Aliens in America 1.18 "Raja Sixteen"

Aliens in America 1.18 "Raja Sixteen"
SERIES FINALE
Air Date: May 18, 2008
Recap & Discussion

Aliens in America Episode Highlights:

• Spring is on its way and, with that, more teenagers are thinking about sex
• Donna has a crush on Justin, and he doesn’t seem happy about it. She is annoying on purpose, to detract from her looks?
• Raja has a crush on a Muslim girl named Sadika Sadaqatmal (the family that helped him feel at home), though he won’t admit he likes her. Justin and Claire know he keeps a photo of Sadika (and her grandfather) under his mattress. They snooped.
• Muslims don’t date until they’re ready to marry, so Raja says liking Sadika is immaterial. Justin reminds Raja that Muslims are more casual here.
• Justin turns to his mother to help put Raja and Sadika together. Franny says Sadika’s mother is concerned about her not dating, as there aren’t many Muslim boys… except Raja
• Raja doesn’t think Sadika’s family would allow him to court her, even if he wanted to. Franny says they said yes. And Sadika is excited. Raja has a panic attack.

• Claire perks up about the German exchange student, Sylvio, staying with the Sadaqatmal family
• The Tolchuck’s and the Sadaqatmal’s all go with Raja and Sadika on their date, as per custom. They don’t get to talk directly, though.
• Raja & Sadika have a second date at the Tolchuck house, which is a huge success (evidenced by the single exchanged pleasantry)
• Claire and Sylvio, meanwhile, are hitting it off themselves. The language barrier does not stop the kissing.
• Raja may not be talking to Sadika much, but he keeps close contact with her mother, Dalwa. The road to Sadika is through Dalwa. He even texts her at lunch!
• Raja’s social life is now making Justin feel left out
• Claire is dating Sylvio, and is pretending to know what he’s saying while he talks on the phone
• Franny & Gary make fun of Justin - "even our celibate Muslim exchange student got a girlfriend before Justin"
• Out of desperation, Justin asks the very critical Donna out on a date
• Franny is bored of the dates, so devises a new plan. A date, for both families, at the Cheesecake Mill. Only she arranges for Raja and Sadika to arrive first. The Tolchuck’s and the Sadaqatmal’s arrive to another Cheesecake Mill
• When Sadika gets the news, Raja suspects Franny crafted the accident. He offers to wait outside, not to offend her family. Sadika says her family loves Raja.
• Sadika is surprised by Raja’s humor, since he seems to take life seriously. She does to, but not by choice. Sadika shares her feeling of being out of place in society, of living in two worlds but belonging to neither. She doesn’t get to go out and enjoy things like her friends do. Raja reminds Sadika of Muslim experiences her Western friends cannot experience.
• Despite Franny’s disrespectful scheme, Raja & Sadika got to relax and really date. Sadika kisses Raja’s face just as the Tolchuck’s arrive. He asks her not to do it again, unless they are married, but thanks her. It was a sweet moment.
• Justin tries to make out with Donna, but it doesn’t work out as he had planned
• Gary has bought Claire a translator so that she and Sylvio can communicate. The translator gives a real-time audio translation between English and German. Claire finds out he’s only been talking about Halo 3, and he’s equally unimpressed with her gossip. They break up.
• Claire spots Sadika holding hands with a non-Muslim boy
• Justin’s "girlfriend" doesn’t cease to be critical, but now has more opportunities to be so
• Justin tells Raja that Claire saw Sadika with another guy, but Raja thinks Justin is jealous and being dishonest
• Raja walks and hitches his way to Sadika’s house, where he receives permission to speak alone with her. Sadika admits there’s a "Matthew", but that she simply wants to meet other guys too, to know if she’s making the right decision
• Raja is disappointed with Sadika, thinking they shared the same values. But she is both Muslim and Western, something he is not.
• Franny has a hug waiting for Raja when he gets home
• Justin has invented a fake Facebook page saying he’s Raja’s boyfriend in order that he could break up with Donna
• Raja apologizes to Justin for being patronizing
• Raja and Justin take out their anger on virtual enemies by playing a video game

In the little time that Aliens in America was on television, how did it evolve and change? How does Raja fit into Medora and to the Tolchuck family? Are they all better for the life lessons learned during the year? What does this episode say about the people whom we choose to enrich our lives?

Image: used with permission by Newscom Tags: aliens in america, aliens in ameria season 1, aliens in america final, season finale, series finale, 1.18, 1×18, scott patterson, raja, sadika