In the Egyptian television series Crossroads, everything that unfolds places the good wife, Amira, portrayed by the talented Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, at a literal crossroads. The series, which premiered on the Shahid platform, is directed by Mohamed Yehia and co-written by Wael Hamdy, the late Sherif Badreddin, and a team of writers. It is adapted from the critically acclaimed American television series The Good Wife, which aired for seven seasons from 2009 to 2016. The original series was created by Michelle King and Robert King and starred Julianna Margulies, Chris Noth, and Josh Charles.

The Egyptian adaptation of the series, which features Eyad Nassar, Maged Al- Masry, Ali Al-Tayeb, Jumana Murad, and Huda Al-Mufti, may have some pacing issues. However, throughout its 45 episodes, it has effectively captured the viewers’ attention and sympathy. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, and the well-crafted writing has successfully adapted them to fit Egyptian and Arab realities. In addition, strong casting has greatly enriched the dramatic depth of these characters.

The series centres on Amira, a wife and mother who returns to her career as a defence attorney after her husband, Omar (Maged Al-Masry), a prominent state attorney, is involved in a corruption and sex scandal. The show follows Amira’s journey as she rebuilds her life, navigates the challenges of her career, and deals with complex personal relationships.

In the series, most characters grapple with their own dilemmas and internal conflicts, particularly as they navigate the tension between personal ambitions and duties or desires. This dynamic creates a myriad of dramatic situations for each character. Amid such complexity, the devoted wife, Amira, stands out as the most deeply affected. She is intricately tied up with all the other characters whose paths intersect with hers, making her experiences particularly poignant and reflective of the overarching themes of the series. As a result, her character undergoes the most significant development and transformation of all.

From being a successful and ambitious law student to a promising trainee, Amira makes a life-altering decision to leave her career behind and embrace the role of a housewife, a devoted wife and mother. For many years, she supports her family while her husband enjoys a successful career as a senior official. Her world is upended when she discovers her husband’s involvement in a major scandal involving sexual misconduct and corruption, leading to his imprisonment. Faced with this crisis, Amira must embark on her own journey to salvage her family, balancing her career with her roles as a mother and wife.

Although the series does not delve deeply into Amira’s life before this pivotal moment, it is conveyed through the character, brought to life with remarkable depth by Hend Sabry. Sabry’s portrayal captures Amira’s initial naivety and her black-and-white view of life, underscoring her absolute commitment to her family. Despite her eventual return to the legal profession demonstrating impressive skill, she struggles to shed her inherent innocence and navigate the complexities of the world around her with the same ease she once had.

Sabry skillfully embodies the complex character through both her performance and her thoughtful choices in clothing and body language. Amira, a woman in her forties who once excelled in her studies and was poised for success in her career, finds herself domesticated by societal expectations that confine women to traditional roles. Sabry portrays this intriguing contradiction with remarkable sensitivity.

Sabry’s portrayal is notable for its depth and nuance, offering a fresh perspective in both television and cinema. Amira embodies the legacy of traditional values and the self-sacrifice often demanded of women in her social and cultural milieu. Despite her transformation into a successful lawyer who triumphs in high-stakes cases, she remains burdened by the ingrained guilt and expectations imposed by her environment. This inner conflict between her professional achievements and her perceived failure to meet familial obligations adds profound layers to Sabry’s portrayal, making Amira a compelling and multidimensional character.

Even as Amira finds herself enveloped by the affection and care of a co-worker and her former classmate who has long harboured a deep, unspoken love for her, the audience is left holding its breath with every moment she hesitates to embrace the possibility of a new emotional life. Despite the chance for a fresh start, Amira continues to prioritise her self-sacrifice for the sake of her family, adhering to the values dictated by societal expectations even in the face of her husband’s betrayal. This commitment to self-sacrifice makes her vulnerable to more lies and deceit.

Amira’s character undergoes significant changes over time, but the gradual nature of this transformation, unfolding across 45 episodes, lends her a realism many women can relate to.

In some ways, Crossroads can be seen as a feminist series. While it doesn’t necessarily shock with overt defiance against norms, it does challenge and critique the same traditions through its portrayal of Amira’s journey. The true source of tension is Amira’s adherence to societal expectations, which increasingly constrict her freedom and self-realisation. Her struggle to navigate those constraints and ultimately find her path to liberation offers a nuanced exploration of gender roles and personal agency within a traditional framework. This approach provides a subtle yet powerful commentary on the pressures faced by women and their quest for self-empowerment within societal confines.

This is the thought Hend Sabry conveyed in one of her television interviews about the series. She remarked that viewers often react with shock, saying things like: “How could you do that to yourself, Amira? Are you stupid?” This reaction highlights how the series challenges societal expectations and the protagonist’s adherence to them, prompting audiences to question and critically examine the constraints imposed by traditions.

Amira is not the only female role model in this context. The series introduces several diverse female characters who, despite their professional or social achievements, remain constrained by societal expectations. These women often choose silence over voicing their true desires or resort to manipulative tactics to achieve their goals. Their behaviour reflects a broader commentary on the difficulties women face in navigating and challenging the restrictive norms imposed by society, highlighting the complexities and limitations that come with striving for personal fulfilment under such circumstances.

There is, for example, Dareen, played by Jumana Murad, the owner of the famous law firm that became a trademark of the profession after she inherited it from her husband. Dareen decides for many years not to reveal her love to her partner in the law firm, who eventually discovers her feelings but selfishly ignores them in order to continue in his position. Instead of resorting to disclosure, she decides to freeze her life completely in the hope that he will feel it one day. She even decides to freeze her eggs until she buries her dream of motherhood in the depths of the abyss. Even when Dareen decides to freeze her eggs, intending to retain control over her ability to pursue motherhood when the opportunity arises to be with the man she loves, she is shocked to find that her decision is used against her. A television host on a popular talk show exploits her choice to publicly shame and undermine her professionally.

This strong woman who has managed over the years to lead a team of the most skilled lawyers, both male and female, surrenders to the ignorance and silence of the person she loves, avoiding revealing her feelings to him because this goes against society’s expectations of her as a woman. This ultimately leads her to resort to vile and evil tricks that another woman like her falls victim to, leaving the viewers to decide whether she is truly guilty or a victim.

The series features other compelling female characters. One is Hana, portrayed by Noha Abdeen. Hana is an ambitious and talented actress whose career is threatened by her past relationship with a persistent former fiancé who is now a film star. His betrayal and subsequent stalking put Hana in a difficult position, forcing her to either return to him or face professional destruction.

Another notable character is Walaa, played by Huda Al-Mufti. She is an indispensable employee in a law firm, renowned for her exceptional ability to unravel complex cases. To navigate a male-dominated profession, Walaa chooses to adopt a male persona and dress in a way that conceals her feminine identity. She believes that this approach is the most effective way to succeed and continue in her career.

Crossroads places a particular focus on its female characters, who are portrayed in a way that explores deeper issues related to the social and cultural context surrounding women. Instead of presenting these issues through overt dramatisation, the series approaches them in a calm and gradual manner. This subtle approach encourages viewers to reflect on the complexities faced by these women and make their own judgements. It goes beyond merely evaluating the characters, prompting the audience to consider how these issues might resonate with their own lives, effectively serving as a mirror to societal norms and inviting personal introspection.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly