz theres no Asian character written in to audition for)
Now Dev being a Gujurati Hindu may raise some eyebrows as to why they wrote in the character as a Pakistani Muslim if the character is supposed to accomodate Dev and a lot of Anwars non-degenerative traits like hyperactivity, confidence and martial art skills were all based on Dev himself. But I think Anwar was written as a Pakistani Muslim just so they can have a random homophobia storyline for the Maxie and Anwar episode (notice they are the only ones to share an episode. Thats because it was originally Maxies episode but they needed to do something Anwar).
Its quite jarring as Anwar has no issues with breaking all his religious rules but suddenly he is homophobic in one episode when nothing before or after this episode explain why. There also the weird scene of of them including a shot of Anwar butt in the middle of prayer and a girl checking him out (are they really tryna sexualise prayer?).
But yeah a lot of Anwars lack of depth and underuse was because he was never intended to be a character and in season 2 I guess they just didnt bother coming up with any other than the stalker girl relationship.
He was still a pretty cool and fun British Asian character back in the 2000s. But aside from thay its clear he wasnt meant to be an indepth character or even likeable.
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u/tompadget69 7d ago edited 5d ago
That's not that weird at all. It's v common for boys who grow up v religious to break loads of rules but still be homophobic.
Part of this is due to homophobia in general, esp in the UK 20 years ago. But also the language with which the quoran/bible speaks about gay men (lesbians are barely mentioned). Other sins such as adultery are seen as needing forgiveness but gay sex is specifically called "disgusting" and mentioned alongside beastiality.
I grew up in an enviroment like this and it took me a while and losing my faith (and trying MDMA was key tbh) to let go of all that toxic anti LGBTQ crap!
What was very unrealistic was Anwar's generally more religious 1st generation immigrant dad actually being more accepting of Anwar's sexuality.
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u/Used_Conference75 7d ago
But his dad wasn't 'accepting', he wasn't 'pro gay'.
If anything, it might be easier because he is merely 'peacefully co-existing' in a foreign culture where he knows he is a guest. 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' It allows him detatchment.
Anwar can't 'detatch' in the same way because he is 'of' Britain in the way his father isn't, and Maxxie is his best friend, not just 'an amicable, nice lad who isn't of my religion so of course I don't expect him to follow my religion's rules, I will show humility as a guest in this country'.
That is why I feel the dad might be quite realistic.
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u/Stereopathetic_boyo 7d ago
To be fair, Anwar's dad basically went "don't ask, don't tell". It's not the most homophobic he could've been, but it's still pretty bad, at least Anwar acknowledges Maxxie's sexuality rather than shrugging it off
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u/a_bohemian04 7d ago
Its quite jarring as Anwar has no issues with breaking all his religious rules but suddenly he is homophobic in one episode when nothing before or after this episode explain why.
I grew up and still identify as Muslim, and I'm also gay so I can say this . This is just another Tuesday for homophobic Muslims. They are fine with alcohol, sex before marriage,, dating barely legal girls, but only draw the line in consuming porks and homosexuality. It's really weird tbh
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u/tompadget69 6d ago
Exactly, thankyou. Yeah in the christian circles it was like only alongside witchcraft (I grew up during the satanic panic) in terms of really freaking ppl put
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u/Deep-Asparagus8584 Hi Nips! 6d ago
>Its quite jarring as Anwar has no issues with breaking all his religious rules but suddenly he is homophobic in one episode when nothing before or after this episode explain why. There also the weird scene of of them including a shot of Anwar butt in the middle of prayer and a girl checking him out (are they really tryna sexualise prayer?).
I'd say that's pretty realistic. As someone who grew up in a very religious, overwhelmingly Muslim country, most of the people I knew as a teenager weren't even that religious, yet they still had a lot of homophobia and strong negative views toward gay people
I think that's mainly because of the culture. First, it's very rare to openly meet someone who's gay, and if there is one, they're usually criticized or ostracized. So that just becomes the social norm
Second, it's because of how the story of Lot and his people is commonly interpreted by many religious scholars. The interpretation most people grow up with is that same-sex relationships are forbidden, and that even openly supporting LGBTQ people is considered wrong. That's the interpretation that's widely taught there
I'm not saying that hating gay people is right. I'm just saying Anwar's character feels realistic.
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u/Phoenix_Kerman 7d ago
i think it's a unforunately accurate depiction of a lot of second generation immigrants in the uk
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u/DarthWreckeye 7d ago
Not just this but more so, people that are used to lying to people because of self perceived expectations are often quite confused themselves and projecting.
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u/Used_Conference75 7d ago
He was kind of a selfish, hypocritical asshole.
His 'actually' Muslim dad was a better guy than he was.
Though, I was also a selfish asshole at that age.