Despite most critics turning up their noses, and the dwindling audience which led to cancellation after Season 3, I found this to be one of the best TV series in years. The locations, sets, beautiful Islamic architecture and design all made this a feast for the eyes. Season 2 showed the frighteningly swift descent from a moderately affluent society of many faiths where women's head covering was optional, people drank alcohol, women attended university, where men and women associated freely and women did not need a male escort to set foot outside the home, to a war torn intolerant theocracy as religious fanatics enforced their narrow minded and warped version of Islam against the wishes of the majority by terror. Suddenly normal life is turned upside down as normality becomes daily bombings, enforced recruitment into extremist groups and years of violence and terror. I loved the multinational casting and recognized many top class actors from foreign language film and TV, but I did have a few reservations:
The American feminist bias: Clueless Molly and her children got on my nerves big time. Molly's selfish me, me, me, attitude and lack of understanding of the position her husband had been placed in really went against the grain. She appeared to have no understanding whatsoever of the position her husband had been placed in against his will and should have stayed in California. I realize she was shattered at the murder of her daughter, but hundreds of women around her were suffering the loss of their husbands and children without her self-absorbed tantrums. As a first lady she was a total fail. Having been married to a man from Abbudin one would have expected her to know something about the country and its culture. The transformation into Lady MacBeth and jealousy of Daliyah was out of character. Her equally clueless children can be somewhat forgiven as the US is very isolationist when it comes to other cultures unless they happen to be useful or the enemy of the week. Even then the news is unlikely to penetrate the video game/pop music world of the US teenager.
The casting: Although the huge cast was for the most part excellent, Ahmed, son of tall thin Leila and tall thin Bassam, was short and chubby. Bassam did not look or sound the slightest bit Arabic. It would have been far better for Keon Alexander to have been cast as Ahmed and Fares Fares as Bassam. Noah Silver was out of his depth in a major role and always looked stoned to me, even before we saw him smoking a joint. Only Moran Atias (Leila) and Alexander Karim (Ihab) really stood out. Alexander Karim was for me the most interesting and watchable character in the entire series. I have to wonder if some of the actors chosen were the 'names' needed to raise financing, just as the 60's blockbuster movies needed a big star from each country to ensure financing and distribution, or if they were wives, friends and relatives of the producers.
The use of English rather than subtitled Arabic: The accents were all over the place: Ashraf Barhom delivered his line one - word - at - a - time which painfully slowed his acting down to the level of a cartoon villain. When his character had to use English he should have been dubbed. Bassam's American accent should have given him away immediately when speaking to his brother. The Queen's English and Australian pronunciation popped up frequently and was not always explained by the character having spent time in the UK. English should only have been used when the English speakers were speaking to each other or with an Arabic speaker. All conversation between Arabic speakers should have been in Arabic with English subtitles. Non English speakers who were delivering their lines phonetically when it was necessary for them to use English, such as Jamal, should have been dubbed.
Too many characters: Even though I binge watched, I found myself turning to IMDB to refresh my memory of who was who as minor characters not seen for several episodes suddenly returned to be killed or whatever.
The unnecessary inclusion of gay characters: Why do so many TV series today seem obliged to include a gay storyline? I do not want to see a couple of men (or women for that matter) get naked. Rather than showing gays making love and kissing, it could be implied 'off camera' or with a shocked expression and/or lowered eyes by another character. The intolerance and persecution of homosexuals in one of the earlier episodes was well handled and made the point, but the love affair between Sammy and his professor was superfluous. I found myself fast forwarding through those scenes.
The killing off of characters who could have been further developed: Nushrat and Rami were a most attractive couple and could have carried a fourth season, but instead they were killed off. Rami could have been the contender for President. A big waste.
Too much soap opera: The revelations of previously unknown illegitimate sons were right out of a Mexican soap opera parody on Saturday Night Live. The story was also bogged down by tedious romances. I got really tired of Molly's histrionics and Daliyahs tearful eyes and trembling lips. At least Leila had some spine, but her 'romance' with General Clodhopper, the Victor Mature lookalike, had more of a whiff of opportunism. She was no slouch at playing both sides and switching allegiances when necessary.
Season 2 was far better than the first Season, but Season 3 was 'The Godfather on the Tigris'. The resemblance to the Corleone family was unmissable: Bassam as Michael, Jamal as Fredo, Leila as Connie, Sammy and Emma as Anthony and Mary, along with the supporting players unable to escape their destiny. The final episode left me with the desire to see the story wrapped up, but after watching it twice, I realised that it was spot on: The conflict would never end because it cannot end. There was no happy ending. no easy answers and that is how it is. Bassam would either be overthrown in a coup by General Maloof, and his family exiled or murdered, or he would double down and become a total tyrant and stay in power for the next 40 years. Leila now in exile may or may not prevail and will be courted by various foreign powers, until it is her turn. General Clodhopper would write a book and become a TV regular urging US action. Ihab would become public enemy No. 1 until he was taken out or overthrew Bassam and became President. Everyone would change sides. The US/Russians/Chinese would throw money at the conflict, probably supporting both sides at the same time. There are no easy answers. The US marines will not come riding to the rescue.
Overall, I found this to be an absorbing series despite the criticism listed. It had to be for me to binge watch three seasons over three days. Better casting would have made a difference.
The American feminist bias: Clueless Molly and her children got on my nerves big time. Molly's selfish me, me, me, attitude and lack of understanding of the position her husband had been placed in really went against the grain. She appeared to have no understanding whatsoever of the position her husband had been placed in against his will and should have stayed in California. I realize she was shattered at the murder of her daughter, but hundreds of women around her were suffering the loss of their husbands and children without her self-absorbed tantrums. As a first lady she was a total fail. Having been married to a man from Abbudin one would have expected her to know something about the country and its culture. The transformation into Lady MacBeth and jealousy of Daliyah was out of character. Her equally clueless children can be somewhat forgiven as the US is very isolationist when it comes to other cultures unless they happen to be useful or the enemy of the week. Even then the news is unlikely to penetrate the video game/pop music world of the US teenager.
The casting: Although the huge cast was for the most part excellent, Ahmed, son of tall thin Leila and tall thin Bassam, was short and chubby. Bassam did not look or sound the slightest bit Arabic. It would have been far better for Keon Alexander to have been cast as Ahmed and Fares Fares as Bassam. Noah Silver was out of his depth in a major role and always looked stoned to me, even before we saw him smoking a joint. Only Moran Atias (Leila) and Alexander Karim (Ihab) really stood out. Alexander Karim was for me the most interesting and watchable character in the entire series. I have to wonder if some of the actors chosen were the 'names' needed to raise financing, just as the 60's blockbuster movies needed a big star from each country to ensure financing and distribution, or if they were wives, friends and relatives of the producers.
The use of English rather than subtitled Arabic: The accents were all over the place: Ashraf Barhom delivered his line one - word - at - a - time which painfully slowed his acting down to the level of a cartoon villain. When his character had to use English he should have been dubbed. Bassam's American accent should have given him away immediately when speaking to his brother. The Queen's English and Australian pronunciation popped up frequently and was not always explained by the character having spent time in the UK. English should only have been used when the English speakers were speaking to each other or with an Arabic speaker. All conversation between Arabic speakers should have been in Arabic with English subtitles. Non English speakers who were delivering their lines phonetically when it was necessary for them to use English, such as Jamal, should have been dubbed.
Too many characters: Even though I binge watched, I found myself turning to IMDB to refresh my memory of who was who as minor characters not seen for several episodes suddenly returned to be killed or whatever.
The unnecessary inclusion of gay characters: Why do so many TV series today seem obliged to include a gay storyline? I do not want to see a couple of men (or women for that matter) get naked. Rather than showing gays making love and kissing, it could be implied 'off camera' or with a shocked expression and/or lowered eyes by another character. The intolerance and persecution of homosexuals in one of the earlier episodes was well handled and made the point, but the love affair between Sammy and his professor was superfluous. I found myself fast forwarding through those scenes.
The killing off of characters who could have been further developed: Nushrat and Rami were a most attractive couple and could have carried a fourth season, but instead they were killed off. Rami could have been the contender for President. A big waste.
Too much soap opera: The revelations of previously unknown illegitimate sons were right out of a Mexican soap opera parody on Saturday Night Live. The story was also bogged down by tedious romances. I got really tired of Molly's histrionics and Daliyahs tearful eyes and trembling lips. At least Leila had some spine, but her 'romance' with General Clodhopper, the Victor Mature lookalike, had more of a whiff of opportunism. She was no slouch at playing both sides and switching allegiances when necessary.
Season 2 was far better than the first Season, but Season 3 was 'The Godfather on the Tigris'. The resemblance to the Corleone family was unmissable: Bassam as Michael, Jamal as Fredo, Leila as Connie, Sammy and Emma as Anthony and Mary, along with the supporting players unable to escape their destiny. The final episode left me with the desire to see the story wrapped up, but after watching it twice, I realised that it was spot on: The conflict would never end because it cannot end. There was no happy ending. no easy answers and that is how it is. Bassam would either be overthrown in a coup by General Maloof, and his family exiled or murdered, or he would double down and become a total tyrant and stay in power for the next 40 years. Leila now in exile may or may not prevail and will be courted by various foreign powers, until it is her turn. General Clodhopper would write a book and become a TV regular urging US action. Ihab would become public enemy No. 1 until he was taken out or overthrew Bassam and became President. Everyone would change sides. The US/Russians/Chinese would throw money at the conflict, probably supporting both sides at the same time. There are no easy answers. The US marines will not come riding to the rescue.
Overall, I found this to be an absorbing series despite the criticism listed. It had to be for me to binge watch three seasons over three days. Better casting would have made a difference.