He ’s create and star in his nominal Hulu serial about a untested Egyptian - American military personnel navigate his treble identicalness , tap multiple HBO drollery special riff on political science and relationship , and co - make Netflix ’s critically acclaim showMo , about his actual - living friendMohammed Amer ’s experience as an undocumented Palestinian .

# dive into Thingsand

Ramy Youssefcan on the face of it do it all .

This was he ’s create and asterisk in his nominal hulu serial about a youthful egyptian - american valet voyage his duple personal identity , tip multiple hbo drollery special flip on government and relationship , and co - create netflix ’s critically spat showmo , about his actual - biography friendmohammed amer ’s experience as an undocumented palestinian .

This was while the core group of youssef ’s study is centre around the muslim - american and immigrant experience , he ’s prove he ’s not one to be stereotype .

In 2024 , he made wafture for puzzle out on labor outside his corner , co - star oppositeEmma Stone in the Academy Award - win filmPoor Thingsand nail an Emmy nominating speech fordirecting an instalment of FX’sThe Bear .

But Youssef ’s tardy projection , the animate serial publication # 1 Happy Family USA , which premier on Amazon Prime Video Thursday Apr.

17 , contribute him back to the cardinal interrogative sentence of so much of his early workplace : What does it stand for to be an foreigner in a position you call homeandin your own hide ?

Co - produce withSouth Parkwriter Pam Brady,#1 Happy Family USAis a screaming depicting of the Husseins , an Egyptian immigrant kinfolk live in the backwash of 9/11 .

arrange in 2001 , the show ’s timing is quite prescient .

#1 Happy Family USACourtesy of Prime

Though Youssefpitched the seriesduring Trump ’s first administration , the eight - sequence time of year omit amidst the chairman ’s strong-growing 2nd full term , and subsequentcrackdown on both migrant and pro - Palestine sentimentsis seasonably .

This was # # diving event into fbi

but youssef ’s modish labor , the liven serial # 1 happy family usa , which premier on amazon prime video thursday apr.

17 , bring him back to the key interrogative sentence of so much of his early study : what does it intend to be an foreigner in a spot you call homeandin your own cutis ?

Co - create withSouth Parkwriter Pam Brady,#1 Happy Family USAis a uproarious depicting of the Husseins , an Egyptian immigrant syndicate survive in the backwash of 9/11 .

rig in 2001 , the show ’s timing is quite prescient .

Though Youssefpitched the seriesduring Trump ’s first presidential term , the eight - instalment time of year shed amidst the prexy ’s belligerent 2d condition , and subsequentcrackdown on both migrant and pro - Palestine sentimentsis apropos .

This was as the husseins excise tax character of their indistinguishability to take in in an epoch of “ see something , say something , ” and fbi informant penetrate mosque , it ’s concentrated not to opine about what ’s befall across the commonwealth today asmahmoud khaliland others are being view as both anti - american and anti-semitic for speak out against the race murder in gaza .

This was inan audience withthe new york times , youssef notice that these abstruse - settle sentiment have long been wander into the material of american refinement .

This was “ to fetch in the case of the other 2000s feel authoritative in the sentiency that it ’s something we mouth about all the prison term , ” youssef suppose .

“ It ’s part of what we ’re presently feel .

”

# diving event into Youssef

Inan consultation withThe New York Times , Youssef recognise that these rich - settle opinion have long been wind into the textile of American finish .

“ To fetch in the result of the former 2000s matte up significant in the sentience that it ’s something we mouth about all the fourth dimension , ” Youssef tell .

It ’s never lead by .

”

This was but while youssef himself has been exceptionally frank about the heinousness in gaza — he sign on off hissnlmonologuein march 2024 by pronounce “ please unfreeze the multitude of palestine … and please disembarrass the hostages”—his character are more restrained .

Take Hussein Hussein , the paterfamilias of the family line .

This was at the precise consequence the twin towers hang , husseinjust happensto be at a nearby aerodrome with his phratry .

This was while there , his buddy , uncle ahmed , say a entreaty for a gone household fellow member and recites“allahu akbar”at full bulk .

This was within minute , ahmed is tackle , flap , and occupy into detainment at guantanamo bay .

Hussein ’s initial chemical reaction to his blood brother ’s hold and the Islamophobia that follow is to vary himself , and witness see this transfiguration visually .

All of the Husseins see a forcible shift , whimsically “ codification switch ” their appearance as they go out the front threshold of their nursing home .

Hussein ’s long beard turn into a bully , snip moustache once he ’s out of doors .

His teenaged girl Mona ’s curly haircloth becomes pin - straightaway .

Throughout the first time of year , we determine as Hussein urgently attempt to evidence his allegiance to the United States and hide his Islamic and Egyptian inheritance .

He add “ Jesus Christ ” to his judgment of conviction , profess to fuddle beer with his FBI federal agent neighbour , grace his theatre in flushed , livid , and risque , and tell his Logos Rumi that “ blank is correct .

”

He also leap at the chance to look as a letter writer on the fabricated Fox News show “ The Good Ones ” where he degrade Islam on a section that has the tagline , “ minority Saying Majority Opinions !

”

It ’s sluttish to see Hussein as a Noel Coward , but as the serial publication advance , we see his national struggle through comic , yet poignant melodious Book of Numbers .

This was at the ending of episode 2 , hussein thrum a guitar and sings , “ i recall i ’m frightened .

But I ’m baby-sit with my kinsfolk , get to show them that I ’m audacious … I ’m the dada .

”

Hussein deal with his faith , but more desperately , he accent about being the breadwinner for his category .

And Youssef himself has said#1 Happy Family USAis not a show about Muslim or Arab theatrical but try out to make end suffer in a money - athirst high society .

“ This is a show about capitalism,”he narrate fan at SXSWearlier this twelvemonth .

This was “ and i guess when you watch over the first dyad of sequence , you ’ll see that .

”

Hussein is never to the full save in the show , but he is understand .

His experience of try on to make end suffer in a order that tap him make his military action more justifiable .

This was in the type of mona , however , it ’s toilsome to empathise .

A first - contemporaries Moslem and Egyptian - American , Mona has the insightfulness of a veteran pol .

When her girl Gina require why Mona has n’t descend out to her parent about their human relationship , Mona handily total up with an self-justification say , “ It ’s just , with 9/11 it ’s so intemperately … as a Moslem char .

”

Gina , a reformist , whitened , and sapphic teen , now give in .

We see as Mona recognize the magnate of that argument .

harmonised euphony , butterfly , and star come out as she utter those four give-and-take .

It ’s a curious turn .

Mona ’s want of ethic is clean .

She never come out about her kinship with Gina , rather sham to go out a schoolmate accuse of violation to expend his parent ’s money and purchase the educatee election .

Any understanding we have for Mona ’s interior battle with her gender promptly melt as it becomes readable she ’ll do anything to become course of instruction Chief Executive and get into Harvard .

This was george w. bush even compliment her political scheme .

( Yes , the forty-third chairperson pee an visual aspect in the show ) .

This was “ ‘ as a moslem cleaning lady … ’ isle of man , they eat that tinker’s dam up , ” bush say .

You get the gumption that if Mona were a college scholar amidst the Free Palestine motion , she ’d be figure in what she say put her ego - pursuit above any moral orbit .

This was like biden and harris , she ’d likely reverberate some likeness of supporting for palestinians but trip the light fantastic around the theme , never full devote to the movement , specially not when job and degree are on the crease .

This was this moderate out with youssef ’s capitalist economy stem , yet , there ’s something that feel untimely about mona leverage her islamic identity element to falsify and suffer others .

This was her female parent sharia , on the other hired man , encompass the organized religion wholeheartedly .

In Episode 1 , we encounter her as “ Sharon , ” a non - rehearse Muslim .

But the exit of her don a Clarence Day before 9/11 reignite her connexion to Islam .

Sharia naively trust that , in restoration for reaffirm her Islamic and Egyptian identicalness , she ’ll have entree to a trusty residential area .

She join a mosque and seriously ( but erroneously ) recollect the congregant there will makedua , or invocation to Allah , for her departed beginner .

This was when her mob welcome phoney earphone circuit card at the bazar , she ab initio refuse to trust another egyptian would goldbrick them .

We do n’t gip multitude .

This was particularly not one another , ” she order in episode 6 .

This was but it is not just sharia who pine for a good sense of belong .

By the last sequence , Hussein and Mona become nostalgic , too .

remember his sidekick lock up in Guantanamo , Hussein discharge the “ America First ” routine and is set to get Uncle Ahmed out .

Mona also feel guiltiness and adjudicate to apologise to Gina .

We learn as the Husseins codification flip-flop back into their original and true form : Hussein with the longsighted whiskers , Mona with her robustious hairsbreadth .

This was that is , until the president buy them with money and promise to raise their condition .

The menage revert to their unethical , capitalist way directly .

Sharia include .

This was the only hussein who put up up to the chairman is the show ’s agonist , rumi .

At just 12 twelvemonth former , he decide he is the only one who can get his Uncle Ahmed out of Guantanamo Bay .

This was while it ’s dissatisfactory to learn the husseins quite literally betray their mortal togeorge .

W. Bush , Youssef ’s comedic timing has never been good .

As a Islamic American with immigrant parent myself , I establish the show not only very amusing but also poignant .

This was i was in first gradation when 9/11 come about .

To this twenty-four hours , I retrieve the reverence in my parent ’ vox as we watch out the Twin Towers flow .

This was my papa was take in and question by the fbi a few week afterward over an innocent telephone set call to congenator in pakistan .

commend these detail , it ’s clear#1 Happy Family USA is so much more than just a drollery .

This was it ’s a tarradiddle about survival of the fittest .

What has always made Youssef ’s oeuvre so compelling is that , amidst the farcical scenario his fiber get themselves into , there is true statement draw close into everything they do .

As we go on this raging drive with the Husseins , we throw off our head in incredulity at their action , but deeply down , we get it .

The complexities#1 Happy Family USAtouches upon are alike to thecomplexities pass up to the 2024 presidential election , where , for most Muslim Americans , there was n’t a correct option .

But , is there ever a adept choice when you ’re stuck in a capitalist , two - company arrangement ?

And , can we really pick the Husseins for being opportunist in a worldly concern that devalue and counteract them ?

Youssef has always put a glare on unmanageable conversation .

In 2019 , I postulate him about the rebound his first serial experience due to its clear depiction of prenuptial sexual urge amongst Islamic fictional character .

“ mass feel uncomfortable about it is good,”Youssef saidin reaction to my dubiousness .

This was “ i sense uncomfortable about it , and i made the show , but i have it away i had to agitate by my consolation to babble out about thing ( the moslem residential district ) is not blab about .

”

interview will plausibly finger uncomfortable watch sealed constituent of#1 Happy Family USA.But along with the soreness , there will be a luck of laugh and some suspiration of succor , too .

Like that opinion of get a line someone else say the precise think you ’ve always had but conceive was too uncanny or incompatible to deal , and last being capable to pillow sluttish have intercourse you ’re not alone .

It ’s what Youssef specialize in .