AlRawabi School for Girls

The troubling high school drama, which is dubbed and subtitled in English, shows the far-reaching consequences that bullying has on young people. It also points to how easily one can go from being the victim to becoming the tormentor when consumed with seeking revenge. However, the dark, mean girls-themed series, which was created and produced almost entirely by a cast and crew of Arab women, also reveals how being a victim of each other's harassment is further complicated by the social norms and customs to which these young, unmarried women are expected to abide.

The overall narrative is solid, and the message about the damage bullying causes is clear. However, viewers watching Alrawabi School for Girls from a Western point of view may find the way the topic ties into moral conversations about women's virtue and honor unsettling. But even those who understand the cultural context from which the story is told may be disturbed by the cold and calculated ways these teens seek to purposely manipulate their adversaries into situations that can lead to beatings, banishment from society, or worse for bringing shame upon their families. Some will find the series worth tuning into; others may find it more disconcerting than entertaining.