90 Day Engagement: Another Way viewers are still reeling from Nicole and Mahmoud’s terrible public fight.
It’s terrible. It is bitter. And frankly, the rudeness has escalated to the point where many fans have taken to social media to warn of red flags. worse.
If the pointer and 90 days any indication spoilers, Nicole and Mahmoud are still tragically together.
But that doesn’t mean the episode wasn’t a turning point. Maybe not for marriage, but for viewers. The story is not exciting anymore.
Season 4, Episode 8 of 90 Day Engagement: Another Way opened en media res, with Nicole Sherbiny storming off.
It was Mahmoud Elsherbiny who said what might be the franchise phrase at this point: “I’m done. I’m done.”
This was seemingly inevitable…but it came out of nowhere at the same time.
That’s because it happened later in the day. Five hours earlier, this couple sang a very different song.
In fact, despite recent quarrels, they have found a peaceful way to operate.
What’s the secret? Well… that’s not exactly the key to a successful relationship.
Nicole explains on camera that she and Mahmoud can live together… not talking about their problems.
Sometimes, this can be done specifically in a couple’s life. For example, if one partner has an annoying friend or an unpleasant relative. But that’s not the problem.
Nicole and Mahmoud have basic compatibility issues…almost all of which result in Nicole compromising her wardrobe to please Mahmoud, and he declares that it still isn’t enough. The dress code started a few minutes after she arrived, and it didn’t stop.
The two have fun, as Mahmoud offers to teach Nicole – a convert to Islam – how to pray.
Mahmoud explained and demonstrated, starting with the cleansing ablution and then the prayer itself.
Nicole reflected in the voiceover about how it was nice to see this pleasant side of her husband again.
Mahmoud then suggested that he go out and do one of his favorite activities of the day: swimming! Nicole, we learn, likes to swim.
There is one caveat: as a wife, Nicole does not ask to wear a standard swimsuit.
This is not the result of Egyptian law. In fact, it is normal to see standard swimwear, such as one-pieces and bikinis, on the beach. This is all Mahmoud.
As Nicole explained later in the episode, she has some major feelings about the burkini.
But, for now, he only had a polite question to ask Mahmoud: should he wear anything?
Instead of answering, Mahmoud looked angry, and stormed out of the room. When Nicole asked him what was wrong, he denied that anything was.
Nicole felt like crying because of Mahmoud’s behavior.
His interpretation? He was angry because he didn’t automatically understand this, because he was American, because he wasn’t Egyptian.
If so, it is irrational. And we remain confused as to why he would flirt with an American tourist in the first place if he wanted a husband who had no questions.
Mahmoud did not explain why he was unhappy.
But he told the camera that he hoped not to fight with his wife, who then cried as he left the room.
Why… is there going to be a fight? He asked her how to wear something to make her happy, and she just refused to answer. He can answer her questions and she can walk.
Nicole reminds Mahmoud of the effort he has put into all this for her.
He changed his entire wardrobe, although clothes were a great source of expression for him. He also ruined his whole life to live with her on another continent.
Nothing seemed good enough for Mahmoud, he pointed out.
After wearing the burkini, Nicole’s suffering is palpable. Like he’s uncomfortable.
She spoke to the camera about wearing a burkini for the first time, at Mahmoud’s insistence, shortly after marrying him.
Going to the beach in the Red Sea with someone, only to see him in a one-piece and a bikini when he felt Thrown for something that he did not choose … that is unpleasant. No one should be forced to wear a certain type of swimwear, whether it’s a tiny bikini or a burkini.
Mahmoud is quick to praise Nicole as she wears a burkini. This reminded some viewers of parents praising young children in an effort to reinforce behavior.
Nicole really didn’t like to listen.
He even suggested that he would like to see Mahmoud wear the same and see how comfortable he is.
In a surprising moment of what he felt was genuine empathy and a glimmer of understanding, Mahmoud recognized how much Nicole had changed.
“If I were in your situation,” he admitted, he wouldn’t know “I could do it or not.”
He then asked Nicole if she minded if she stripped off her shirt to join him in the pool. He said he didn’t mind, because he made her wear this. Mahmoud then ignored him, jumping into the water.
Although reminding the audience how Mahmoud doesn’t take his wife seriously, his body can explain why Nicole can put up with so many things.
Later, when the cameras aren’t rolling, things get worse.
Mahmoud’s passive aggressive jab, saying “like you care,” was the final straw for Nicole.
“I just snapped,” he admitted.
Nicole stormed away, with Nicole chasing her, demanding she tell him what.
He tells her that he knows what she’s doing – stating that he’s been “choosing” her ever since she arrived. The audience has seen for themselves.
Nicole repeatedly insisted that Mahmoud leave her. He refused, chasing her down the street and making a scene.
More than once, he grabbed her wrist.
Finally, Mahmoud delivers an ultimatum: he goes home with her now, or it’s over.
“I don’t give an af–k,” Nicole replied. “Whatever you want. Just go ahead.”
Left alone, he felt unsure of how to move forward. At that point, what does “going forward” mean?
Did he go back to Mahmoud’s house? Well, where is his mother’s house? Did they get a hotel and send someone to collect their stuff when they bought their tickets?
The audience knows how they want him to progress. Especially after the aggressive display, alarming behavior of Mahmoud.
It is enough to, for some passages of infamously misogynistic 90 Day Engagement fandom, overcome the seemingly instinctual hatred of almost any woman in the picture.
Grabbing a woman’s wrist to stop her from walking away is okay on its own. But do it in public, on camera? That’s a red flag that it could be worse in person, if it isn’t already.
Before, these two people have compared another couple: Ariela and Biniyam. Brittany and Yazan. Deavan and Jihoon. Correct? They all have some parallels.
Looks like they’re still together. We can’t give you honest congratulations, because it’s not healthy.
Fans are not happy with the story anymore. Things went badly, and many will never forget.