The idea is simple enough: stage a series of provocative incidents in public spaces in the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Lebanon and then gauge the public’s reactions.
Who intervenes? Who chooses to keep to themselves? And, most importantly, why?
That’s the premise of Al Sadma, or The Shock, the much-talked-about reality show currently airing on MBC and MBC Masr.
It’s a prank show, but with a difference – it forces viewers to examine their humanity and concepts of decency.
Each of the staged scenarios is intentionally disturbing and emotional. A father scolds his young son in a grocery store because of low grades at school. A young woman sneers at her mother near the deli counter, refusing to help the old woman retrieve her fallen cane. A volatile husband verbally and physically abuses his wife in a restaurant. An elderly man is refused service at a bakery when the young baker learns that he belongs to a different religious sect.
A woman wearing hijab is asked to leave a clothing store by the Christian salesman, who refuses to sell to Muslims. A female customer threatens to wreck havoc on a waitress in a cafe if her coffee order doesn’t appear on time.
Bystanders have reacted in different ways. Some ignore the situation, while others seem shocked while others laugh or try to help or intervene.
Social-media channels generally are full praise for the show, with clips from various episodes regularly shared on Facebook.
On YouTube, the very first episode of the show, titled Insulting a Parent, featuring young men and women disrespecting their elderly mothers while shopping in a store, has been viewed close to five million times.
Some bystanders couldn’t bear to watch, and even offered to “adopt” the abused parent.
On Twitter, Al Sadma has been trending daily during its airtime.
About a recent episode, which tackled religious discrimination, Twitter user @DanaaMohd wrote: “I love this TV show #AlSadma, it’s very interesting to see if people are able to stand up against racism and discrimination.”
Likewise, user @ShakerBarany wrote: “If you are losing faith in humanity, you should see #AlSadma TVshow. Iraqis made me very happy and proud.”
Even Emirati pop diva Ahlam Al Shamsi has been following the show, and recently Tweeted: “Programme #AlSadma has opened a window to the Arab world, showing the dignity, humanity and character strength of the Iraqi people despite all the circumstances they have been through.”
User @IXVINTAG said: “Day after day, this show shows us that humanity and equality in our countries still exist.”
• Al Sadma is on MBC Drama at 7.45pm daily. Watch previous episodes on Shahid.net
artslife@thenational.ae
