With 12 episodes already aired, the drama serial ‘Grey’ has us scratching our heads, wondering why it’s not pulling in the numbers it deserves. Centred around Salaar Khan, played by Sami Khan and Imaan Mansoor, played by Sabeena Farooq, the plot takes a gripping turn when Imaan accuses her co-star of harassment on national television. Amidst top-notch production quality and stellar performances, the drama goes beyond the traditional setup, promising an engaging storyline.
Despite these promising elements, ‘Grey’ seems to be struggling to capture the audience’s attention. Let’s unravel the mystery behind the low viewership, exploring the possible factors that might be hindering the drama from reaching its full potential.
What ‘Grey’ has to offer?
From day one, ‘Grey’ has offered something novel and unique. The drama marks the return of Sabeena Farooq after her hit serial ‘Kabli Pulao’ and introduces Sami Khan in a new avatar, making it safe to say the drama boasts star power that makes the audience curious to tune into the show.
Green Entertainment‘s new drama ‘Grey’, penned by Rida Bilal and directed by Sohail Javed, takes a different approach. It showcases different locations and a diverse supporting cast that contributes to its uniqueness, making it engaging.
Then, of course, the storyline is entertaining while focusing on a pivotal social issue. As discussed above, the drama is centred around exploring the story about finding out the truth and who is the culprit after a famous actor is accused of harassment. Many even linked it to the real-life case of Meesha Shafi and Ali Zafar, which might have been a pull for people to watch the show.
What’s good is that the drama focuses on both sides of the story. Even with 12 episodes in, we still can’t predict who is the real culprit and speaking the truth, keeping us captivated. As the audience, we get to see what both sides are going through, and there is also a focus on the supporting cast and the role of media in advancing propaganda.
Then, with all these factors, why is it still low on the rating charts?
Why is ‘Grey’ getting fewer views?
One plausible explanation is that for most people, watching television is a form of relief they seek at the end of the day, and having that comforting show is pivotal. So, in most cases, the established tropes and genres – in our case, a romantic love story weaving a narrative of a damsel in distress falling for a man – provide the archetypal storylines that viewers prefer. When new dramas are introduced that fall beyond the audience’s comfort zone, there’s an inherent reaction to give the new content a try, resulting in the beginning episodes getting relatively more views, but ultimately, people tend to switch back to what they enjoy watching.
Trying out new projects can be challenging, especially for viewers who may be hesitant to give unfamiliar shows a chance. It’s essential to acknowledge that Pakistani dramas have dominated the industry for years, establishing narrative formulas that consistently garner success. The industry tends to stick to these proven formulas to secure viewership and audience engagement. Shifting the trajectory of these narrative patterns is a complex process that involves a deeper understanding of audience preferences.
In essence, it’s unfortunate that ‘Grey’ is not receiving the viewership it deserves. Viewer ratings and reviews serve as crucial indicators for future content production, influencing the decisions of upcoming producers. The success of dramas plays a critical role in shaping the landscape of future projects. Making a switch to preferred content aligns with viewers’ interests and viewing habits.
