Sleeper Cell (Showtime, 2005-6)

[captainhowdy]

Sleeper Cell
Promote virtue. Prevent vice.

Darwyn Al-Sayeed is a black muslim undercover FBI agent assigned to infiltrate an Islamic terrorist cell based in Los Angeles. Headed by a charismatic Arab named Farik Al-Faris (Oded Fehr from The Mummy films) the cell also consists of a French ex-skinhead, a Bosnian, an Egyptian and an American.

I caught the first four episodes of this show last night. I wasn't expecting much as I just popped in the DVD to kill time. Even after the first episode, I wasn't totally convinced the shows writers would be able to handle a delicate subject such as this. But to my surprise, it just kept getting progressively better with each episode.

Mad, Kaytee - I suggest you check this show out. http://www.mininova.org/tor/332955

The show features an excellent soundtrack that includes American hip-hop, North African pop, remixed Hindi and other world music.

An 8 episode Season 2 starts December 10, 2006.

[X.]

This show is contrived and the visual style is very showy. I gave up after 2 episodes, and although Capt does say it gets better there's far better things to watch.

[captainhowdy]

Maybe what caught my interest was the shows take on Islam. Being a practicing Muslim myself, it was great to watch a TV show that portrayed not just the wrong extremist version of the religion, but through Darwyn's character, a much more compassionate, tolerant version of Islam. In fact, Islam the way it really is. It explores the true meaning of Jihad as an inner, spiritual struggle rather than an unjustified war against every living non-Muslim.

...although Capt does say it gets better there's far better things to watch.

Like what? Smallville? I'm just 4 episodes in so I don't know how the show will turn out. Bust so far, its not bad.

[captainhowdy]

Explosive season finale!

I'm done with Season 1 (10 episodes). Half way through the season, the show looses its momentum for a while but catches up a few episodes later. The 90 plus minutes season finale is superb! The story completes a full circle leaving almost no open ends and unexplained subplots. Once again, its the correct representation of Islam and Muslims in the show is what had me going. No stereotypes. No cliché's. 4.5/5.

Kaytee, Mad, highly recommended.
 

[kaytee]

Thanks for the recommendation Captain, but I have too much on my plate. Not getting time to watch movies or even Battlestar Galactica. Im gonna stop watching TV for a while and catch up on the movies.

[captainhowdy]

Thanks for the recommendation Captain, but I have too much on my plate. Not getting time to watch movies or even Battlestar Galactica. Im gonna stop watching TV for a while and catch up on the movies.

Funny, I'm doing just the opposite! More TV, less film! Watched the first 8 episodes of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip over the weekend...

[captainhowdy]

Funny, I'm doing just the opposite! More TV, less film! Watched the first 8 episodes of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip over the weekend...

I'm actually contemplating going back and watching all 6 seasons of HBO's Six Feet Under...

[fizz]

Captain, While I haven't seen the show or intend to, I find it distracting to read in every review that this show presents a correct 'representation of Islam and Muslims'. A TV show cannot do that...it just doesn't possess the capacity. If you had said the same about a book I might have bought the statement (since we all agree that a book and the written word are the most comprehensive form of media in its all-encompassing effect). While I can't pass judgement on something without having seen it for myself, I think it safe to say that the representations in the show are nothing more than mass media pulp meant for public consumption.

[captainhowdy]

Captain, While I haven't seen the show or intend to, I find it distracting to read in every review that this show presents a correct 'representation of Islam and Muslims'...

You make a good point there Fizz. Maybe I should have said that the show paints a portrait of Islam and Muslims that is more acceptable to me as an individual. But then again, it does show Islam and Muslims in a positive light. It tries to show where both ends of the Islamic spectrum - the extremists at one end and the moderates at the other - come from. It also tries to show what drives these so-called Islamic terrorists and at the same time tells us how verses from the Quran have been quoted out of context to brainwash these people and ultimately justify their actions. And this is a known fact. Once again I'll say that this show is no masterpiece. But it does try to spread some light on to a subject most Americans know very little about and I appreciate that.

If you have the time, I suggest you check it out.
At least download and watch the first four episodes.

[fizz]

Captain, point taken. You've just raised my interest level for this show.

I'll stop being lazy and watch a few episodes when I get hold it.

[shariqq]

It also tries to show what drives these so-called Islamic terrorists and at the same time tells us how verses from the Quran have been quoted out of context to brainwash these people and ultimately justify their actions.

Very intriguing! I think I'll dip my fingers into this show.

[shariqq]

Quite interesting names to the episodes.

Season 1, Ep-1 = Al Fatiha (That's also the name of the first chapter of the Qur'an)
Season 2, Ep-1 = Al Baqara (That's also the name of the second chapter of the Qur'an)
Season 1, Last episode = Youm-ed-Din (Judgement Day)

[X.]

The show has found its demographic.

[madali]

Watched the first two episodes, and I think I'll give up.

didn't like it at all. Typical tv show triller we have seen many times, with a twist.

And I already have so many issues with it, the main thing probably being the undercover muslim being black. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but seems slightly racist, as if they dont trust the movie to be carried by a Pakistani or an Arab which would have been more realistic.

And unlike the rest, the black guy is supposed to be the "true muslim", who interprets the quran in the corect way. But his portrayel is just what America wants their muslims to be. Non-arab, peaceful, brave, against racism, and isn't too prudish about sex outside marriage.

And a show like this would have been interesting, if it was more of a psychological thriller, rather than a by the numbers one. We learn almost nothing about the characters after two episodes, which is 2 hour.

[captainhowdy]

And I already have so many issues with it, the main thing probably being the undercover muslim being black. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but seems slightly racist, as if they dont trust the movie to be carried by a Pakistani or an Arab which would have been more realistic.

How would a Pakistani FBI officer make it more realistic? Infact, it would make it even harder to believe. I mean, how many Paki FBI agents have you ever seen on screen?

Non-arab, peaceful, brave, against racism, and isn't too prudish about sex outside marriage.

Whats wrong with being peaceful, brave and against racism? Plus if you had watched the rest of the episodes, you would have seen that it is anything except non-Arab.

We learn almost nothing about the characters after two episodes, which is 2 hour.

That is precisely why the story is spread over 10 episodes.