Rizek Abu Manneh

I started watching Al Rawabi School for Girls purely due to my interest in film making and curiosity about this Jordanian production on Netflix. However, I was a bit hesitant at first because I thought this show was just another "teenage drama" which really isn't my cup of tea, and also because of the bad aftertaste left by the previous Jordanian Netflix production "Jinn". As such, it was a very pleasant surprise for me to find out that this show was much more than just a "teenage drama". This show provides very relevant and on-point social commentary on the Jordanian and Arab community, and, in addition to the universally relevant issue of bullying, it tackles a lot of the issues faced by girls and young women specifically in this part of the world. The story and dialogue are very well-written with three dimensional characters and shifting perspectives of right and wrong. This is all exemplified in the last episode and the build-up to the dark twist at the end of the series. The acting is decent (at least by the main cast), with a few sprinkles of well-delivered comedy that really hit home. The directing is excellent with outstanding cinematography (I don't think Amman ever looked better on film). The choice of soundtrack is excellent and features a collection of songs from independent artists all over the Arab world (I found myself listening to some of them on my Spotify a few days after I finished the show). All in all, I would definitely recommend watching Al Rawabi School for Girls. It is a very good and interesting watch, it also debuts a lot of promising new Jordanian talent.