Written by John Edward BetancourtTHIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.At this point, it is definitely safe to say that the Apple TV+ series, Little America, has done a phenomenal job of exploring just about every single aspect imaginable in regard to the American Dream. For over the course of season one, we’ve seen what the Dream means to people and how it inspires us to achieve success. Plus we’ve seen how others use it to honor their past as they forge a new life in America, and we’ve even seen how some people use it to find themselves, which in turn has taught us how immigrants and Americans aren’t all that different and we’ve even been privy to how sometimes the Dream doesn’t quite go our way. If anything, an exploration that grand and that powerful, makes it seem as though there is nothing left to examine when it comes to the American Dream. But as it turns out, the Dream is so powerful and so far reaching, that there is plenty more to dive into, and for proof, look no further than the season one finale of this magnificent series. For ‘The Son’ took the time to explore a concept that few of us think about in regard to the American Dream; specifically, that it allows for your personal freedom as well. Which at first glance sounds silly because freedom is freedom, and of course you’re allowed to do whatever the heck you want in America because… this here is America. But we do indeed forget, or are unaware, that in some places around the world, people are not allowed to be themselves. To the point where expressing who they are and who they love is deemed illegal or an outright sin, and well, exploring what that looks like, made for one powerful story. For in this particular chapter we are introduced to gay Syrian man named Rafiq, who works hard every single day to hide his sexual orientation. For in Syria, homosexuality is considered to be a sin. Which means that in order to find romance, Rafiq often has to meet men in secret, something that his father catches him doing and that’s when this story takes one incredible turn. Because Rafiq’s father makes him atone for his ‘sin’ by burning his flesh, in the hopes that he will come to understand what Hell is going to feel like if he continues to ‘disrespect’ God, and that prompts Rafiq to leave home immediately so that he can try and forge a better life in another part of the country and even then, that is quite the daunting task. Because even making friends with other homosexual men in this country is a dangerous decision since eyes are on him and his friend Zain at every turn, and to complicate matters further, his devout brother is searching for him as well. And the violence and terror that comes from all of that, prompts him to move to Jordan and apply for asylum in the United States and even then, his life is difficult. Because he is alone in a place that simply isn’t home to him, and this tough leg of his journey is what makes the ending of this story so powerful. For eventually, his asylum is granted and he’s able to reunite with Zain in America and well what he discovers when he settles in is downright incredible. For there is a moment when he realizes that he will no longer have to hide who he is and who he loves because he is welcome here and he is truly free. In the end, this particular tale is the perfect way to close out a flawless freshman season. For it truly encapsulates what freedom really is for the people that choose to come here and for the citizens that already call this place home. Plus, it also reminds us to never take the freedoms we enjoy for granted since there are some folks out there who suffer greatly without the many protections that we enjoy. But most importantly, this episode helps us to understand the terrifying life that the LGTBQ community around the world sometimes faces in places where their orientation is deemed to be unnatural and oddly enough, that is another example of how Americans and immigrants share more than we are aware of. For there are LGBTQ individuals in our country that face similar persecution because unfortunately, while we are a progressive nation, there is still a long way for us to go and the realization that similar actions are happening here, adds incredible depth to Rafiq’s journey. Either way, this was a wonderful way to end this brilliant season and if this is the kind of powerful storytelling that season one of his series had to offer, imagine what kind of tales season two is going to send our way, and that is going make the wait for year two, a difficult one indeed. Until next year.
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