It’s the burning question to which we’ve been dying to know the answer: What happened to Layan from AlRawabi School for Girls at the end of Season 1?
The question is especially relevant given that Season 2 of AlRawabi School for Girls, which premiered exclusively on Netflix on February 15, introduced us to a brand new cast featuring not a single member of the Season 1 cast – be it Mariam (played by Andria Tayeh), Dina (played by Yara Mustafa), Layan (played by Noor Taher), Noaf (played by Rakeen Saad), or Rania (played by Joanna Arida).
All’s well that ends well, but that couldn’t be farther from the case in AlRawabi School for Girls, whose first season ended with a shocking cliffhanger. Indeed, after finding out that his sister Layan had temporarily snuck out of high school to spend the day at her boyfriend’s vacation home in Amman, Hazem (Layan’s brother) decided to pay the couple an impromptu visit, armed with a gun. The tragic episode ended with the resounding sound of a gunshot, and even though audiences did not explicitly witness Hazem shoot his sister Layan upon catching her with her boyfriend, we all intuitively concluded that Layan had passed away.
Fans held onto hope, however, as the second season was announced to be in the works. Since Layan was such an integral part of the cast, we did not exclude the possibility of seeing her along with the rest of her castmates on the big screen. But when Netflix and Tima Shomali – Showrunner and Director of AlRawabi School for Girls – announced that the cast would be entirely revamped for the show’s second season; all hope that we could reunite with both Layan and the remaining cast members slowly dissipated. So, did we ever get the closure we’ve been seeking for almost 2 years?
What happened to Layan from AlRawabi School for Girls, Season 1?
Thankfully, Season 2 of AlRawabi School for Girls did not sweep the burning question under the rug. In one of the most emotional scenes of the entire season, the original S1 cast members made a cameo as they held a funeral in honour of the late Layan, confirming that Hazem had indeed fatally shot his sister back in season 1.
Rania, played by Joanna Arida, sentimentally performed Hudood w Wo3oud (Borders And Promises) by Haya Zaatry to honour Layan’s passing.
By addressing and honouring Layan from Season 1’s tragic death, AlRawabi School for Girls has yet again proven that it is a socially conscious show, aiming to tackle pressing societal issues both in the Arab world and universally, whilst also confirming the extent to which it cares for its loyal audience.
Loved this article? Click here for our full interview with the AlRawabi School for Girls S2 cast, and here to see how close the cast is IRL. While you’re at it, find out which of the S2 cast members are related here.