DISCLAIMER: Mild spoilers abound for Peacock’s We Are Lady Parts.
Punk rock, by its essence, is a musical genre for the marginalized. The unheard. It’s a splintering, blistering battle cry from the underrepresented to those in power. Over the years, we’ve seen punk fall into the hands of those who don’t necessarily need it — cishet white men. That’s not to say that punk is by no means exclusive in terms of listeners or performers. But it only feels natural that the characters of We Are Lady Parts seek to take it back.
We Are Lady Parts, a six-episode comedy from the mind of writer/director Nida Manzoor, follows the titular punk band Lady Parts as they attempt to breach stardom. Led by the uncompromising Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), the group decides to find a lead guitarist to spice up their sound.
That’s where the anxious and imaginative Amina (Anjana Vasan) comes in. Amina is a gifted guitarist who suffers from immense stage fright to the point that she either vomits when she’s on stage or … it comes out the other end. However, Saira doesn’t give up on her.
There’s also the sweet and tender Bisma (Faith Omole), Saira’s best mate and bassist extraordinaire. The brash and bold Ayesha (Juliette Motamed) plays the drums. Lastly (but not least), Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse) is Lady Parts’ too-cool-for-school band manager.
RELATED: Movie Review: Disney’s Cruella
We Are Lady Parts provides something that we haven’t seen on TV yet, at least stateside: an all-female Muslim punk band. We see the bandmates pray together and approach their faith in different ways. For instance, Saira chooses not to wear a hijab. It’s an act of rebellion while simultaneously serving as her respective relationship with Islam.
One interesting aspect of the show is its tackling of Amina’s own duality. Her best friend, Noor (Aiysha Hart), represents the more “traditional” view of Muslims. Noor dedicates her time to helping Amina find a suitable husband. But when Lady Parts invites Amina into their world, she learns that she has the freedom to live the life she chooses. We Are Lady Parts does an exemplary job of projecting that struggle through this lens, of giving us the opportunity to see the world through Amina’s eyes.
Additionally, there are a few musical interludes and fun vignettes that paint an intricate picture of Amina’s headspace. There’s one of her going on date after date, and we see the scene morph into a dating-esque gameshow. Another bit shows Amina chatting it up with her crush, Ayesha’s brother Ahsan (Zaqi Ismail). Suddenly, a black-and-white film noir sequence plays out between them. It’s so delightfully innovative and a breath of fresh air.
Of course, We Are Lady Parts also tackles the pervasive racism that still exists. The band has a gig at a pub with an all-white, all-male audience. They proceed to harass Lady Parts even throughout the group’s set. But we see the band create music that confronts the systemic racism running rampant in society.
Both Vasan and Impey churn out star-making performances. Amira’s evolution over the course of six episodes is a wonderful thing to behold. From questioning the band’s potentially offensive material to learning that she can be both punk and Muslim, Amira’s growth is palpable and touching. Not to mention, her stage anxiety is all too relatable.
Saira’s journey is one rife with grief. Impey digs deep to mine the nuance that exists underneath Saira’s hardened exterior. It’s altogether heartwarming and heartbreaking. Omole, Motamed and Shorthouse also deliver the goods. Manzoor gives us wholly fleshed out, uniquely individual characters that you’ll fall in love with in the first 10 minutes of the first episode.
Without giving too much away, the climax of the series unfurls when Lady Parts are viewed in a negative light following unsavory media coverage. As the band works through the bad press and ultimately flips the script, we learn the true crux of We Are Lady Parts: there are no “traditional Muslim women.” The group never strives to deviate from Islam; rather, they show us that everyone can exist as an individual in their faith.
Manzoor pens a thoughtful, dynamic story about a group of women that long to be heard, and she knocks it out of the park. We Are Lady Parts is laugh-out-loud hysterical, fiercely fun and just plain delightful. We seldom see the Muslim community represented like this. For example, Bisma is a Black Muslim woman. It’s representation like this that needs to be normalized and given a platform for widespread visibility.
In addition, the soundtrack is infectiously top-notch. I’m a fan of punk music so, needless to say, I found myself wishing Lady Parts was a real band. My song recommendations: “Bashir With the Good Beard,” “Voldemort Under My Headscarf,” and their cover of Queen‘s “We Are the Champions.”
We Are Lady Parts is a bold piece of art that deserves a second and third season. These characters stay with you, and the message rings loud and clear. They epitomize punk rock in every way, shape and form.
We Are Lady Parts will stream all six episodes on Thursday, June 3, only on Peacock.
RELATED: 8 Muslim Characters That Aren’t Totally Problematic
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/10-black-alternative-artists-and-bands-that-should-be-on-your-radar/
[email protected]
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
- TV Review: MYTHIC QUEST Season 4 - January 24, 2025
- GGA’s Favorite Quotes From ANIMAL CONTROL’s ‘Baby Kangaroos and Chickens’ - January 24, 2025
- HARLEY QUINN Recap: (S05E02) Back to School - January 23, 2025
