Thursday March 28th, 2024
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8 Mosalsalat You Can Binge-Watch With YouTube's Official New Arabic Series Hub

Because we weren't already obsessed enough...

Staff Writer

8 Mosalsalat You Can Binge-Watch With YouTube's Official New Arabic Series Hub

We're going to party in bed like it's 1962. No, seriously. YouTube just released a new hub for its Arab and Arabic-speaking audience – YouTube Mosalsalat – which, according to Al Arabiya news, will have classic mosalsalat (TV series) from the 60s all the way up until now. This probably came after they realised in their geeky headquarters how many users from the Middle East and North Africa are frantically searching 'mosalsal X episode X' a day, and how having shows on YouTube actually makes things easier. This launch dovetails with the recent 2015 release of the Aflam hub that caters to the film enthusiasts across the Arab World. Instead of searching for your Arabic dose of entertainment all over YouTube (and then finding it of really low quality, or a ridiculous troll pranking trying to get clicks on their videos), you can just basically camp out in those reliable channels.

Al Arabiya news also reports from Zain Masr – the Marketing Manager for Google MENA – who says, “With more than one billion users, YouTube is a platform where anyone, anywhere can access global and local entertainment. With launching Mosalsalat, we want users in the Middle East and North Africa to watch the best of Arabic television anytime they want. These shows have made millions over the past 50 years laugh, cry, and rejoice. We are glad to have been able to digitise a part of the region’s heritage.”

Yes, Masri... It's going to be 7,000 hours' worth of television shows, guys – we did our math – which means we're calling in sick for approximately 292 days. We're passing on the news to you, and hope that you can watch responsibly, kids. Here are shows we're about to watch:

Liss El Tholatha' (circa 1980s)

This is probably good for laughs, although it's a detective show. The only cool thing about this is the fact that, in separate episodes, it focuses on a thief who specialises in jewellery. This guy does his thing every Tuesday, like Tuesdays with Morrie but we're guessing he's way less noble and useful with that day of the week – and we'll all probably get more of a kick off that era's acting, fashion, and glorious makeup colours.

Raafat Al Haggan (1987)

If this name doesn't ring a bell, then you live under a rock. As an Egyptian, you have two duties in life: watch Rafaat El Haggan, and live like him. This is one of the most classic mosalsalat on Egyptian television, with Mahmoud Abdelaziz going undercover in Israel as David Samhoun and his life changing forever.

Al Mahkoum (1996)

This is a Syrian show, which is loved dearly by everyone who loves the good ol' 90s. We're going to watch this because it's about a university student who is trying to prove his innocence after being convicted of trafficking monuments. Well, that's more exciting than our college experience.

El Seera Al Hilaliya (1997)

Ahmed Abdelaziz's moustache aside – if that giant thing can be possibly put aside – this is probably a nice show to watch if you're into biographical, historical folkloric stories. It follows the story of Abouzeid El Hilali and his life in Egypt, and how much of a hero he is. 

Regal Taht Al Tarboush (2004)

This is one we're definitely down to watch – mainly because it reveals the hypocritical nature of patriarchal societies that claim freedom for women. It's all about different relationships between men and women in Syria, in supposedly (read: theoretically) intellectual and open minded societies, that call for women's rights and agency, however, on a pratical level, it's not the case. It's not just about men, but also about women not being able to break out of their shell.

7a2 Mayyet (2015)

We're jumping into the recents now. And sources tell us this will be a good show to watch if you want to force some tears out. Amy Samir Ghanem and Hassan El Raddad, a couple who are totally opposite, come together, and literally, the only moment of happiness they have is that time they fell in love – everything after is probably the purest form of mo7n and sadness. *grabs Kleenex and ugly glasses for this*

Lahfa (2015)

Donia Samir Ghanem, not afraid of being silly, along with her father, and the brilliant comedians Ali Rabie and Mohammed Sallam. Not only is the cast alone capable of making you laugh just by being there, but the whole story is about Lahfa who aspires to be an actress. The situations she gets in, with a show each day featuring a different actor that she tries to impress with her talents, will just genuinely make you love (and laugh at) Lahfa and root for her.

Wannous (2016)

The only reason we're going to (re)watch this is because of its exceptional depiction of the devil. Yahia El Fakhrany is too adorable for this, but he portrays this weird character who just comes into the lives of members of the same family, turning some of them against each other and provoking some of them to do things they may have not necessarily done before. It's a classic 'selling your soul to the devil' with a massive Egyptian twist – seems quite fitting.