The great remote heist

Who Needs A Reality Show When You Have An Ongoing Family Drama?

Twisha Prasad, AIS Noida, XII I

As the clock strikes seven, the battle for the TV remote begins - cue dramatic music! On one side is my Daadi ji, whose eyesight magically improves the instant saas-bahu serials start. It’s like she’s been waiting all day for her daily dose of drama served with a side of perfectly draped sarees and melodramatic slap sounds. Honestly, she believes that every episode is a masterclass in both fashion and theatrics. What more could you ask for?
Enter my brother, a human tornado fuelled by sugar and sheer chaos. He’s bouncing on the sofa with the enthusiasm of a five-year-old on a candy high, ready to hijack the remote. “Chauka!” he screams, his voice so loud it could shatter glass, determined to tune into the India-Pakistan cricket match. With every boundary, his excitement rivals a toddler on a Christmas morning, as each fallen wicket brings a look of devastation that could only be matched by a straight-A student suddenly seeing a mediocre ‘B’ on their flashy report card.
As the clock ticks to eight, my dad takes his rightful place on the sofa, ready to transform our living room into a national news broadcasting centre. With the volume cranked to levels that could wake the neighbours, he revels in the drama of news reporters bickering like a group of toddlers arguing over a toy. Honestly, I half-expect him to demand that we start taking minutes like he’s back in Model United Nations.
Just when the news wraps up, my mother sweeps in from the kitchen, arms loaded with dinner like a contestant on a cooking show. “No television while eating,” she declares, her voice dripping with authority. Yet, we all know she secretly craves the soothing sounds of ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’ in the background like it’s some sort of culinary comfort food. After all, it’s not merely a show; it’s a family tradition.
After dinner, my mother turns into the Bedtime Enforcer, calling for my little sister. “It’s past your bedtime!” she insists, but my sister is glued to the screen, begging, “No, Mamma! Doraemon is about to unveil the coolest gadgets!” Her eyes are wide with hope, as if the fate of the world hinges on Nobita’s latest misadventures. Honestly, she’s not wrong; the plot twists that unfold there are more mind-bending than a Christopher Nolan film!
And if you are wondering about me, well, I’ve got front-row seats to this comedy show that unravels on a daily basis in our living room. Who needs Netflix when you have a family that puts the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional?

A squad of erudites

Series: Scorpion
Director: Justin Lee, Sam Hill
Released on: Sep 22, 2014
Starring: Elyes Gabel, Katherine McPhee, Jadyn Wong, Robert Patrick
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama

Synopsis: Walter, the fourth smartest person on the planet, Toby, a world-class shrink, Happy, mechanical prodigy, and Sylvester, the human calculator, are some of the smartest people in the world (literally). They form a team called Scorpion, led by Walter and recruited by Cabe Gallo of Homeland Security to work with the US Department of Homeland Security to develop advanced barricades against the looming threats of high-tech cyber terrorism around the globe. Along the way, the squad gets acquainted with Paige whose 9-year-old son Ralph has an IQ to rival Walter’s. They spend most of their time working in an abandoned garage on extremely sensitive cases in highly volatile situations with nothing but their brains as armaments.
Why is it watch-worthy: If you love math or science, this is everything you’ve ever wanted in a TV series, and more. And if you don’t, watching a man with 197 IQ and no EQ deal with social interaction for four seasons is very amusing. While some characters are portrayed as larger than life, even the presence of smaller characters is justified by the brilliant plotline. Overall, the storyline is serious yet quirky at times, interlaced with amazing twists and suspense, unlocking a new challenge in every episode.
Iconic dialogue: “Love is a semi-euphoric, temporary chemical reaction.”
Rating: 4/5
Review by: Yasmin Tandon
AIS PV, Alumni