Review: Hulu's ‘Muslim Matchmaker' has heart, but not enough spark
TORONTO: 'Muslim Matchmaker' premiered on Hulu this week. The series is directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra (of Netflix's 'Indian Matchmaking' fame).
But this time around it's not Sima Aunty and her outrageous comments, but rather two older sister types – Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady – who are helping eight Muslim Americans find love.
The premise of their matchmaking business is the 'Rules of Three: Three dates, three months, and three hundred questions.' In an era of dating apps and superficial swipes, the duo urges couples to approach their search for love with intention. They emphasize the importance of giving the relationship time and space to grow while asking the right questions.
The eight-episode show provides a fresh perspective on Muslim Americans as they navigate both their Muslim and cultural identities in the West. It offers captivating discussions on topics like cultural expectations when dating an older woman, the appropriate timeline to 'date,' and finding a partner with an equal 'halal-to-haram ratio.' These discussions are sure to resonate with many. And perhaps, offer a glimpse into a Muslim world that's rarely seen in mainstream Western media.
The show comes with good intentions. For one, it acknowledges dating app fatigue. It offers a refreshing take with matchmakers who approach singles' choices without judgment or sacrilegious remarks about 'wanting too much' (looking at you, Sima Aunty).
But that's also probably the biggest failing of the show. Dating shows thrive on drama – and there's none here.
Tension doesn't surface until episode four. A Bengali-American woman is older than the man she's dating, and cultural norms deem this unacceptable. We're left on a cliffhanger, wondering how the Bengali-American man will disclose the relationship to his family.
It shouldn't take that long to get us hooked.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Canelo Álvarez vs Terence Crawford Riyadh Season showdown to be live streamed on Netflix
Two of the biggest names in boxing, Saul Álvarez and Terence Crawford, will face off in Las Vegas on Sept. 13, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki Alalshikh confirmed. The Riyadh Season showdown will be live streamed on Netflix to over 300 million subscribers across the world. 'On September 13, Canelo and Crawford, two legends of boxing, will finally compete against each other in the fight of the century. Alongside Dana White and Sela, we will deliver something truly incredible in Las Vegas for fans around the world to enjoy through Netflix,' Alalshikh said. The boxing champions will stage an international three-city press tour this month, starting in Riyadh on June 20, before heading to the US for stops in New York on June 22 and Las Vegas on June 27. Both boxers expressed their enthusiasm and readiness for the anticipated fight. 'I'm super happy to be making history again and this time on a Riyadh Season Card that will be broadcast on Netflix,' Álvarez said. 'On September 13, I'm ready to show once again that I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.' Meanwhile, Crawford said: 'My perfect record speaks for itself. I am the best fighter in the world and no matter the opponent or weight class, I have always come out on top. On September 13, my hand will be raised once again as the world watches greatness.'
Saudi Gazette
04-06-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Sonder announces retirement from VALORANT after Red Bull Instalock
The ES TIMES — Veteran Game Changers player Diana 'sonder' Zhang has officially announced her retirement from VALORANT competition, with Red Bull Instalock 2025 being her final appearance on the stage. The Chinese-American player, who currently represents FlyQuest RED, shared the news on social media, stating that she will be stepping away from professional esports to pursue new goals in her life. 'I am grateful for all the amazing people I have met along the way,' Sonder wrote. 'Thank you all for the support, love, and encouragement through every moment, whether it's the ups or the downs. I hope I've made it clear that no matter what, always have fun.' 'I'm not sad that it's over, I'm happy that it happened. I love you all.' Despite her departure from the competitive scene, Sonder confirmed that she will continue to stream regularly on her Twitch channel, maintaining a presence within the community that has supported her throughout her career. Sonder's journey in VALORANT began in 2021 with Moon Raccoons Black, quickly rising to the top, joining Shopify Rebellion GC, where she spent over two years. Her successful tenure with the team saw her reach the final of the 2022 Game Changers Championship, cementing her position as one of the best duelists in the industry. In early 2024, Sonder joined FlyQuest RED, remaining with them for over a year before announcing her decision to retire. The team issued a heartfelt farewell message to her: "Thank you, Sonder, for your time with us at RED and Game Changers. Your impact on the team and the scene as a whole has been incredible. You willbegreatlymissed." Sonder's final appearance was on May 2–3 at the Red Bull Instalock event, which took place at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London. Fans can follow the event live on the official Red Bull Gaming Twitch and YouTube channels. Sonder's retirement comes at a time of significant change in the scene, with another Game Changers star, Ava "florescent" Eugene, also announcing she will be taking a break from competition in 2025 after moving to Team Apeks in the EMEA region.
Resala Post
27-05-2025
- Resala Post
Missav: Shocking Facts You Didn't Know
Missav might be one of the most talked-about platforms on the internet—yet, oddly, most users know very little about how it actually works. At first glance, it may seem like just another video site in an overcrowded digital universe, but peel back the surface and you'll uncover a rabbit hole of innovations, controversies, and secrets. From AI-powered algorithms to international takedown requests, Missav is more than meets the eye. It's a shadow giant in the world of adult digital content that operates with Netflix-like elegance and Tor-level anonymity. This article dives deep into the shocking, weird, and little-known facts that make Missav such a digital enigma. The Origins of Missav While most mainstream platforms are born in Silicon Valley or with venture capital backing, Missav emerged quietly from the underground coding community. Believed to be the brainchild of a single anonymous developer, Missav grew through word-of-mouth virality rather than conventional marketing. Its original design mimicked popular streaming platforms but with a laser-focus on user privacy and zero registration. According to niche forums, it started as a side project that exploded unexpectedly into global prominence. Missav's Explosive Rise in Popularity Missav's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. What began as a quiet hub now sees millions of monthly visitors, with peaks during major cultural events or high-profile leaks. Reddit and Twitter communities have been instrumental in its spread, sharing links, mirror sites, and updates. What's shocking is the loyalty of its user base, many of whom prefer it over mainstream adult platforms because of its clutter-free, intuitive interface and its almost eerie speed. Fact: Missav Isn't Hosted Where You Think One of the biggest surprises? Missav isn't hosted in one centralized country. It uses distributed cloud infrastructure, bouncing data through multiple server networks, including offshore hosting hubs, to evade censorship and legal takedowns. That means it's nearly impossible to shut down without a coordinated, global effort. Fact: It's One of the Most Visited Sites Globally According to third-party analytics, Missav ranks in the top 500 websites worldwide, outpacing several well-known streaming and content platforms. This organic growth comes without mainstream press, ads, or even SEO—proving how powerful niche word-of-mouth and underground digital ecosystems can be. Fact: Missav Has No Traditional Ads Here's where things get strange. There are no ads on Missav. Instead, it runs on a self-sustaining model rumored to include crypto-based micro-donations, private investors, or affiliate links in hidden metadata. This clean experience is why users often describe it as 'the Netflix of underground content.' Fact: It Features AI-Enhanced Recommendations Missav is powered by a custom machine learning algorithm that tracks your session behavior (not identity) to curate what you'll like next. Think of it as an incognito recommender engine, working silently behind the scenes to serve hyper-relevant content without storing personal data. Fact: Missav Has Faced Major Censorship Battles Countries like India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia have actively blocked Missav's domains. In response, new mirror links emerge almost weekly, often shared on Reddit, Telegram, and Discord. Some regions have even demanded ISP-level bans, a testament to just how hard it is to police a platform built on decentralization. Fact: It's Been Cloned More Than 500 Times Because of its popularity and anonymity, Missav has been the target of over 500 clone websites. Some are legitimate mirrors. Many are not. These imposters may contain malware, trackers, or dangerous redirects. Pro tip: Always verify mirror links through reputable online communities. Fact: Missav Isn't Just for Adult Content Believe it or not, Missav contains clips that are educational, funny, or even artistic. It has hosted viral content from music videos to social commentary, making it blur the line between adult content and free expression. Fact: User Data Isn't Collected (Allegedly) Missav doesn't require login credentials, nor does it prompt cookie acceptance. While complete anonymity can never be guaranteed, its architecture avoids embedding third-party trackers—setting it apart in a world where data is currency. Fact: Missav Has Secret Search Filters From the outside, it looks like a simple search box. But seasoned users know Missav's search bar responds to hidden tags and keywords that unlock ultra-niche categories. Curious minds often spend hours experimenting and discovering entire categories they never expected. Fact: It's Banned in Several Countries Due to content nature and hosting policies, Missav is outright banned or blacklisted in multiple nations. These bans are often circumvented using: And yes, Missav is Tor-compatible. Fact: Missav Uses a Unique Video Compression Algorithm Unlike YouTube's buffering woes, Missav leverages a lightweight compression engine that serves high-quality video without lags, even on low-speed connections. No wonder it's gained traction in countries with limited bandwidth. Fact: There's a 'Dark Mode' With Secret Themes Users can activate secret UI themes by entering specific codes in the browser console or using custom browser extensions. This includes old-school VHS themes, anime-inspired skins, and more. Fact: The Interface Is Inspired by Netflix From the carousel-style layout to autoplay previews, Missav's design mirrors Netflix—but with more fluidity and less clutter. It's intentionally minimalist, prioritizing quick access and smooth transitions. Fact: Missav Was Built by a Solo Developer Perhaps the most jaw-dropping fact: Missav was originally developed and maintained by a single developer, according to rumors from GitHub forums and dev leaks. That individual allegedly exited the project around its viral boom. Fact: It Hosts Over 1 Million Videos The library is massive—over 1 million clips, with hundreds uploaded weekly. This isn't just volume. It's curated diversity, serving a global user base with regional, thematic, and fetish content. Fact: You Can Access Missav Without Internet Logs Using browsers like Brave with Tor, you can access Missav without leaving traceable logs. While this doesn't offer 100% anonymity, it makes it difficult for ISPs or governments to track viewing behavior. Fact: Missav Once Crashed Due to a Viral Leak During a celebrity scandal, traffic spiked so rapidly that servers crashed for 12 hours. Mirror sites were deployed, and the incident became a case study in viral infrastructure failure. Fact: The Platform Offers No Download Options Streaming-only is the rule. No download buttons, no direct links. This protects both the platform and its content from legal scrutiny. Users who want offline access must resort to third-party recorders (not recommended for legal reasons). Fact: Some Videos Are AI-Generated Deepfakes Some clips on Missav have been flagged as deepfakes, stirring ethical debates. While the site does remove flagged content, the line between fiction and reality is blurring faster than ever. Fact: Users Can Request Content But Not Comment Missav allows private content suggestions but disables comment sections. Why? To avoid spam, harassment, and moderation headaches—a lesson learned from other platforms. Fact: It's Used by People in Over 190 Countries Missav's reach spans nearly every continent. Its multilingual UI, no-login policy, and VPN accessibility make it a go-to global hub, especially in nations with restricted media freedom. Fact: Some Clips Are Pulled Within Hours Due to DMCA requests or ethical concerns, some videos are removed within hours. This ephemerality adds a sense of urgency and exclusivity—what you see today might be gone tomorrow. Fact: It's the Fastest Growing Site in Its Genre Statistically, Missav's year-over-year growth outpaces other platforms in its category, including long-standing giants. This rise is organic, viral, and powered by secrecy. The Ethics Debate Around Missav With great power comes great scrutiny. Critics argue that Missav: Doesn't compensate creators Hosts questionable content Skirts the edge of legal frameworks Yet, defenders point out its non-exploitative UX and anonymity-first model as a rebellion against corporate surveillance and paywalls. How Missav Avoids SEO Penalties Missav operates in stealth mode. It uses: Shadow domains Encrypted site maps No-index headers This helps it dodge algorithms and takedown bots, staying alive while others get buried. Missav and the Future of Streaming Missav may be paving the way for Web3 streaming models, where users interact with platforms without ever logging in, and creators are paid in crypto. It's a glimpse of what streaming might look like when it's truly decentralized. Conclusion: Missav's Silent Disruption of Online Media Missav isn't just a website. It's a philosophy—a challenge to the norms of privacy, monetization, and content control. Whether you love it, fear it, or simply use it, you can't deny one thing: Missav is reshaping how we think about digital freedom
