The "Sleeper Cell" (Showtime Series) Appreciation Thread

[Groo The Perverted]

So I just got in the mail the first two (and only two) seasons of Sleeper Cell starring Michael Ealy (Seven Pounds, Barbershop) and Oded Fehr (The Mummy Series).

It was pretty fantastic, to be honest. I remember watching it on Showtime when it first came out and thought it was very interesting. Very captivating and scary at the same time.

When it first came out there were many people who were outraged at how it was portraying the terrorists. Showing that they, just like us, have a home life. Many of them are active in their community and just by looking at them you would never guess that they were terrorists.

Sleeper Cell season 1 had a cross mix of nationalities in the cell. You had the blonde haired blue eyed white kid who's mother is a professor at Berkely. You had the French guy who's constantly sleeping with hookers, you have the Serbian guy who's into hip hop and A Tribe Called Quest (performing I Left My Wallet in El Segundo at a Karaoke Bar is kinda funny), and the leader who runs his own computer security firm, and coaches a Jewish little league team.

There were many who objected to the humanizing of the Terrorists because (without getting too political here, as that's not allowed) there are many who only want to see those they disagree with in one light. They don't want to understand them, they don't want to portray them as anything but the ultimate evil incarnate.

Unfortunately people are not one dimensional villains like in the 80's action movies.

Season 2 broke even more ground by not only having a female terrorist in the cell but also a gay muslim terrorist, which according to one place I read, was the first time in American TV history.

Fantastic story telling, quite graphic in the violence, and just superb acting all around.

I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

[zoom1200]

great series... well worth the watch.

[Illini007]

Sleeper Cell Season 1 was one of the best shows to grace television. Season 2 fell into the trap of bringing in a lot of Hollywood stereotypes that have become so prevalent in these types of productions (i.e. have to have an evil government agent, some sort of a government conspiracy, etc.). Season 1 discussed the war within Islam (between extremists and the non-extremists followers) and did it in a very original and creative way, while maintaining an edgy story.

[Another_Dude]

Loved season one.

Liked season two.

Season one was groundbreaking and great to watch, it really pulled you in.