#long answer!

Dearest Analysis Anon ji,

Welcome! So lovely to hear from you after a long time.

FIRST, this is solely my opinion of the show and different viewpoints can exist :) Also, I have put an Ishqbaaz reference here and there because Annika and Khushi are similar heroines from similar backgrounds with questionable partners who are classist *lol* (Shivaay takes the cake and bakery in classist department tho)

Arnav, Khushi, Class Difference - from Khushi's POV

I find this very interesting, unlike Annika from Ishqbaaz, I think Khushi has a less jaded and more equal viewing of the world.

I don't think Khushi puts herself above anybody else, and likewise doesn't expect anyone else to put themselves above her (or her family). This is solely in terms of money; morally she often considers herself superior.

And sorry as I’m here again for a new ask. Hope you don’t mind answering it, because this is the first time I’m trying to know the correct logic behind it, as I always ignored to understand the depth of it.

In the episode after Rakhi, where Arnav surprises Khushi with all the gifts she likes, the salman khan poster, jalebi, gol gappe. The one gift for which she becomes emotional and so as Arnav is the pearl necklace. Why is that, she tears down when she sees that gift. In the episode they show a flashback of Arnav tearing up her dori and all the pearls falling on the ground from the broken dori from the sheesh mahal episode. Every time I see that episode I just think and move on that she thinks of it as how he’s replacing all the bad memories for her with creating new and happy one’s. But somehow I’m not always convinced with it nor the scene as they both later hug each other and comfort each other.

Can you let me know why exactly Arnav gifts her that necklace and all of a sudden Khushi becomes emotional? I want to know your thought and theory on it. It would be great if you could convince me, haha!

Lots of love and hugs and peace

- Aisha

Hello Aisha!

Oh don’t bother about sending a message again - as long as everyone knows that it takes me a few days at least to reply back! Cause each answer takes roughly an hour to answer - and then there’s real life 😅

Thank you asking an ask again! I’m so happy to see you here! I’m glad my blog gives you some bit of happiness 😃 i remember you, but not your ask 😅

First thing, I won’t be able to convince you because I can only tell you my interpretation :)

The Pearls

Arnav is trying to make amends for all he has done. He knew he had crossed line multiple times and any attempt at showing affection was backfiring massively. He thinks of outcomes first, pathways second. So in his mind using any method to keep Khushi home would be worth it.

And it wasn’t. She grew more distant from him. The bickering that they used to take comfort in was slowly turning into harsh conversations (rightfully so) and no banter was taking place. He has previously seen that challenging her brought her closer, giving her things she liked brought her closer.

But none of that works in this case. So an idea finally clicked in his head that there needs to be less of winning her back and more of a genuine attempt to make her happy.

So he gives her things that have two meanings;

1) it conveys how closely he has seen her, observed her

2) he loves her

Arnav’s love language is not communication. He tries to seal cracks by gifts. It takes him a lot to talk. And Khushi rarely holds a grudge if someone is doing something from the heart.

These gifts are without occasion, they don’t come with the force of being accepted, and there’s no “ASR” written on it. It took effort for him to get these things.

There was a man who sat down, thought of everything his wife liked from memory, and made sure they were all there.

So he just doesn’t get her jalebis - he gets it from her favorite store in Delhi (he’s also surprised that she immediately gets it which store it’s from).

And we can see Khushi’s face. At first she’s hesitant, taken aback why are these things that she likes.

And she looks at him, waiting for an explanation. But he’s quiet, leaving her alone with her gifts. Her joy mirrored in his eyes.

For the first time Khushi sees his gifts beyond control, excessive love and display of his wealth.

No part of him is going “here look at me, I took so much effort to give you what you wanted, now you should talk to me”

Rather it’s just a “I hope you like these”

And since these gifts are so sincere, she forgives him in a heartbeat. Khushi is already warm with affection because he just kissed her forehead and told her that he wore the sherwani only because he knew Khushi suggested it (through NK).

It’s the only time he complains about what he does for her - and in the most adorable fashion. “Whenever I turn I feel my pants will fall!”

Arnav never says he loves her, but this is probably the most sweetest confession of his love.

The pearls hold a deep connection for them, individually. I don’t think Khushi even knows Arnav kept the pearls from her blouse safe with him. But for Arnav it was the first thing he had from Khushi and he kept it safely.

For Khushi she dreamt that he’d once gift her a necklace of pearls - a symbolism to how they first met (it’s not romanticizing that moment). But him making her wear a pearl necklace in her dreams was a closure to the fact that he ripped away her pearl dori the first time they met.

And seeing the pearl necklace - something she dreamt - in front of her eyes stunned her.

To be brutal, Arnav has never fulfilled or come close to any of Khushi’s hopes and dreams she had with this relationship or about love in general. Any imagination was solely hers and reality was incredibly different (and painful).

Even his ‘I love you’ wasn’t a shy conversation she had once hoped on the terrace, rather it was a desperate man’s last words. Words she thought he said to caution her.

So Khushi stopped dreaming about Arnav and their relationship for a really long time. And suddenly to be confronted with a moment that is straight out of her dreams overwhelm her.

Arnav was nervous. He knows her disdain for anything expensive - which was further instated by his terrible behaviour, he had once lashed out when she’s received jewelry from Nani after Heer Ranjha - so he don’t not know how she’ll accept jewellery.

He sees her hesitation around the box and he’s desperately hoping she likes it because it is the most open conversation he’s ready to have. If she asks about her pearls and why - he’ll say so. He has the words and courage to respond to her question- one he didn’t have in Diwali.

At first he fears when he sees her go glum at the necklace. And he’s just hoping against hope at this moment.

What he doesn’t expect is for her to cry. To be so genuinely happy that she cries.

It takes Khushi a moment longer to connect to why Arnav gifted her pearls and that it’s no mere coincidence with her dreams. So she’s quiet and she stares at him, wondering if she’s reading more into this or reading him for this first time.

And it’s the first time Arnav hugs her. He didn’t mean to make her cry but he’s also humbled by her quick forgiveness. In silence they’ve communication that all the arguments are laid to rest, for good.

And that she loves him too.

I think finally, finally they both know that they want this - the relationship - and that it’s not because something has happened and it needs to remain this way.

It’s because it fulfills a dream the two had seen a LONG time ago.

It’s a beautiful scene and it also makes me sad because this space and equation should’ve been dealt with further - cause this was the healing we needed to see. And… the whole Khushi raising questions about the legitimacy of their wedding and Arnav frightening her with suhaagraat and all don’t just fit when there’s been such a sensitive scene in the show.

Thanks for asking this question!

Love,

Dearest Mutton, 

The candy seemed to have worked. I think I’ll adopt this idea.

HIIIIIII back to you too :) Ah, this is such an excellent ask. I’m equally excited, flattered and ecstatic that you want to know my IPK story. 

When IPK first released I was a teen in my mystery/crime/education phase and romance barely excited me. The one thought that stuck to me was; “WHY ARE THEY STARING?”

Fast forward three years I had some time in my hands and I wanted to watch something Indian but not saas-bahu. IPK stood out because of Sanaya Irani and I was a BIG fan of MJHT, especially Gunjan. 

So, I was a bit skeptical with it but I also knew that she’s one heck of an actress - so why not? And in fact I was a bit taken aback by the name ‘Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?’, quite a mouthful and dramatic! 

But I checked out the promo and that had me VERY INTERESTED. It was serious, deep, intense and there was a rawness to the first look and a thing about acknowledged passion and angst. Khushi’s minimum makeup face and realistic clothing, Arnav standing by his car in the rain was just... very human.

I watched the first few episodes, it was nice. But the episode that hooked me was the red saree photoshoot. There are these two moments from that scene that stopped my heart and I realised that I wanted to watch this show not just for Sanaya, but for Khushi and Arnav - and Barun Sobti. That’s one guy who KNOWS how to act. Subtle and intense - that’s my cup of tea. 

I am doing well Anon - just back from a mini social media vacation - thank you! Hope you and your family are doing well :)

Oh that’s a loaded question! Well, in my opinion, Sanaya is indeed one of the finest and underrated actresses in Indian Television. This does not come from Sanaya doing fewer projects - I wholeheartedly love her careful (mostly) selection of shows she chooses to be a part of. 

And they’ve almost always resulted in sensible, successful shows where she has given us a completely different character. Gunjan from Miley Jab Hum Tum, Khushi from Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon and Paro from Rangrasiya are my favorites. 

I know it’s just three shows but three good shows with great character portrayals. 

With Sanaya I feel she swallows the character and becomes the person she is portraying. Pata hai, that’s the job of an actor, but she’s exceptional. One of my firm beliefs why IPK was SUCH a hit is because she was paired with an actor who is just like her when it comes to acting. It’s literally their micro expressions (which are difficult to emote until they’re in the skin of the character) that rule most of the scenes. 

Coming back to Sanaya - the world of Indian Television does rely on some rather heavy, dramatic expressions and almost every reaction is highlighted. With her, she makes someone as dramatic as Khushi, or demure as Gunjan very believable. From her dialogue delivery, her body language to even the pitch - she always changes it from character to character.

With Gunjan she used a bit deeper, mellow edge to her voice unlike Khushi who is more on the higher pitch (of course directors and all are involved but still). 

And again, it’s in my opinion, that I think people miss out how exceptional Sanaya is as an actor. Many call her beautiful - which she obviously is! - but really she’s talented and splendid. In general I just feel people don’t get it that she is a brilliant actor. 

In short; SHE. CAN. ACT. And I FEEL she doesn’t get enough credit for that.

She’s much better than quite a few actors in the Hindi film fraternity to be honest - although I wonder when will Hindi cinema recognize this and give capable TV actors good scripts and roles. *With the current scenario though, not likely.*

Other Hindi TV actors I admire: Ronit Roy, Ram Kapoor, Shweta Tiwari, Sakshi Tanwar, Varun Badola, Simone Singh, Rajeev Khandelwal, Sushant Singh Rajput, Jennifer Winget, Barun Sobti, Shaheer Sheikh, Mohit Raina, Mrunal Thakur [I’ve probably missed MANY]

Omg the entire cast of Sarabhai V/S Sarabhai (Satish Shah and Ranta Pathak Shah are legends!) Anon, if you haven’t watched this classic then go and watch it! 

Thank you for this wonderful ask and for liking the blog! 

Much love, 

Okay, so this is tough! I think everybody should watch every episode! Especially with this very long hiatus. But if he’s thinking of only watching a few to get a taste of what the show is about, I would say that he should start with the pilot. The pilot does a really good job of introducing the relationships between the characters, not just with Shawn. Well, a good job with everybody but Juliet, as she doesn’t appear in the pilot. As for other episodes in the first season, I would say that Scary Sherry: Bianca’s Toast is a really great episode, and it’s the first one James Roday helped to write so we get a taste of what he’s all about. Plus bad ass Juliet! Haha! I also think From Earth to Starbucksis a pretty good episode, and it’s the debut of “You hear about Pluto? That’s messed up, right?”

For season 2, I would definitely tell him to watch American Duos. Classic episode and it introduces Nigel St. Nigel (Tim Curry), who might make an appearance in season 6. Also, Bounty Hunters! as it is a great Shawn/Juliet episode. And he should also watch the last four episodes of season 2: Lights, Camera... Homicidio, Dis-Lodged, Black and Tan: A Crime of Fashion, Shawn (and Gus) of the Dead.

Now, season 3 is my personal favorite, so I would tell him to watch all of the episodes! But if I had to pick only a few, I would say Ghosts,The Greatest Adventure in the History of Basic Cable, Talk Derby to Me (bamf Juliet), Gus Walks Into a Bank, Tuesday the 17th (another James Roday episode, plus he directed and it’s my favorite), and An Evening with Mr. Yang (it sets up the Yin/Yang Trilogy and Ally Sheedy is phenomenal).

In Season 4, I would suggest watching Extradition: British Columbia as it’s the first (of three) appearance by the superb Cary Elwes, and it’s an excellent episode.The Devil's in the Details... and the Upstairs Bedroom is a definite thriller! And Ray Wise is in it – reason enough. I really loved Bollywood Homicide, but I love Bollywood movies, so he doesn’t have to watch it, but I highly recommend it. High Top Fade Out is an absolute must-watch episode. Seriously, it’s hilarious and has some really great Shawn/Gus friendship moments. Shawn Takes a Shot in the Dark, because who doesn’t love to see the hero in peril?! The Head, the Tail, the Whole Damn Episode because it’s Jaws themed and a great episode! And, obviously, Mr. Yin Presents… because it’s sooooo good and Hitchcock. C’mon son!

I hope this helps, it’s like 23 episodes, but they are all really fantastic! I mean, the whole series is fantastic, but I am a little biased.

And about the vampire episode, I am so beyond pumped! I love Buffy! Fun fact about me: in middle school, I would get up early to watch reruns of BtVS! And recently I saw an episode of Angel at like 5 am on TNT! I think I liked Angel more. I seriously cried when (spoiler alert!) Cordy died (she was my favorite before she got weird and got together with Connor) and at the finale. And my favorite on BtVS is a tie between Faith and Andrew (Tom Lenk is going to be in This Episode Sucks! You have no idea how excited I am!). I don’t think I am going to be able to make it to October!!!