El Set Monalisa after Ramadan: A Divisive Performance, A Big Social Echo, and What the Data Says

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published February 24, 2026

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After its Ramadan 2026 launch, El Set Monalisa moved beyond a suspense drama into a broader public conversation about power dynamics in marriage, the cost of leaving harmful relationships, and the ripple effects on families. ElCinema’s synopsis frames Monalisa’s arc as a journey from a marriage built on hidden conditions and exploitation to a painful confrontation with society and a fight to rebuild her life.

Audience traction was widely reported, with coverage describing the series as topping Shahid’s viewing charts in multiple countries while leading social-media conversation, even as debate split viewers over tone and pacing.

As an external indicator (not an official platform metric), FlixPatrol’s daily charts also listed “Mrs. Mona Lisa” at the top of Shahid’s TV Top 10 in Algeria on the day observed.

Why the theme resonated is rooted in real-world numbers. In Egypt, CAPMAS data show divorces rising to 273,892 cases in 2024 versus 265,606 in 2023 (+3.1%).
Globally, WHO estimates that nearly 1 in 3 women (about 840 million) have experienced partner or sexual violence in their lifetime, and 11% of women (15+) experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in the last 12 months.

Cast & Crew (English)

According to ElCinema, the series stars Mai Omar, Ahmed Magdy, Wafaa Amer, Shaimaa Seif, Gohary Bakr, Sama Ibrahim, Sawsan Badr, and others. Written by Mohamed Sayed Bashir and directed by Mohamed Ali.

Where to watch

Available on Shahid (official title page), and aired across MBC network schedules.