At long last (though not quite so long if you’re used to British TV), We Are Lady Parts, Nida Manzoor’s bold and riveting show of a punk rock Muslim women band, named “Lady Parts” has returned to Peacock and Channel 4 in the UK.
Amina (Anjana Vasan), Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Bisma (Faith Omole), and manager Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse) have broken into mainline success at the end of Season 1, but where do they go from here? How will they navigate their newfound success, particularly as a new Muslim punk band named “Second Wife,” featuring new cast members Bradley Banton as Ali, Kimani Arthur as Taifa, and Eman Alali as Farah, comes into the fray?
In achieving their new renown, Lady Parts must deal with questions they hadn’t fully considered as they were starting out. What does it mean to be a successful Muslim artist in white supremacist and Islamophobic structures? How can Lady Parts appease their corporate sponsors while maintaining their artistic integrity? What does Lady Parts even stand for?
Manzoor addresses all these questions as boldly as she can, and one can’t nudge off the feeling that she too has dealt with the same barriers as Lady Parts. Through the band’s tribulations, it is evident that they represent her own struggles in the industry as a brown Muslim artist and storyteller. How do we strike the right balance for ourselves to tell our personal stories, but also achieve success in corporate media? While the answers may be easy for the audience to guess, it’s genuinely much harder for the bandmates. The journey Manzoor puts them through is challenging and rewarding in its depiction, and ultimately inspiring many other artists and creators on their own artistic journeys. We Are Lady Parts Season 2 is a story about the role of the artist, and will resonate no matter your craft.
Every single one of the bandmates have a unique journey this season, stepping the series up from the already brilliant season 1, which understandably had to focus on some characters more than others. But in season 2 everyone has their moment to shine. Manzoor and her team give Bisma in particular a moving and introspective arc about identity and self-presentation, rooted in her Blackness in a refreshing way that I won’t spoil here. Season 2 gives Omole much more to work with and showcase her talents as an actress, and Bisma’s journey of self-discovery will likely resonate with many Black and Muslim viewers, as well as spark important discussions.
We also learn much more about Momtaz, her background, and what motivates her to manage bands and highlight their art. Acting through the niqab, Shorthouse shows her own incredible range as an actress with her eyes alone, and proves why more niqabis should be given roles in major media (with the caveat that of course Shorthouse is not niqabi herself, but the depiction is still wonderful to see.)
Anjana Vasan as Amina remains a comedic and heartfelt delight, showcasing her incredible range as an actress and musician, while taking Amina on a further journey of self-discovery. She particularly has a wonderful story with her best friend Noor (Aiysha Hart) as they both continue to grow together. Sarah Kameela Impey remains a revelation of an performer as Saira, as she embodies most the artistic journey the band endures in Season 2. What will Saira and the band sacrifice to continue their mainline success? The answers might be tough and riveting, with their amazing performances to guide us through.
Ayesha, revealed as queer in Season 1, also continues a resonant journey of self-discovery as she must contend with how she wants to present herself to the world, both in her personal life and in the band’s newfound success. Is she built for this life? What will her family think? Juliette Motamed continues to play Ayesha with a a beautiful balance of sincerity and sarcasm as she, along with the rest of the cast, consistently grabs the audience’s attention.
And of course the new songs are fantastic, as to be expected from Manzoor and her fellow songwriting siblings. I won’t spoil the names of the songs here, as they’re all integral to the plot in some way, and the storytelling precision in their compositions is overall remarkable. Manzoor continues to prove herself as a musical genius as well as a storytelling one.
We Are Lady Parts Season 2 is an absolute triumph of a sophomore outing, not only matching the first season’s brilliance but exceeding it as it pushes our beloved band to greater heights of fame and story. With superb performances, writing, directing, songs, cinematography, and an overall zest for storytelling that packs a punch, Nida Manzoor, with her team, continues to prove herself as one of the most brilliant storytellers in tv and film working today, and as always I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Representation: A+
Overall grade: A+
You can watch We Are Lady Parts Season 2 on Peacock starting this Thursday, May 30.
