Ramy

You, Me, and TV

In this episode we break down the pilot episode of Ramy, which was created by Ramy Youssef, Ari Katcher, and Ryan Welch. The first season premiered on April 19, 2019. Ramy is a Hulu Original, and Hulu has announced that there will be a second season. The title of the pilot episode is “Between the Toes.”

As always, we take a look at the Hulu description: “Ramy Hassan is a first generation Egyptian-American who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy will bring a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like being caught between a Muslim community that thinks life is a moral test and a millennial generation that thinks life has no consequences.” Though this description has a lot to offer, we find that the episode descriptions catch our eye even more as they are written in the second person (similar to how the episode descriptions are written in the show Atlanta).

We also discuss the critical acclaim for this show, including rave reviews from Rolling Stone, Vulture, The Ringer, and The New York Times--although we do question Rolling Stone’s use of the term “everydude.”

Additionally, we analyze how this show takes a unique approach in how it addresses race, culture, and religion. The challenges that Ramy and his family face throughout season one are relatable even if you are not a Muslim from New Jersey. Not only is this because they are universal issues explored through the lens of a young man finding his place between two different cultures, but also because the show’s storytelling structure allows the viewer to get to know each individual character on a deeper level.

In addition to our detailed breakdown of the episode, we also highlight some of the excellent performances in this show. These include the character Ramy’s two friends Mo and Ahmed, played by Mo Amer and Dave Merheje. These two steal the show in their scene, and if you like their performances you should check out Mo Amer’s Netflix special or one of Dave Merheje’s comedy albums on Spotify. Another character that is absolutely hilarious throughout season one is Steve, played by Ramy Youssef’s real-life childhood friend Steve Way.

For more information and to contact us, check out our social media pages: Facebook @YouMeAndTV, Twitter @YouMeAndTVPod, and Instagram @youmeandtvpodcast.