Ep 7. atlantic city

Ramy season 2 episode 7, "Atlantic City," sees our protagonist, Ramy, embarking on a road trip with his father, Farouk. The pair head off to Atlantic City in order to spread Farouk's late friend's ashes on the beach. Ramy and Farouk haven't exactly had the easiest relationship - there are a lot of deep-seated resentments and misunderstandings between them - so this trip represents an opportunity for the father and son to bond, to talk things out, and to try to repair some of the damage that's been done.

As they drive towards Atlantic City, Ramy and Farouk bicker and snipe at each other, with Ramy interrupting Farouk's stories and Farouk constantly criticizing Ramy's driving. The tension between them simmers for a while, until they eventually stop at a rest stop. This is where the episode really starts to shine - as Ramy and Farouk chat with some of the other travelers, we get a glimpse into their lives, and see just how much the immigrant experience differs depending on where you're from. One of the men they meet is a Palestinian who's trying to get back to his homeland after being stuck in limbo in various European countries. Another is a white American who's recently converted to Islam. These brief interactions are fascinating, and they manage to convey a lot about where Ramy and Farouk's perspectives and attitudes come from.

When they finally arrive in Atlantic City, Ramy and Farouk check into their hotel and start exploring the town. Farouk is on a mission to find the beach where his friend requested his ashes be scattered, but Ramy is more interested in wasting time and drinking heavily. The pair go to a casino where Ramy's card gets declined, leading to yet another argument between them. It's clear that Ramy has a lot of issues with money, and with his dad - he resents Farouk for not having given him more of it when he was growing up.

By the time they finally make it to the beach, things are tense between Ramy and Farouk. But as they spread the ashes and Farouk starts to reminisce about his childhood, the two start to connect in a genuine way. Ramy finally learns some things about his dad's past that he'd been curious about for years. There's a bittersweet quality to the scene as well, as Farouk realizes that he's getting old and won't be around forever - he starts to worry what will happen to Ramy when he's gone.

As the episode ends, Ramy and Farouk head back to their hotel room, much closer than they were before. The episode manages to touch on a lot of really complex themes - generational differences, the immigrant experience, mortality - without ever feeling like it's biting off more than it can chew. It's a thought-provoking and insightful 30 minutes that showcases what makes Ramy such a special show.